Write Here, Write Now is a creative writing award run by the Department for Education and Skills and aimed at eight to 10-year-olds, which supports the National Primary Strategy.
Children are asked to finish off a piece of writing started by a well-known author in one of four categories: Story (opening lines by Gillian Cross); Poem (opening lines by Brian Patten); Persuasive Writing (opening lines by Geraldine McCaughrean) and Journalism (advice by Lizo Mzimba).
The materials in the teacher’s pack are designed to be used flexibly with pupils in Years 4 and 5 during the summer term and can be integrated into the literacy hour.
There are general tips on writing and information about the different text types as well as activity sheets on the four categories of writing.
The story, poem and persuasive writing categories are for individual pupils; the journalism category is for children working in groups of up to six who are asked to produce a newspaper or TV report.There are also Improvement Awards for those children who have made significant improvement in writing.
The closing date for entries is July 14. Prizes are awarded at regional and national level.
* For full details and to order a teacher’s pack, go to www.writehere.org.uk or Tel: 0870 609 1948.
