1. Supporting Your Child with writing Parents Meeting 19 th March 9am Welcome

2. Supporting your Child’s Writing Development Facts about Writing Writing is a vital life skill in our society Writing is not easy to learn or to teach- it is a complex set of skills Writing is needed for all areas of learning in school Writing can be functional and creative Children who can write well have higher self esteem The more children read the more they have to write about Fun experiences give children something to write about

3. How we teach writing at school We teach the skills- spelling, hand writing, grammar, structure, vocabulary, punctuation… We teach the creative element- exciting language, imagination, engagement etc. Through all curriculum areas. Guided/Focus Writing sessions. Power of Reading techniques. Through experience and talk. Structured and free writing experiences. Interventions/ group work/ extra support.

4. Writing Learning Objectives in School To present neatly To spell correctly To punctuate accurately To write with purpose To use imaginative description To organise writing appropriately To use paragraphs To use sentences appropriately To analyse writing To present writing

5. National Expectations What does it look like now? End of Year Two- level 2B (2015 only) End of Year Three-Milestone 2 developing End of Year Four-Milestone 2 competent End of Year Five-Milestone 3 developing End of Year Six- level 4B ( 2015 only) For further information there will be a parent meeting in the near future to address the new curriculum and new methods for assessing children’s attainment.

6. Literacy overviews These are on the Keys Meadow website so you can see what your child will be studying, and the different skills they will be developing, in each year group. Composition To write with purpose Identify the audience for writing. Choose the appropriate form of writing using the main features identified in reading. Note, develop and research ideas. Plan, draft, write, edit and improve. To use imaginative description Use the techniques that authors use to create characters, settings and plots. Create vivid images by using alliteration, similes, metaphors and personification. Interweave descriptions of characters, settings and atmosphere with dialogue.

7. Literacy overviews Fiction Write stories set in places pupils have been. Write stories that contain mythical, legendary or historical characters or events. Write stories of adventure. Write stories of mystery and suspense. Write letters. Write plays. Write stories, letters, scripts and fictional biographies inspired by reading across the curriculum. Non-Fiction Write instructions. Write recounts. Write persuasively. Write explanations. Write non-chronological reports. Write biographies. Write in a journalistic style. Write arguments. Write formally. Poetry Learn by heart and perform a significant poem. Write haiku. Write cinquain. Write poems that convey an image (simile, word play, rhyme & metaphor). Text Types

8. Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar SPAG These are roots to the tree of successful writing, these are taught as a ‘discreet’ lesson then incorporated into our writing sessions whether in Literacy or another topic such as Science or History. This enables the child to use this new skill in their own writing. These elements of writing are also tested in Year 6 in SATS, and the expectation in this particular area will be far higher in the 2016 tests with the new grammar test being introduced in Year 2 as well.

9. Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar SPAG- example questions 1)Circle all the adverbs in the sentences below. Excitedly, Dan opened the heavy lid. He paused briefly and looked at the treasure. 2) Insert three commas in the correct places in the sentence below. I need to pack a swimming costume some sun cream a hat sunglasses and a towel.

10. What can parents do? With children of all ages there are things parents can do to help ALL children to be the best writers they can be: * Read to your child * Listen to story CDs/ MP3s – in the car or at home * Let your child see you reading for fun and function * Talk about stories * Tell your child stories * Read lots of different types of things- news papers, magazines, recipes, online books, cereal boxes, books!, kindles, print in the environment etc etc etc….. * Let your child see you as a writer- lists, notes, letters, emails, stories, news, diary…. * Support your child with home learning (writing, spelling, reading) * Write letters to your child, encourage them to write to family members or friends * Take a note book on trips, encourage your child to write * Make a book, magazine, comic together * Read through your child’s writing with them and talk about what you like and why, then encourage your child to think about how to improve it * Play games like Scrabble, Boggle, Balderdash, Upwords etc * Use the suggested websites

11. Using the internet to support your child’s writing There are many free resources and games on the web…. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/english/writing/ http://www.funbrain.com/words.html http://www.wordsforlife.org.uk/?gclid=CIy73sH307UCFUfMtAodKG4AeQ http://www.smartygames.com/ http://www.scholastic.com/kids/stacks/games/ http://www.netrover.com/~kingskid/writing/Kids_Writing.html