GreenEndPrimary School

Big Writing Policy

Introduction

Big Writing has been taking place at GreenEndPrimary School since September 2007. It is a weekly writing session that takes place in two parts, before and after break. It is designed to motivate children and make them want to write through a very structured approach. The aim is to improve the standard of writing produced by the children by giving them a wide variety of writing opportunities and experience of writing for a sustained time. The school has adapted elements of Ros Wilson’s Big Writing to meet the needs of its’ pupils.

Organisation

  • Big Writing takes place every Friday morning in years 1 to 6. The format is the same in all classes – a talk for writing/planning session before play and a writing session after play.
  • Strategies for teaching writing skills focus on vocabulary, connectives, openers and punctuation (known as VCOP).
  • In Key Stage One in week one of a two week unit the big writing session links with activities from Phase one or two, e.g. a character description or questions for a non-fiction text. In week two of a two week unit the big writing is the Phase 3 outcome differentiated to the children’s abilities.
  • In Key Stage Two in week one of a two week unit the big writing session is usually a recap of a writing type that has been taught previously. Whenever possible this piece of writing will have cross curricular links. Occasionally the big writing will link with activities in Phase One and Two. In week two of a two week unit the big writing is the Phase 3 outcome differentiated to the children’s abilities and links with the unit of work.
  • In both key stages the piece of Big Writing will usually be completely written during the session.

Timetable - Friday

  • Key Stage One

9:00 - 9:15 – reading

9:15 – 9:30 – Phonics

9:30 – 10.00 – Session One – Talk for writing/planning

10:00 – 10.15 – Playtime

10.15 – 11.00 – Extended writing session and milk/fruit break

11.00 – 12.00 – Numeracy

  • Key Stage Two

9:00 - 9:30 – lesson

9:30 – 10.15 – Session One – Talk for writing/planning

10:15-10:30 – Playtime

10.30 – 11.15 – Extended writing session

11.15 – 12.15 – Numeracy

  • Session One – Talk for writing/planning

This session is 30 minutes long in Key stage One and 45 minutes long in Key Stage Two. It is an interactive, lively and fun session that gets the children motivated for their writing. It will include some of the following:

  • Big Writing software – using talk partners and whiteboards.
  • VCOP Pyramids, eg to improve on sentences.
  • Talking Partners to practice the writing voice.
  • Use of posh voice to separate speech from writing.
  • Whiteboards to brainstorm language features of text or to compose sentences etc.
  • Pooling ideas as a class to inspire independent work.
  • Drama eg as a newsreporter for non fiction text types.
  • “Hot Seating.”
  • Recap text type features.
  • Modelling text type – keeping it short though.
  • Bank of various planning frames – children choose.
  • Approx 10 mins planning time as focus is more on oracy.
  • Lots of praise.
  • Talk frames and oral planning with talk partners.
  • Session Two – Extended Writing Session

This session is 30 minutes long in Key stage One and 45 minutes long in Key Stage Two. It is a quiet session where the children write mainly independently. It will include some of the following:

  • Classical music – Mozart.
  • Gel / Special pens/pencils
  • Lava Lamps / Scented candles.
  • Special Big Writing Books
  • VCOP target sheet stuck in front of book for children to self assess regularly(KS2).
  • TA or teacher / Writing frame to support SEN children – leading to independence in the future.
  • Teacher – floating role or targeted group support
  • SEN target work to substitute where necessary.
  • Ten minute VCOP reminders.
  • Activities for those who finish early, e.g. word searches, reading, unfinished work etc.
  • Treats during and at the end of session. (fruit)
  • LDD (Length, Detail and Description)
  • Display of different text type features.
  • VCOP display/punctuation pyramid
  • Link work completed to “Writer of the Week.”
  • Differentiated writing activities (linked with writing levels.

Resources

The following Big Writing resources are available to staff:

  • Big Writing Folder on Green End shared drive contains materials for displays, pyramids and mats etc. It also contains examples of specially made VCOP games to suit different genres.
  • The Big Writing games are available on all networked computers and laptops.
  • Ros Wilson books and guidance are available from Literacy Co-ordinator.

Environment

To ensure that the learning environment in all classes supports the teaching of Big Writing all classes should contain the following:

  • A punctuation pyramid (to level 3 in KS1 and level 5 in KS2)
  • Examples of writing at different levels appropriate to the class.
  • Examples of VCOP, e.g wow words, openers, connectives.
  • Individual pyramids (KS2) and mats (KS1)

Natalie Sims July 2008