Teach Reading and Writing Issue 19

Issues There are many obstacles we as teachers have to contend with when teaching the English curriculum, so let’s explore the key issues and work out some possible solutions. How can we teach everything we’re supposed to while keeping pupils engaged and motivated? If we can answer this question, we’ll have cracked the puzzle, and the writing will surely flow. I ’m finding it impossible to get them to write.” Eavesdropping on staffroom conversations, we hear things like this very frequently. These cries from the heart are often followed up with complaints such as, “If I allow them to use their own text language, they’ll write screeds, with stuff like 2DAY, my Bestie, JSYK . But they can’t use that in English tests!” The usual response from pupils to a writing challenge is, “But I don’t know how to start.” Getting going is crucial in a piece of written work – I’m sure as teachers you have experienced this, many times over. So, we need to begin with what is relatable and interesting to the children, even if that is sometimes text speak. Start early Which age group has the most vivid imaginations? Most parents will tell you it’s their toddlers – young children often spend a lot of their time exploring imaginary worlds, and thriving in them. Surely that is one of the magic ingredients of the Harry Potter books – they take children to a new world, and new experiences, which is always exciting. So, the first key point is that it’s never too soon to teach writing, and it needs to be seen as an adventure. Let’s think for a minute about what makes a movie more exciting. The actors? Possibly. The story? Sometimes. The music? Aways! So, let’s do this: play some background music to go “But where do I start?!” Wave goodbye to writer’s block with these fun and effective strategies to get any child putting pen – or pencil – to paper... JENN CLARK AND GAV I N RE I D 54 | www.teachwire.net