Students understand that people use marks (letters) and pictures to share their thoughts and ideas. Young students' writing efforts tend to follow a progression in which they attempt to use print to convey messages. These attempts usually begin with scribbles and drawings that mimic the characteristics of the formal writing system that students see in books and in environmental print. Their writing matures as they begin to apply to their own writing what they are learning about the alphabet, print and book conventions, and the relationship between letters and sounds.