Emergent children read and spell conventionally.

Emergent children are typically at the initial stages of developing reading and spelling skills. At this stage, they often engage in various literacy practices, such as recognizing letters, experimenting with sounds, and using pictures to convey meaning rather than relying on conventional spelling and reading. They are usually learning the foundational elements of literacy, such as letter recognition and phonemic awareness, and are not yet proficient in conventional reading and spelling.

This stage is characterized by their exploration of language, where they may write phonetically or use invented spelling. Their reading is often limited to familiar words or pictures, rather than the conventional writing system. As such, stating that emergent children read and spell conventionally is inaccurate; they are still acquiring the necessary skills that will lead to conventional literacy.