Directionality

Directionality

Directionality refers to the way print is tracked during reading and laid down during writing. Children must know to begin at the top of the page and work toward the bottom, starting on the left-hand side and moving to the right.

Young children must also learn how to move from the end of one line of print to the beginning of the next using a "return sweep." This movement essentially means that when going on to a new line of text, the child returns to the left-hand side of the paper and works across the page again.

Children develop directionality gradually during the emergent period and during the transition into conventional literacy. Fluctuations during early years usually are not a reason for concern.