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Igniting Writing - Eight Strategies to Improve Writing. A Dfes ‘Innovations Project’

This is a synopsis of an inspiring talk given by Pie Corbett at a conference hosted by Gloucestershire for Small Schools Advisers from all over the country held at the Moat House Hotel on 13th and 14th July 2004. As Pie’s speed of delivery is greater than that of my note taking, I apologise for any inaccuracies! If you get the opportunity to hear a presentation by Pie I recommend you take it. He has practical strategies for improving all aspects of literacy and is very entertaining.

Writing Blocks/Frames/Scaffolds

Writing Blocks help to teach the craft of writing. Length of blocks should be adapted to suit the stage of development of the children. Much experience and practice of the patterns of a particular form of writing are important to ‘embed’ them. Develop each ‘stage’ of the text type individually and then put them together.

Increase Reading

Reading is important to the process of enabling children to ‘internalise’ the narrative patterns of writing ; ideas, characters, settings , events. Develop children’s enthusiasm for books in all possible ways :-

  • exhibit your own enthusiasm
  • encourage children to recommend books to their peers
  • reading pairs e.g. Y6/Y2
  • boost use of class and school libraries
  • promote boys’ books
  • use packs of books for class and guided reading
  • develop a system of rewards for reading
  • eye catching promotional posters for books

Talk the Text Type

Familiarise the children with the text type by using lots of examples. Encourage children to verbalise the text type :-

  • hot-seating
  • role play
  • storytelling using well-known stories each year from Reception to Y4. Teacher teller / child teller / listener prompts

Rich Literature

Immerse the children in quality literature. Use visiting authors, storytellers and theatre groups whenever possible.

Rich Experience

Use audio-visual aids, visits and as much first hand experience as possible to inspire children to write. Train them to observe and listen.

Strengthen Basics

Daily practice of basics is essential. Individual whiteboards are useful for practice of phonics, spelling, handwriting, sentence construction giving immediate application and assessment.

Increase Shared Writing

This is very important for teaching all aspects of writing and should be matched by increased individual writing.

Make Marking Work

    • Use highlighters to emphasise ‘good bits’. Children can also do this.
    • Use marking to answer, ‘What do I teach next?’
    • Use supportive comments and make suggestions, Next time…………’.
    • Use ‘proactive marking’ (using symbols, underlining, comments etc.) to point out where writing could be improved by choice of words, adverbs, adjectives etc..
    • One or two children could write on an OHP to allow ‘shared marking’, a valuable teaching tool