View in EDS

Valuing and Supporting the Complex Writing Processes of Emergent Writers

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Valuing and Supporting the Complex Writing Processes of Emergent Writers
Language: English
Authors: Melinda Zurcher (ORCID 0000-0003-1413-0757), Angela Stefanski
Source: Journal of Early Childhood Literacy. 2025 25(1):185-215.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 31
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Tests/Questionnaires
Descriptors: Writing Processes, Childrens Writing, Emergent Literacy, Beginning Writing, Preschool Children, Writing Workshops, Freehand Drawing, Visual Aids, Play, Socialization, Peer Relationship, Teacher Student Relationship, Private Schools
DOI: 10.1177/14687984221123709
ISSN: 1468-7984
1741-2919
Abstract: This collective case study sought to investigate the distinctive writing processes and productions of young writers within the space of a writers' workshop. Based on video-taped observations, fieldnotes, writing samples, and teacher and student interviews, a description of preschool students' writing processes began to unfold. Some might consider these preschool writing processes to be necessary stepping stones to more conventional writing, but this study makes clear the students already engaged in complex writing processes that may have distinct, valuable qualities to be encouraged and supported. The following research questions guided the data collection and analysis for this study: "How do preschool students create texts within a writers' workshop?" and "How do these processes differ from past descriptions of the writing process?" These questions are significant, because much of the literature focuses on the writing processes of older students or specific aspects of the emergent writing process (e.g., rehearsal, transcription, dialogue), but this study attempted to describe preschool writing processes as a whole and then identify the dimensions distinctive to these early writers. The data collected in this study highlighted three tightly interconnected themes that reflected aspects of preschool writing processes: the use of illustrations to direct the story, play within writing, and the socialization of emergent authoring. All of these themes underscore how students were writing "in the moment" and creating a multimodal production. By valuing this entire production rather than only the finished written product, young students can view themselves as authors and take on that role.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1466331
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1466331
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Valuing and Supporting the Complex Writing Processes of Emergent Writers
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Melinda+Zurcher%22">Melinda Zurcher</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1413-0757">0000-0003-1413-0757</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Angela+Stefanski%22">Angela Stefanski</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Early+Childhood+Literacy%22"><i>Journal of Early Childhood Literacy</i></searchLink>. 2025 25(1):185-215.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 31
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research<br />Tests/Questionnaires
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Writing+Processes%22">Writing Processes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Childrens+Writing%22">Childrens Writing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Emergent+Literacy%22">Emergent Literacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Beginning+Writing%22">Beginning Writing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Children%22">Preschool Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Writing+Workshops%22">Writing Workshops</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Freehand+Drawing%22">Freehand Drawing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Visual+Aids%22">Visual Aids</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Play%22">Play</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Socialization%22">Socialization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Peer+Relationship%22">Peer Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Student+Relationship%22">Teacher Student Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Private+Schools%22">Private Schools</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1177/14687984221123709
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 1468-7984<br />1741-2919
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This collective case study sought to investigate the distinctive writing processes and productions of young writers within the space of a writers' workshop. Based on video-taped observations, fieldnotes, writing samples, and teacher and student interviews, a description of preschool students' writing processes began to unfold. Some might consider these preschool writing processes to be necessary stepping stones to more conventional writing, but this study makes clear the students already engaged in complex writing processes that may have distinct, valuable qualities to be encouraged and supported. The following research questions guided the data collection and analysis for this study: "How do preschool students create texts within a writers' workshop?" and "How do these processes differ from past descriptions of the writing process?" These questions are significant, because much of the literature focuses on the writing processes of older students or specific aspects of the emergent writing process (e.g., rehearsal, transcription, dialogue), but this study attempted to describe preschool writing processes as a whole and then identify the dimensions distinctive to these early writers. The data collected in this study highlighted three tightly interconnected themes that reflected aspects of preschool writing processes: the use of illustrations to direct the story, play within writing, and the socialization of emergent authoring. All of these themes underscore how students were writing "in the moment" and creating a multimodal production. By valuing this entire production rather than only the finished written product, young students can view themselves as authors and take on that role.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1466331
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1466331
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/14687984221123709
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 31
        StartPage: 185
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Writing Processes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Childrens Writing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Emergent Literacy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Beginning Writing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preschool Children
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Writing Workshops
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Freehand Drawing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Visual Aids
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Play
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Socialization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Peer Relationship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Student Relationship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Private Schools
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Valuing and Supporting the Complex Writing Processes of Emergent Writers
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Melinda Zurcher
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Angela Stefanski
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 03
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 1468-7984
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1741-2919
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 25
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Early Childhood Literacy
              Type: main
ResultId 1