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Goonhavern Pre-SchoolGoonhavern Primary School

Talk for Writing

What is Talk for Writing? Pie Corbett explains

Talk for Writing founder and Literacy expert, Pie Corbett, gives a brief overview of the Talk for Writing approach to teaching Literacy, and why it works.

In Goonhavern School we use Talk for Writing to support all children to become confident and accomplished writers.

 

 

Talk for Writing Information for Parents

Goonhavern Primary School introduced Talk for Writing in September 2020.  It is a creative, yet rigorous approach to raising standards in writing developed by the author Pie Corbett. It is fundamentally based on the key principles of how children learn.

Talk for Writing enables children to imitate the key language patterns they needs for a particular text type orally before they read and analysing it. Though fun activities that help them to rehearse the tune of the language they need, followed by shared writing to show them how to craft their writing, children are helped to write in the same style.

The process includes three main stages, usually taught over three weeks:

Have a go task!

 

We begin the teaching and learning process with a ‘cold’ writing task. This means the children have a go at writing in the text type they will learn about. Teachers use this piece of writing to identify strengths and aspects of writing that need further development. This informs teachers planning.  

Imitation

Let’s imitate!

 

A text is introduced and read to the children; together the class learn to tell the story. To help the children remember a multi-sensory approach is used:

-A visual story map

-Actions

-Using animated and lively expression

 

As the children learn the stories word for word, they develop the use of specific sentence structures and language patterns that suit the text type.

The principle is that if a child can tell a story, they will be able to write a story.

During this first stage we also use a range of drama games to develop an understanding of the story and begin to build up a washing line in our classroom with posters reminding children of the learning journey so far.

Innovation

 

Let’s innovate!

 

The children explore different ways they could change aspects of the original text, for example changing characters, setting or writing from a different point of view. They then make changes to their story map and orally tell this new story.

 

Through shared and guided writing, the children write this new version in manageable sections. During this week, we teach spelling and grammar in the context of the story.

This stage is very supportive so children gain confidence and know what they need to do in order to get better.

Invention

Let’s invent!

  

 Show what you know!

In this final stage, the children use all the skills they have learnt so far to write an independent ‘hot’ piece. 

There is a freedom to draw upon their own ideas, or they can ‘hug closely’ to the original shared text should they need to. Teachers use this task to assess how much progress the children have made.

The children present their work by either publishing, presenting or reading out loud to peers to celebrate their successes.

For more information about Talk for Writing, click here.