Name Writing

As you know, children in the Haifa and Kohavim classes have recently been screened using PALS-PreK to help us better understand the progression of each child's literacy development.

Research shows that a child’s first attempt to convey meaning through written language often occurs the child learns to write the letters in his or her name. In order to measure familiarity with writing, a name writing task was included on PALS-PreK. Children’s writing behaviors can be examined from a developmental perspective as they advance through various stages, from a scribbled representation to a correct and recognizable signature.

Writing requires an understanding of the connection between written and spoken language. Children's name writing skills develop over the early childhood years, correlating to the development of their cognitive processes.  Research also shows a direct connection between literacy acquisition and name-writing abilities. Children who have strong name writing skills also have stronger word recognition, and letter naming skills. Know this, teachers carefully track children's interest in and readiness for name writing and support them as they take this preliminary step into a lifetime of writing.