A new understanding of the importance of Grade 1 is beginning to change writing education. If your child is missing important basic skills, talk with your child’s teacher to create a plan.

Phase 0—Non-alphabetic Writing (No alphabetic letters are present—only scribbling or letter-like forms.) Phase 1—Pre-alphabetic Writing (Letters are represented but they don’t match sounds.

AUSTIN, Texas — Most years, by the third week of first grade, Heather Miller is working with her class on writing the beginning, middle and end of simple words. This year, she had to backtrack — all ...