During our writing sessions, children learn to:
- write in different contexts and for different audiences and purposes
- be increasingly aware of the conventions of writing, including grammar, punctuation and spelling and successfully apply these during independent writing
- plan, draft and edit their writing
From Yr 2 upwards, teachers carry out a cold write prior to starting a new unit of writing. These can be identified by the blue sticker in the margin. Cold writes are then used to inform planning and ensure gaps in learning are addressed. Cold capture sheets are completed at this stage.
Hot writes (identified by the pink sticker in the margin) are used at the end of the unit to show progress and identify next steps and objectives that need to be revisited.
Throughout the teaching sequence, we ensure our children are exposed to high quality model texts and teachers model writing to a high standard. Teachers model writing using the flipcharts and this is clearly displayed so that the children can refer to it during independent writing. This modelled writing provides context for discussion and demonstration of grammatical features.
We encourage teachers to model the up leveling process. This helps children understand how they can improve their own writing. Short burst writing is used to give the children time to practice aspects that have been taught and provide experience of applying skills.
Teaching is adapted through the use of writing frames, spelling banks, task, collaborative work and peer or adult support.
Expectations are that our children write every day. If this is not in the English session, it should be cross curricular. Opportunities for creative writing are included in all of our writing units. These include, speed writes, story starters and opportunities for free writing such as Free Write Friday and Write What you Want Wednesday.
Where possible, grammar objectives are taught and applied within the writing sessions however, there may be occasions where skills need to be taught discreetly. We use Grammasaurus to support delivery of our grammar sessions.
