Talk For Writing

1. Talk For Writing Ferrars Infant and Nursery School

2. Analysis of ResultsSpeaking and Listening 2004/2005 • 40% of children achieved level 3 • 24% of children were level 1 compared with 12% national average • Some EAL as well as English speaking underprivileged children limited by vocabulary • This having a direct impact on writing • Needed to provide greater opportunities to develop vocabulary and children’s confidence with the English language

3. Action and Targets • SLT and literacy co met to discuss next steps • Staff INSET to share and generate more ideas • Decided on a whole school approach • To increase opportunities for and standards in Speaking and listening • To improve children’s communication skills • To increase standards in writing

4. Speaking and Listening • Looked at KS1 objectives • Year groups plan activities each term to meet objectives • Objectives to be met throughout the curriculum • Looked at national curriculum levels for speaking and listening to ensure high expectations

5. Communication Skills Lack of communication skills can cause • Barriers to learning • Poor self esteem • Feelings of isolation • Create additional problems

6. Next Steps

7. Role Play • Role play corners • Exploration of everyday language • Activities planned • Opportunities to write • Note pads, lists, menus, memo pads

8. Boarding Pass • Name_____________________ • Seat number________________ • Going to __________________

9. Café Order • Name ________________________ • Address_______________________ • Table number__________ • Food _________________________ • Drink _________________________

10. Your next appointment is on: ___________________ at: ____________________

11. Sunshine Holidays Name ____________________________ Address __________________________ Where to? ________________________ How long for? _____________________ Mode of transport___________________

12. Drama • Acting in character • Hot seating • Cross curricular opportunities • Increased motivation in boys writing • Children have been more able to write in role • Growing understanding of the importance of characterisation when writing stories

13. Talking Partners • Used in literacy and across the curriculum • Mixed ability pairs • Writing partners • Structured activities to: Share experiences Generate ideas

14. Communication Activities • Feeling charades • Action charades • Using puppets • Picture box • Conversation ball

15. Circle Time and Time Fillers • Oral retellings of stories • Magic pen • Describing pictures • Changing the leader (non-verbal communication) • Finish the story

16. The Role of Support Staff • Working with small groups • Story sacks • Object bags • Word building • Cookery • Increasing confidence and vocabulary • Improving communication skills

17. Purpose and Audience • Children having1st hand experiences and being given the opportunity to talk about them

18. Writing about experiences • School trips • School visitors • Organised entertainers • Producing work for assemblies • Letters

19. Using ICT • Photographs • Tape recorders • Video • DVD’s • Sound effects • Internet searches

20. Impact on Writing We now have greater opportunities for • Children to collect, rehearse and refine ideas before they write • A real purpose and audience for their writing • Drama and role play • Sharing ideas and experiences • Developing communication skills