In emergent literacy, what concept do students understand about written symbols?

In emergent literacy, students develop an understanding that written symbols carry meaning. This recognition is vital as it is the foundation upon which they build their reading and writing skills. When children begin to understand that letters and words are not just arbitrary shapes but represent ideas and concepts, they become more engaged in literacy activities. This understanding motivates them to explore text, as they realize that reading allows them to access information and stories.

The other options touch on important aspects of literacy but do not encapsulate the primary understanding in emergent literacy. Recognizing that written symbols represent phonemes relates more to phonemic awareness, which typically develops as a deeper skill after grasping that symbols have meaning. The idea that written symbols follow a specific structure refers to the rules of writing and reading, which is also built upon the initial understanding of meaning. Finally, the notion that written symbols are always words can limit children's understanding since they should also recognize symbols such as punctuation and images, which contribute to the overall meaning conveyed in texts.