Writing skills

María Astillero CamposLucía Portillo Jiménez

Group 15.1

Pedagogues, teachers and speech therapists agree that writing is the most difficult skill in the acquisition of second language,

especially in English

Why is so difficult for the kids to write correctly in

English?

When they begin to write, they are very young and they do not know how to express their

ideas.

When they acquire this skill?

They learn how to coordinate their hands and their mind, as well as their language, step by step at the different stages of

their development

How can we help to acquire this skill?

We can help to acquire this skill with the following

activities: Copying

Filling in Altering/writing to a model

Written comprehension Free writing

This activity will be productive if:

Children have enough space (his writing is usually big) and timeThe model to be copied, is near

the space to write

Copying

Dark, dark wood StoryIn the dark, dark wood, there was a dark, dark

house.And in that dark, dark house, there was a dark,

dark room.And in that dark, dark room, there was a dark,

dark cupboard.And in that dark, dark cupboard, there was a

dark, dark shelf.And on that dark, dark shelf, there was a dark,

dark box.And in that dark, dark box, there was a ghost.

Hoo-hoo-hoo! Haa-haa-boo!

What´s the word?Write the word under the picture.

It's a very easy activityThe goal is to fill sentences

with words before grantedFor younger students, We will

simplify the activity. They only have

to write some letters of the "missing word"

Filling in

Fill it in!Write the missing words in the sentences.

In the dark, dark wood, there was a dark, dark _ _ _ _ _ .

And in that dark, dark house, there was a dark, dark _ _ _ _ .

And in that dark, dark room, there was a dark, dark _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

And in that dark, dark cupboard, there was a dark, dark _ _ _ _ _.

And on that dark, dark shelf, there was a dark, dark _ _ _.

And in that dark, dark box, there was a _ _ _ _ _!

It´s a fun activityThey have to read a small

passage, and then they must write about the same topic but changing key words to alter the meaning

Thereby children learn the structure of sentences

and new words

Altering to a model

Your own story!Write about the same topic: “dark, dark wood story”.

In the dark, dark , there was a dark, dark .

And in that dark, dark , there was a dark, dark .

And in that dark, dark , there was a dark, dark .

And in that dark, dark , there was a dark, dark .

And on that dark, dark , there was a dark, dark .

And in that dark, dark , there was a !

Ask simple questions about a text, is a great way to check the level of understanding of

childrenOver the years, the level of

questions will rise, forcing

students to answer with their own words

Writen Comprehension

What do you know about the story?

Answer the questions. How is the wood? How is the house?

Is there anything in the house?

How is the room? Is there anything in the room?

How is the shelf? Is there anything in the

shelf? How is the box?

Is there anything in the box? What say the ghost?

It is important to introduce this activity when students have already

worked past activities

The topic of the composition will be imposed.

The extension of the writing depends on the level of student

Free writing

Develop your imagination!

Write a fantastic story using the words that you

have learned

Experts also note that students who study a second language

develop more their metalinguistic knowledge and

communication skills

The end