children's writing begins to develop long before they can produce formal text. Early writing helps them to grasp seven principles of development
what are Clay’s principles?
recurring principle
directional principle
generating principle
inventory principle
what is the recurring principle?
When a child only knows a limited number of letters, they use these repeatedly to create a message
what is the directional principle?
learn that reading and writing goes from left to right and uses a return sweep to start the process again
what is the generating principle?
learns that there are limited number of letters but that they can be combined in different ways. begins to recognise that there are patterns that can be used to convey a message
what is the inventory principle?
child begins to write lists of the letters and words they know as a summary of their own learning
