What is the first stage of spelling development?

The first stage of spelling development is the precommunicative stage. During this stage, typically observed in young children who are beginning to understand that written symbols represent spoken language, spelling resembles random letters and scribbles rather than words. Children at this level are exploring the form of writing and developing an awareness of letter shapes and sounds, but they have not yet grasped the conventional relationship between letters and sounds that is essential for spelling words accurately.

In this stage, children are focused on the process of writing itself rather than the conventions of spelling. They may apply letters in a way that reflects their language experience but do not yet show understanding of phonetic sounds or the structure of words. Precommunicative spelling lays the groundwork for later spelling stages where learners begin to associate sounds more closely with letters, which can lead to phonetic development and eventually to conventional spelling.