at Park Mead Primary

Big Write Information Morning Introduction of Big Write and Big Talk To understand how it works at Park Mead Big Write VCOP DIRT Daily Basic Skills Talk Homework Children’s view Tour of the school to see it all in action

If a child can say it, then a child can write it

What is Big Writing? A philosophy about writing which was originally devised by Ros Wilson (former teacher & Ofsted inspector) A whole school approach to teaching writing Development of the writing voice through fast, fun, lively and mainly oral activities

What is Big Writing? Focuses on: Talk and oral rehearsal Accurate basic skills Giving writing a purpose Target setting

Key elements of Big Write? Every week the children concentrate on the four elements of Big Writing, V C O P: Vocabulary Connectives Openers Punctuation Classes have an interactive display outlining these elements

Key elements of Big Write Vocabulary – selecting exciting, challenging, different words and phrases to be used in their writing.

Key elements of Big Write Connectives – Children are taught to use a range of words and phrases which connect and extend ideas.

Key elements of Big Write Openers – Story and sentence openers which are interesting and excite the reader.

Key elements of Big Write Punctuation. Different kinds of punctuation which adds to the story and helps the story evolve.

If you want to create a generation of great writers, first of all make sure they are great talkers.

Big Talk A child can only write (unsupported) with the language stored in her or his own brain. A child therefore, can only speak or write within the range of language that he or she has already learned within the home, the community and school. Focused around children learning through talk Building talk into every area of our curriculum and our practice.

Big Talk Stimulus to encourage and facilitate talk Photos or pictures. Talk sofa. Role play/drama. Shared reading. School lunch. Story bags.

What does it look like at Park Mead?

Big Talk in Reception Big Talk is integrated in a continuous provision of adult led and adult initiated activities VCOP modelled through talk Outdoor talk time – talking all the time Opportunities for emergent and independent writing. Shared writing every day after story time Marking in same medium Read feedback in talk parters – editors glasses

Big Talk/Big Write in Year 1 Autumn Term 10 mins VCOP 10 mins Big Write Spring Term 15 mins VCOP 15 mins Big Write Summer Term 30 mins Big Write

Big Write in Year 2 – 6 1.5 hours weekly dedicated to the “Big Write” Starts in smaller chunks and builds up 35 mins on VCOP activities 10 mins planning time Break 45 mins Big Write (silent extended writing session)

Big Write in Year 2 – 6 VCOP session includes: Breaktime Fast, fun and lively oral VCOP activities through games Discuss success criteria (how to achieve an effective piece of writing for a particular task) planning time Breaktime

Big Write in Year 2 – 6 BIG WRITE Up to 45 minutes session of silent extended writing Year 2 and 3 to start at 30 mins and build up to longer time periods throughout the year Year 4, 5 and 6 to start at 45 mins

Big Write in Year 2 – 6 BIG WRITE classroom atmosphere for this session is altered to include: A quiet calming atmosphere – classes may play soft music Children may use a special pen or pencil Big Write folders for children to keep their work in (this folder to have their Writing Target Ladders in the front) The folders help the children to see the progression in their own writing

Dedicated Improvement Reflection Time DIRT Using written work from Big Write children to have the opportunity to: Read through work and teacher comments Edit and improve work Engage in peer / self assessment activities Use Writing Target Ladders

Talk Homework The Big Write task will be explained to the children prior to Big Write day A written slip explaining the talk homework will be given to the children and put on their year group website pages from September Children are encouraged to come home and TALK about it as a Talk Homework: To start thinking about the task To talk about it with someone at home To orally rehearse sentences they may wish to use

Children’s view A selection of children have been interviewed throughout the year Most children enjoy the Big Write and felt that they learnt from these sessions “like that I can get it all down so don’t have to do half one day and the rest another” “everybody is focussing” “can get rid of the DIRT in my work” “VCOP games gets us ready”

Children’s view Children in Year 2 and up were surveyed in a questionnaire (286 children in total) 81% agreed/strongly agreed that Big Write has helped them learn more writing skills 90% agreed/strongly agreed that they think their writing has improved this year 76% agreed/strongly agreed that they like the classroom atmosphere during Big Write 65% agreed/strongly agreed that they enjoy Big Write lessons

Children’s view My writing has improved by the fact that each week we have to write a piece of writing and then DIRT it. We write more frequently now I think Big Write has helped Park Mead’s writing What the children wrote when asked how they think writing has improved this year Last year we completed writing sometimes but not all the time now Big Write is on a set day so we know when it is. I love the changes that have happened this year. I really like Big Write because we learn lots and it really improves my writing. I think the changes to writing at Park Mead has made pupils a lot more confident and adventurous in our writing The changes to writing has been good because we get all week to plan and then on Friday we DIRT our work. We didn’t get as much time to write last year.

Tour of School Opportunity to see it all in action across the whole school A range of activities will be going on including: Big Write VCOP activities

Thank you very much for your time. Any further questions?