Talk for Writing trainer Jo Pearce explains how a model text can be used to help pupils become effective writers of suspense stories. Download the model text here, along with teaching notes and worked examples.
Little Vixen Street
A suspenseful model text by Talk for Writing Expert Dean Thompson, with accompanying teaching notes explaining how the text might be utilised to develop a unit of work: “Anthropomorphising the cunning or wily fox is a very popular idea in many stories”
Creating quality independent writing at Hallsville Primary
At Hallsville Primary, teachers have found that there is not one magic ingredient for creating quality independent writing, but many. What do they think is the most important? Reading: “We have found that the longer you linger with the text, the better the independent outcomes are”.
Getting to the end point – real, quality independent writing
Emma Mann, from Penn Wood Primary, tells us how they get their pupils to the end point – real, quality independent writing. The stages of Talk for Writing support ‘the end point’, i.e. getting children to write well independently. In order to do this, we follow ‘imitation, innovation, independent application’.
Winds in the North West – a Mary Poppins inspired unit of work
Following Talk for Writing training, Headteacher Sue Jackson invited an enthusiastic staff to plan a unit of work based on a creative hook and quality texts. This unit of work in Year 4 is based on Mary Poppins and exemplifies some key aspects of the Talk for Writing teaching sequence in action.
Short burst writing in the Talk for Writing sequence
Talk for Writing trainer, Maria Richards, explores how to teach writing well through Talk for Writing’s short burst approach: “Short burst writing has transformed the way I think about teaching writing skills and I have now seen how it can powerfully transform children as writers too. Plan it into your Talk for Writing sequences and find your transformations”.
Teaching languages through iLanguages and Talk for Writing
Louise St John explains how Victoria Road Primary School is using iLanguages and its links to the Talk for Writing approach to enhance the children’s ability to communicate in French and Spanish.
Teaching science at Selby using Talk for Writing
Tom Wrigglesworth, Year 6 teacher at Selby Community Primary School, explains how the Talk for Writing approach can enhance learning in science and develop vocabulary across the curriculum.
Outstanding evidence of the writing process at East Hunsbury
Liz Martin, project leader at East Hunsbury Primary Schol: “the format of units in our books, which illustrates the Talk for Writing process clearly, show the progress…but they also showed the strength of self-editing; an area clearly highlighted in the new curriculum…which fits perfectly with the TfW strategy”.
Talk for Writing and Kensuke’s Kingdom
Janet Gough, Assistant Headteacher and English Subject Leader at Cockerham Parochial School in Lancashire, explains how to use Talk for Writing techniques to embed language skills within the context of the Michael Morpurgo novel Kensuke’s Kingdom.