What characterizes a child's written communication in the transitional stage according to Gentry?

In the transitional stage of a child's writing, as described by Gentry, the presence of vowels in every word is a key characteristic. During this stage, children begin to understand the importance of vowels for constructing words, which demonstrates their developing phonemic awareness and ability to use the alphabetic principle. At this point, children are moving beyond the early stage of writing, where vowels may be lacking. Instead, they start to include vowels systematically, which enhances the clarity and comprehensibility of their written communication.

This developmental stage often marks a significant shift in their writing skills, as they become more proficient in representing sounds with letters and begin to understand the structure of language better. By consistently including vowels, children enhance their ability to convey complete ideas, making their writing more effective and understandable to their readers.