During which stage of spelling development does a child begin to understand letter-sound correspondence?

The semiphonetic stage of spelling development is crucial because it marks the point at which a child starts to grasp the relationship between letters and the sounds they represent. During this stage, children experiment with connecting sounds in words to specific letters, although they may not use conventional spelling. This understanding of letter-sound correspondence is foundational for literacy development, as it allows children to begin decoding words phonetically and to represent those sounds in their writing.

In contrast, the precommunicative stage is where children may use scribbles or random letters without a clear understanding of how letters correspond to sounds. The phonetic stage follows the semiphonetic stage, where children become more proficient at spelling words phonetically and often use a more complete representation of sounds in words. The correct stage indicates a higher level of mastery, where spelling becomes largely conventional and errors are minimal. Understanding where semiphonetic fits in the overall progression helps educators assess a child’s development and provide appropriate support in their literacy journey.