What stage comes after the skill development phase in the development of spelling?

The stage that follows the skill development phase in the development of spelling is word extension. This phase typically involves learners applying their spelling skills to a broader range of words and contexts. During the word extension stage, students begin to take the spelling rules and patterns they have learned and extend them to new, unfamiliar words, enhancing their vocabulary and spelling proficiency.

In this stage, students are expected to spell more complex words that may not strictly adhere to phonetic rules, encouraging them to analyze word structures, morphemes, and etymological origins. This contrasts with earlier stages, such as the phonetic phase, where students primarily focus on spelling based on how words sound, often resulting in creative but less conventional spelling choices.

The other options represent different stages or concepts in literacy development but do not follow the skill development phase as word extension does. For instance, the preliterate stage typically describes early literacy skills before formal education, while derivational constancy refers to understanding spelling patterns across different forms of the same word. Therefore, word extension is the logical progression that reflects an advancement in spelling ability.