Talk 4 Writing

Research evidence suggests  the following are the most effective strategies to improve students writing:

1. Explicit instruction
2. Abstract concepts are made concrete
3. Emphasis on fluency of Writing
4. Present skills in a cumulative and sequential manner
5. Develop meta-cognition to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and skills

The underlying principals of talk for writing are:

1. Provide a Model: teachers systematically model the speaking, listening, vocabulary and sentence patterns the students need
2. Use oral rehearse: students internalise the pattern of the language required by talking the text before they write it.
3. Make the learning visible : the work created during the progress of a unit is clearly displayed
4. Co-construct the learning: students are involved in activities that deepen their understanding making them independent thinkers and writers.

The Three Stages of Talk 4 Writing are:

1. Imitate
2. Innovate
3. Invent

At Eddystone Primary we have marked students work using Brightpath, a software package that enables teachers to match their students work with calibrated exemplars. The performance descriptors support teachers in understanding key features of the students writing development.