Intent

We take children through a journey in order to improve them as writers. We want children to be driven to write by purpose.  These include: to create, to entertain, to express, to persuade, to inform and to record. Writing is a creative art and a form of expression that allows pupils at Moorcroft Wood Primary School to have a voice and express themselves. Our writing process is blocked into units of work. Firstly, children are exposed to a particular quality text where they learn about particular key features and techniques, being exposed to what makes it a quality example. The second stage of writing is the point where the children are taught the punctuation and grammar skills needed in order to create a final piece of writing. Most grammar, punctuation and vocabulary elements are taught in context of the text. This allows the metalanguage of grammar to be ‘caught as well as explicitly taught’.  During this stage of writing children may also carry out incidental pieces of writing in order to show understanding of character, setting or plot or grammatical skills taught. The final stage of writing is where the children explore and record their ideas through drafting, editing and proofreading, their final independent piece of writing based on their studied genre. We teach the spelling content and lists taken from the National Curriculum.  We also promote 'Penpals' handwriting which children practise regularly.

I am a Clever Writer

At Moorcroft Wood Primary we have just started our exciting journey using 'I am a Clever Writer as a basis for teaching writing skills. We ensure our children write everyday, practising newly taught skills discreetly before layering them with previously taught skills. 

I am clever writer is a clearly structured approach to teach writing, where each strand of writing is broken down into small steps to allow pupils to experience success with their writing.Teaching sequences are carefully planned to ensure time  for consolidation and the development of a skill relating to the' I am a Clever Writer Checklist'. 

The teachers create a Wagoll (what a good one looks like) based on the text/visual literacy that is being shared to model how to include the features in their own writing. At the end of the sequence of learning an extended piece of writing called a  Star Write is completed where children bring together all the skills they have been taught that week. The strands taught match the requirements  of the national curriculum and become increasingly more complex throughout the year as the children become more skilled. This approach allows teachers to teach specific skills discretely and ensure they are layered to give our children the tools they need to be confident writers.

If you want further information about the curriculum content your child is covering please call the school office to arrange an appointment to see the subject leader.