SKILLS FOR WRITING

From Foundation Stage to Year 6

Quotations from pupils

“Writing allows us to express our views and share information. It helps our ability to

succeed in life and it is fun because you can make a piece of writing anything you want

it to be.” Year 6 pupil

“Writing is important because we need to be able to communicate with people. I like making things up and writing stories. You

can do anything magical, it’s great! ” Year 3 pupil

“I like writing, it’s fun, we learn different words and write about fun things.” Year 1

pupil

What do you think makes a good writer?

A good writer can…

WRITING IS A COMPLEX PROCESS!!

Understand that their writing has a purpose and will be read by

a reader.Use their reading and other experiences to inform

their writing.Have an idea of how their writing should sound and

can hear it in their heads.Plan their work.Structure their writing correctly so that the reader

can follow it.Spell words correctly and use a growing vocabulary.Punctuate their writing correctly.Rehearse and reread, evaluating their work as they

write.Use a handwriting style that can be read by others.

Speaking and Listening – developing ideas

Essential to helping a child become a good writer and to develop creativity and imagination.

Examples are • Sequencing stories• Story telling• Alliteration, rhyme and song• Talk buddies, whole class discussion• Role play, drama, hot-seating• Listening walks• Practical activities e.g. making, cooking

Our creative curriculum helps all writing be relevant and inspiring!

Developing vocabulary

How many other words can you think of to use instead of ‘said’?

How to develop vocabulary at home:• Describing every day things. • Talking about what they see. • Let children finish what they are

saying

SpellingStrategies for teaching spelling:

• Phonics (Letters and Sounds)

• Investigating rules and patterns

• Look, cover, write check.

• Creating mnemonics• Look for words within

words • Break words into

syllables• Root words• Word origins

What you can do at home:• Sound snap• Hangman• Word searches• Anagrams• Word sums

More examples on the handout

Fine motor skill activities

Handwriting

Letter formation and sizing

Finger spaces between words

Joining handwriting

Grammar

Can you see where the full stops and capital letters should go in this passage?

once there was a girl called goldilocks one day she was a house in the woods which belonged to the three bears she went inside and saw some porridge she had some

Is this a sentence?

A happy boy.

Progression: ! ? , “” ( ) - :

; …

Why not?

Planning/ Paragraphing

Speaking and listening and role play

Planning frames helps develop a grasp of paragraphing and organising the text.

Planning sheets, writing frames, story maps/mountains:

Text types and readingWhat text types are

these?

FICTION: DIFFERENT GENRES

POETRY

NON-FICTION: REPORT , RECOUNT, INSTRUCTIONS, EXPLANATION ,

PERSUASION, DISCUSSION

Spend time at home looking at a wide range of texts – not just school reading book! e.g. reading poetry, recipe books, magazine, newspapers.

Text types and reading

LOCAL TEENS DIE AFTER FAILED MARRIAGEYesterday, Romeo Montague (16) – son of Lord and Lady Montague – and Juliet Capulet (14) – daughter of Lord and Lady Capulet – died inside the Capulet tomb in Verona, Italy, after a failed plan.

The Capulet and Monatgue families have been in a major feud since 1356. Despite efforts from multiple governments, no leader has yet been able to stop them, but only 4 days ago Prince Escalus, Duke of Milan, issued a new law. This law stated that if these two families were to fight again, those involved would be executed.

Romeo Montague’s friend Mercutio suggested that the two young misfits should gate-crash a masquerade ball on the Capulet estate. At the ball, Romeo met Juliet and they were married the next day by local priest, Friar Lawrence, who later said that the secret wedding was both a sweet and rebellious act against the Capulet/Montague feud.

Who is the author?

Any questions?