St. Pauls R.C. Primary School

Supporting your child with writing

5.5.15

Why is writing important?

Writing is practical•Everyday tasks.•Form filling.•Writing an important letter.•We need to write clearly and organise information effectively.

Important for a pupil’s education

Whether by hand, or computer, many assignments, exams, essays etc, are assessed through writing.

Writing for communication

• Letters.• E-mails.• Contracts.• Leases.• Writing can be an important

outlet to express feelings that can’t be expressed so easily by speaking.

What have you written today?

Writing as an employee

• Often on a daily basis.• Applying for a job often requires

a letter and C.V.• Telephone messages.• Administrative work.• Newspaper articles.• Research reports.

“Children learn better when they are excited and engaged – but what excites and engages them best is truly excellent teaching”DfES (2003) Excellence and Enjoyment

Also really needs parental support!

Talk for writing• Know about something they are

going to write about.• Group work where pupils can

share ideas.• ‘Magpie ideas’.

Activity. The cat ran.Add more detail.

Audience is everythingTopic –FlyingTalk to the person next to you and have them take notes while you talk.They then retell.Reverse roles.

Skills needed to be able to retell stories

• Who?• Where?• When?• What happened?• Why?• The end ?

Writing Prompts• Hard to start writing when faced

with a blank piece of paper. So many things to think about.

• Writing to a prompt regularly helps to get pupils into the habit of writing.

Successful pupils…• Parents and teachers extend

children’s vocabulary by modelling.

• The most effective adults are those who speak clearly and provide plenty of time and encouragement, for children to respond to them.

Writing Prompts• Spark imagination• Final product is not determined

and doesn’t necessarily have to be ‘good’.

• Point is to get into the flow of writing.

Activity. The city burned, fire lighting up the night sky.

Activity. A quick think. How do you help your child to be a better writer at home?

What do we need to do?

• Handwriting. Encourage the same handwriting that St.Paul’s is teaching.

• Provide a place with a flat surface and good lightning for writing.

• Materials. Different pens, types of paper, card, notebook etc.

• Brainstorm. Talk about people. Events etc.

What do we need to do?

• Note-taking.eg. trips, events, family celebrations. What did they see, feel etc?

• Encourage your child to read their story to you out loud. You need to listen carefully without intertupting and give lots of praise!

• Read together even with year six pupils and … Predict, question set, clarify and summarise.

What do we need to do?• Make sure that your child sees

you writing.• Encourage your child to write .eg.

messages, letters, e-mails to family and friends.

• Family message board in the kitchen.

Make sure a message is left for each of the family to respond to!

60 Second Writing Prompt

Chills.

What sends a chill down your spine?

Create your own month

Group activityCreate a 13th month including a zodiac sign, festivals, extra days etc.

Be prepared to share!

Processes of Writing….. of Writing…..• Emphasis on talk and time to

reflect.-stories, give explanations or

instructions, debate issues, before having to write narrative, procedural, or persuasive texts.

-a child’s handwriting ability can strongly affect later attainment in writing.

Create your own country

Create your own country which will attract visitors.

Be prepared to share.

The Future for your child

Your efforts now will make a big difference – and it may be just the difference that your child needs to succeed! Not only now but in the future.

Punctuation!

ruthmrobson@gmail.comruthmrobson@gmail.com