The Not-So-Simple View of Writing (NSVW) model proposes that writing quality is influenced by transcription skills (spelling, handwriting, and typing), oral language competence, and executive functions (e.g., working memory, planning, and attention). In a new study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology, researchers examined the developmental relationships between transcription skills, oral narrative competence, executive functions, and writing quality in Spanish-speaking students from kindergarten to second grade.
The researchers evaluated transcription skills through tasks measuring spelling accuracy, handwriting fluency, and typing speed. Oral narrative competence was evaluated using standardized measures of narrative ability, such as story structure, coherence, and vocabulary. Executive Functions were evaluated using tasks that assess working memory, planning, and attention control. To evaluate writing competence, the researchers analyzed students' written compositions for syntactic complexity, coherence, and overall quality.
At the end of the 3-year study, the researchers found that changes in transcription skills and oral language over time predicted improvements in writing quality. In fact, better transcription skills not only supported writing quality but were also influenced by prior writing competence. Specifically, transcription skills (e.g., spelling, handwriting) were strongly associated with writing quality, highlighting the importance of automaticity in these skills for fluent writing. Oral language competence also played a critical role, particularly in narrative coherence and vocabulary use. Furthermore, executive functions, especially working memory and planning, were linked to the ability to organize and revise written work effectively. The researchers concluded that this study validates the NSVW model in Spanish, demonstrating that transcription skills, oral language, and executive functions are foundational to writing development.
StepUp Note
This research on the “not so simple” process of learning to write reminds us again of the importance of handwriting fluency. StepUp to Learn helps children practice both handwriting skills (letter forms) and handwriting fluency (writing speed). In our software programs we see how fluency turns basic skills (handwriting, math fact retrieval, and reading decoding) into tools for new learning.
Note by Nancy W Rowe, MS, CCC/A