What spelling stage involves a systematic representation of speech sounds by letters?

The phonetic stage of spelling development is characterized by students' ability to systematically represent speech sounds using letters. During this stage, learners begin to understand the relationship between sounds (phonemes) and letters (graphemes). They may spell words as they sound, often capturing individual sounds accurately but with some inconsistent spelling patterns.

For example, a child might spell the word "cat" as "kat" or "katt," reflecting their understanding that specific letters correspond to certain sounds. This stage demonstrates a significant step in spelling development, as it shows that the learner is no longer solely relying on memorization but is beginning to apply phonetic principles to their writing.

This grasp of sound-letter correspondence is crucial for literacy development, allowing students to create a more systematic approach to writing and spelling. In contrast, the other spelling stages, such as precommunicative, correct, and transitional, involve different aspects and levels of understanding regarding spelling and word formation.