The nation’s policy-makers have decided, quite rightly, to turn the spotlight on writing. SAT results show what teachers knew already - that children are better at reading than writing. This is partly because the literacy hour itself has been better at reading than writing, but it’s also fair to say that writing is harder to teach. Put even more simply, most people find it easier to read than to write.
So it’s time writing got the attention it deserves. Being able to write is empowering; in this information age, that’s truer than ever - even if research tells us that e-mail shorthand is bad for spelling. Clear and precise writing go hand-in-hand withlucid thinking. But children still need space and time to be creative, so it’s up to teachers to ensure they have it. Even government literacy officials say it’s okay to bend and stretch the hour for extended writing.
As usual, TES Primary is here to help. With National Poetry Day and Children’s Book Week in October, this issue has a major focus on writing and literature. Our Write Away competition encourages autobiographical pieces, while Alan Peat shows how to teach haiku. From the research findings to John Stringer’s stories of scientists, which could inspire pupils to write about discoveries and inventors, there is much to think about.
