Methods
Procedure
We interviewed children individually in a quiet room at school. Interviews were taped
and fully transcribed. The complete interview, which was based on the one used in the
drawing study referred to in the Background, included a few introductory questions
aimed at establishing contact with the child, directing his/her attention towards writing
and reconstructing autobiographical aspects of this learning. In the main task, children
were requested to illustrate and describe how they used to write in the past and to
anticipate how they would write in the future. The instruction was simple and direct:
‘What did you do on paper when you were just beginning to write?’ ‘What was it like?’
‘Please show me.’ (A piece of paper was provided for a graphic demonstration.) ‘And
before that, had you ever tried to write?’ (If the answer was positive) ‘Please show me
how.’ The basic question was repeated for one-year-intervals until the child’s current age
was reached. The final request was oriented to the future: ‘Could you show me how you
imagine you will write next year