Writing

Writing

Encourage your child to write at home. The key is to accept all writing and keep it positive. Remember praise works wonders.

  • Encourage your child to keep a journal. Buy an exercise book and decorate it.
  • Keep gel pens, different coloured pens and pencils handy to make writing special.
  • Ask your child to help write grocery lists.
  • Encourage your child to write down phone messages.
  • Find a pen pal and rediscover the lost art of letter writing.
  • Write sentences on steamy shower screens or mirrors.
  • Use a paint brush and water to practise writing words or sentences on paths.
  • Play list games.
  • Make lists:
  •  Cool Ten things to do on a rainy day;
  •  Cool ten things a dinosaur would eat;
  •  Cool ten whacky excuses for not tyding up.
  • Write stories together, using a who, where, when and what happened sequence.
  • As a family, play writing games. Write one sentence, pass it on to make a funny story.
  • Make up rhymes or poems.

                                    The main text types taught in NSW schools

  Recount Purpose: To inform about a series of past events in the sequence in which they occurred

Structure:  Orientation, events in chronological order, reorientation or personal comment.

 

Narrative

Purpose: To entertain

Structure: Orientation, complication, resolution

                                                       

Information Report

Purpose: To classify and describe phenomena

Structure: General statement, description

 

Explanation

Purpose: To explain scientifically how technological and natural phenomena come into being

Structure: Statement of phenomenon, explanation sequence, background information (optional)

 

Exposition

Purpose: To persuade and argue a case for or against an issue (only one point of view is explored)

Structure: Statement of position, argument 1, argument 2, argument 3, reinforcement of position

 

Discussion

Purpose: To examine issues from more than one perspective and to make recommendations

Possible Structure: Case for stated, arguments in order, case against stated, arguments in order, conclusion/recommendation.

 

Procedure

Purpose: To give instruction and clear directions

Structure: Goal, materials, Steps

 

Poetry

Purpose: To provide enjoyment and appreciation of ideas and language.

Structure: Varied. Can be approached as a series of steps or moves. These steps are generally signaled in stanza or verse structures.