Teach-Primary-Issue-19.2

skills. As children are writing about something real – something they have actually done – it gives them something tangible on which to base their writing. This can help them to write confidently, as they can focus on expressing their thoughts and emotions clearly, without worrying about getting something wrong. However, the features of a recount can also be employed for creative writing. That might be an imaginative recount (e.g. a day in the life of a Roman soldier or a Victorian child, or an explorer’s recount of investigating a polar desert); or an historical recount (e.g. events leading up to the Great Fire of London from an eyewitness, or details of the Gunpowder Plot told by one of the conspirators). Writing about their own lives also gives pupils a voice. It allows them to share what’s important to them, to tell others about their life outside of the classroom, and explore how they’ve felt in particular moments. This can also help to show them that their experiences matter and their perspective as a young writer is valued, which can be important in nurturing children’s positive attitude to writing. Most importantly, recounting personal experiences can be fun! Reliving exciting or happy memories can be deeply engaging, helping pupils develop a writing-for- R ecounts are a key part of literacy in Key Stage 2, offering children the chance to reflect on familiar experiences while honing their skills as writers. Whether they’re retelling the excitement of a school trip, describing the highlights of a workshop, or sharing an experience from their life outside of school, recounts help pupils focus on how they write, rather than just what they write about. Not only do they allow children to relive and celebrate personal moments, but recounts can be a vehicle for imagination and creativity, too. Pupils can also be encouraged to write about imaginary events, employing the features of the genre to imagine themselves as witnesses to anything from the toil of a Victorian chimney sweep to life on a distant planet. By mastering the key features of recounts – like chronological structure, vivid descriptions, and reflective conclusions – children can learn to craft engaging texts that draw readers in and leave a lasting impression. We went to... Children can explore a variety of topics when writing recounts. The most common type is a personal experience, such as a recent school trip or workshop, or an enjoyable day out or special celebration. These are especially valuable as they allow children to reflect on an experience as well as honing their writing pleasure culture in the classroom, while also improving their skills. However, as always, teachers need to be sensitive about the different experiences that children might have had. Being asked to write a recount of their half-term holidays will be motivating and exciting for some, but others might be reluctant to write about their experiences for a whole variety of reasons. Being sensitive to this and perhaps giving children the choice to write about something from school, or something imagined as well, can be helpful for some, as well as ensuring they have ownership over their writing. How to teach RECOUNTS Help pupils craft engaging writing using recollections of past adventures and imaginary tales of historical events, with James Clements Remember these To write an effective recount, children will usually include the following key features: 1. Past tense: Recounts describe events that have already happened. Example: We visited the museum and saw an amazing display of fossils. 2. Chronological order: Events are presented in the order they occurred. Example: First, we boarded the bus. Then, we arrived at the museum. 72 | www.teachwire.net