+ Creating Interest

We introduce a story or text type. We develop discussion, eliciting responses and extending them whilst developing critique. Through active reading, we predict, raise questions and define the text type. We begin to collect vocabulary and understand its meaning.

+ Reading and Response

We immerse children in reading the genre. Children develop their reading comprehension by engaging with and responding to the text in many different ways, often through drama. They develop empathy through their understanding of characters, relationships, feelings and motives.

+ Reading and Analysis

We identify the audience and purpose of the text. We analyse the language, structure and organisation of the text type. Key grammar skills are highlighted and practised. We begin to learn texts ‘off by heart.’

+ Gathering Content

We prepare for writing by gathering ideas and vocabulary. Children ‘magpie’ key words and phrases. They practise the grammar skills needed to be effec-tive at this text type through short pieces of writing.

+ Planning and Writing

After a key text is learned, it is broken up into parts and we note and develop our own ideas, using this as a model for planning. The teacher then models each part, through shared writing and the children compose their own, closely imitating the teacher’s structure. Children improve their writing from teacher feedback. Finally we plan together for an independent piece of writing, in which children innovate and try hard to use the many skills and ideas formed through the above process.

+ Presentation

We share our writing with others in many different ways. We look for WAGOLL—What a good one looks like. We may read it aloud or publish it on the school website.