This stage refers to a stage where new learners begin the process of expression through illustration. This stage includes Scribble, symbolisms, directional, and letter mocking. These early writing stages show progression over time. For example, the scribble stage resembles starting at one place and adding lines and strokes that may be rationalized as print or a form of communication. This stage then develops into symbolism, where the writer makes pictures with the intent of communication. From symbolism to Directional, this is where writing moves from left to right again to produce some form of communication. Then finally mocking letters, during this stage the writer is mimicking letters and numbers. While they are able to form some letters the selection is not intentionally based on the English language, but a notion to produce to print to enable communication. The common factor with each stage listed is that they all make the effort of relaying a message that needs to be interpreted to an intended audience.  

The emergent phase for writers is scaffolded upon what we know to be the pre-literate ­­phase, more specifically the mocked letters stage. As writer develop their skillset in this phase they enter the stringing and then grouping of letters, followed by labeling pictures and environmental print. The first stage in the Emergent phase refers to the stringing of letters whereas the writer is just composing a string of letters in no specific order. The writer may use a mix of lower and upper case letters. The second in this phase refers to the grouping of letters. This is when the writer starts to put spaces between letters, much like what they would see in a book. However as writers begin to grow in literacy and phonological awareness, they then enter the third stage of this phase known as labeling. Throughout this stage, the writer is able to label a picture with a letter matching its beginning sound. This then leads us to the fourth stage where the writer is copying environmental print. During this stage, the writer is looking at words in this environment and making consciences connections in writing what they see. 

This phase encompassed three different stages letter and word representation, first and last letter representation, and medial letter sound. Building upon the prior phase, the letter and word representation is where the writer uses a single letter to express a whole word. For example “she was mean” to “SWM”. This phase does call for educators to use deciphering skills, nonetheless at this stage learners are developing a deeper connection with phonological skills. The next stage reflects the first and last sound recognition and matches with those letters and maybe an illustration. Then thirdly attempts to construct words. at this stage known as the Medial letter sounds, the writer is using conventional phonetically sound expressions to compose words, the writing is still choppy, but is better understood for instance the expression “mommy went bye bye” may be stated “mome wnt bi bi”

The Fluent stage of writers is emphasized by the stages of beginner writing, sentence writer, and the six traits of writing. The beginner stage encompasses all of the prior stages. More specifically at this stage, the writer may compose a phrase that is depicted by an illustration that they may have drawn. Nonetheless, at this stage, the writing may be legible, but the words for the most part follow a phonetic pattern. However at the Sentence Writing stage, known words are spelled correctly, and words are part of a sentence structure which may include punctuation and multiple sentences. Then finally using all the skills gained plus some the writer will then be able to write using the six traits which include conventions, organization, voice, ideas, word choices, and sentence fluency