1. BIG Writing A Ros Wilson Strategy
Set up classroom with candle & mozart, lights dimmed

2. The Big Writing Philosophy
Big Writing is the development of the ‘writing voice’ through fast, fun, lively and predominantly oral activities
Pupils talk the ‘writing voice’ in a dedicated ‘Big Writing’ session & at other points in a week
Based on the premise,
IF A CHILD CAN SAY IT, A CHILD CAN WRITE IT

3. Philosophy Continued ….
The talking voice is not the same as the ‘writing voice’
BOYS LOVE TO TALK!
WHAT’S GOOD FOR THE BOYS IS GOOD FOR THE GIRLS
Talking voice vs posh [writing] voice- RW suggested that T and Ch speak in a posh voice at some point during the day.
Talking voice is less formal than writing voice.
Talking voice includes slang & dialect, truncated sentences, (get off! Go away! Come here!) superlatives, intonation & expression.
Writing voice is grammatically correct.

4. The Four Generic Targets
VCOP
Summary
Vocabulary
Connectives
Openers
Punctuation
The range of ambitious vocabulary a
pupil knows; WOW words.
The range of ways pupils have of joining ideas, phrases & sentences
The strategies pupils have for opening sentences; especially the 3 key openers: connectives, ‘ly’ words & ‘ing’ words
The range of punctuation a pupil can use & the accuracy with which they use it.
These are the 4 generic targets which impact on writing.
Chanting- hand movements.
Best writing- always writing at the best level.
VCOP should be incorporated into all Literacy sessions in both reading and writing. It may not be a separate session, should permeate all sessions including in other subjects. Still need to teach the framework objectives, picking out other things as well.

5. The Punctuation Pyramid
Level 1 . 2
. ? 3
. ? , ! 4
. ? , ! … ’ “” 5
. ? , … - ! ’ “” : ; ( )
Mention ‘Kung Fu’ punctuation. Multi sensory approach. Appendix 1 Write on Target [Gold Book] included in handout.
Philip Davies inset.
The Punctuation Pyramid

6. BIG WRITING – The Method
One hour per week, plus daily stocking fillers
Time comes from one literacy hour, Time should be split into 2 x 30 min sessions across a morning
Will consider at end of session.

7. BIG WRITING – Different text types
Poetry
Story
Non Fiction
Recounts
Letters
Pupil portfolio- plastic wallet files- special for BIG write only
Special paper- recommend A5 lined (yr1) A4 lined with margin everywhere else.
The three goals
Three pieces of fruit to eat during the session
Length, detail, description.

8. BIG WRITING – Teacher’s Role
To maintain the silence
To provide 10min brain breaks
To prompt pupils to build in VCOP
[These are known as time prompts]

9. 30 MINS It's BIG Writing time! 10 mins 30 mins 20 mins 15 mins
10 mins
Check your punctuation!
30 mins
Check your targets! 30
MINS
It's
BIG Writing
time!
20 mins
Check your openers and connectives.
15 mins
Check your WOW words!

10. Time Prompts
A clock should be visible to all pupils, ideally colour coded in 10min intervals.
‘You have had 10 minutes. Count how many sorts of punctuation you have used?’
‘You have had 15 minutes. How many WOW words have you used?’
‘You have had 20 minutes. Look at your openers. Have you opened with connectives…’ly’ words, ’ing’ words?
‘You have 5 minutes left.’
Sorts/different types of punctuation not pieces of punctuation
After about 5 or 6 weeks, can reduce prompt to ’10 mins, what should you have included?’

11. Stocking Fillers
Every day aim to finish one lesson 5 minutes early to do some quick VCOP activities.
Encourage the children to ‘steal’ good examples of VCOP from authors.
Gold book appendix 2

12. Write on Target
The next day “Target Friday” the children will work in small groups or independently to focus on their target.
This target will be set by the class teacher in direct response to their Big Write work.
For example
Target “Please use more adjectives”
Work could be
Write a list of interesting adjectives.
Write three sentences that include two adjectives.
This instant response means that children will make clear improvements in their writing before starting the next week’s work.
Appendices
Kung Fu Punctuation
VCOP Activities
All Write Now resources
Write on Track intervention lessons Y6 linked to chapter 9
Writing Levels from Dunbartonshire linked to Criterion Scale
Intervention Y2
READ CH 4 and 5.