Mead Road, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL4 5YS
Tel: 01452371710
Email: secretary@abbeymead.gloucs.sch.uk
Abbeymead Primary School
Ready for Life
Writing
Writing at Abbeymead: Our Vision
Writing at Abbeymead is closely linked to our reading, as we believe that great readers make great writers! Our writing units are based around high quality texts which link, where appropriate, with our topics. We balance writing units and extended writing outcomes, with SPaG teaching and 'Slow Writes', which focus on technical and grammatical accuracy in writing.
As much as possible, we ensure that the text type we are reading in our Reading Sessions, is linked to the text type we are writing. We have recently introduced the approach R2W (Reader to Writer) into our English lessons; we use the reading dog Arlo Author to help us read like a writer and consider how we can write for effect, considering the impact on our audience.
We believe in engaging children across the school using creative approaches, including the use of art, drama and roleplay. At Abbeymead, we follow Pie Corbett's Talk 4 Writing approach in KS1 and continue to use some aspects of this in LKS2. We also use many of the strategies from the CLPE Power of Reading scheme throughout the school from EYFS up to Year 6.
Writing Teaching Sequence
We use the following teaching sequence for a unit of writing:
Watch this SPACE
Throughout writing units and particularly when the children come to plan a piece of extended writing, we focus in on five key components of writing: Structure, Purpose, Audience, Composition and Effect. Children plan their writing with these five elements in mind.
Developing Language and Sentence Construction
So that all pupils ‘speak’ the same language in Literacy, we follow the guidance of a Literacy consultant, Alan Peat, calling different sentences different names (taken from Alan Peat’s ‘Exciting Sentences’ book), so that they are easier for pupils to remember. Correct grammatical terms are introduced and used alongside the sentence names.
When using these sentences at home, it is important to try to get your child to write them within a series of sentences, in the correct context.
Alan Peat Sentence Structures - 25 ways to improve your sentence writing
Alan Peat sentence type posters
Alan Peat has produced a number of very good apps for android and Apple devices. For more information please click link http://www.alanpeat.com/apps.html
Teaching Vocabulary
At Abbeymead, we realise how important it is for our children to have access to an extensive vocabulary, to be successful both as a reader and as a writer. The meaning of words and new vocabulary is taught and explored through all aspects of our English curriculum; reading, writing and oracy (speaking and listening). Vocabulary activities are also built into all other subjects across the curriculum and vocabulary lists have been created for every foundation subject within the curriculum.
Spelling Shed
Given that spelling is a significant part of the English curriculum, we have invested in the programme 'Spelling Shed'. Spelling Shed is used both at school by teachers, and also by parents and children at home. Spellings are set weekly and children use Spelling Shed to practise from home. Children across the school may have individual spelling lists to suit their level and areas of need.
Useful Websites and Resources for Parents
Grammar and punctuation terminology explained:
Grammar_and_Punctuation_Subject_Knowledge (3).pdf
Picture and video stimulus for writing at home:
Other useful websites:
home.oxfordowl.co.uk/english/primary-writing/
www.crickweb.co.uk
Apps for supporting teaching of handwriting at home:
www.theschoolrun.com/best-handwriting-apps-for-kids
Apps for supporting story writing at home:
www.theschoolrun.com/best-story-making-apps-for-kids
Supporting your child to write at home
Early writing activities:
- Encourage children to look for print in their environment - road signs, food packets, shops etc.
- Try activities to develop fine motor skills e.g. cutting, using playdough, tracing, using tweezers or clothes pegs to pick things up.
- Use a chalkboard to write family messages on.
- Make labels for things around the house.
- Write a shopping list - real or imaginary! Or any kind of list.
- Letter formation - practise forming letters using paint, in sand, using playdough or pastry.
- Let your child write their own Christmas cards or birthday cards to people.
- Use magnetic letters - your child can leave you a message on the fridge.
- Encourage and praise early squiggles which show your child is beginning to understand writing.
Improving writers:
- Write party invitations
- Encourage children to write thank you letters after birthdays and Christmas.
- Write postcards when on holiday.
- Write simple sentences from pictures (Pobble is a really good website for this!)
- Email or write a letter to a family member or friend.
- Write short stories involving real life experiences.
- Write an information leaflet about something they find interesting e.g. a favourite sport, dinosaurs etc.
- Ask them to correct a sentence you have written with a deliberate mistake e.g. a spelling mistake or missing punctuation.
More confident writers:
- Write a diary.
- Write a story for a younger family member, in the style of their favourite author.
- Write a holiday journal.
- Write a recipe or instruction manual e.g. how to play a game.
- Write to the local newspaper about an issue they feel strongly about.
- Look out for writing competitions! e.g. Radio 2's 500 word story competition.
- Encourage them to proof read and edit their writing (could be homework) once they have finished. Ask them to check that spelling, punctuation and grammar is accurate.