Abstract:
To investigate young children's writing in schools implementing High Scope and Waldorf approaches. Research informants were the young children at the ages of 3 to 8, the teachers, the principles, and the parents. Data collections were participatory and non-participatory observations, interviews, and documentation. Research findings were: A case study of the school implementing High Scope approach 1. Writing patterns of young children demonstrated literacy development. Writing patterns of young children at the ages of 3 to 6 were 1) meaningless scribbling according to learning through materials to construct their own symbols, 2) meaningful drawing reflecting environmental learning, particularly drawing of human beings which was firstly created, and 3) communicative writing, passing through a variety of writing activities in order to be independent writers. Writing patterns of young children at the ages of 6 to 8 were 1) line drawing, consisted of 13 lines, being a part of alphabets, and 2) allocating alphabets to form words, learning by memorizing writing and reading regulations. 2. Emerging factors regarding young children writing were 1) a good combination of educational concepts implementing in the approach, 2) a variety of hands on activities, 3) rich and meaningful learning environments, 4) language modeling for communication, and 5) warm and welcome learning atmosphere. A case study of the school implementing Waldorf Approach 1. Writing patterns of young children demonstrated consciousness development Writing patterns of young children at the ages of 3 to 6 were 1) scribbling inward circles with symbols reflecting the child's self awareness, 2) sketching reflecting the child's perceptions from experiences, and 3) drawing human figures in relation to the environment from imaginations and experiences. Writing patterns of young children at the ages of 6 to 8 demonstrated how the children worked on their feeling, bodily forces, imagination, memory, and thinking. 2. Emerging factors regarding young children writing were 1) teachers as role models of free human beings trying to find the right way to bring the truth to life, 2) language as means of truth and virtue, 3) language teaching implementation focusing on the principles, nature, power, and aesthetics of language, 4) contemplative observation of child's consciousness development, 5) educational aims towards balanced whole child, and 6) the use of imagination through the opened materials.