4.Writing


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Writing ** **// Learning to write:

//**   Similar to learning to read, learning to write may be implemented by various methods in the classroom. Writing is a very important skill to obtain and a much less difficult challenge if developed at an early age. Most children start school with little or no writing skills and often their first achievement will be learning to write their own name. During early years literacy children will develop spelling skills, different types of handwriting, punctuation and many other important aspects of writing. As they progress through primary school they continue to gain more knowledge, vocabulary and skills to become more confident writers. The language experiences children are usually exposed to helps break down the barrier between spoken and written language, which also occurs through reading. After there first years in primary school children grasp the concept much better, especially when literacy is taught in the simplest, most useful method. **//

Teaching writing: //** Some of the various methods of teaching writing are shared with teaching reading however they vary slightly for the reason that reading and writing are different skills. As with reading, there will be a diversity of levels throughout a classroom therefore different approaches need to be implemented. There will be children that enter a prep classroom that can already write basic words, for example their name and where they live, as well as these children there will be others that are beginning with no writing skills. __Modeled writing__ – occurs when the whole class works together with the teacher leading. An example might be when the teacher sits at the front of the class and the students on the floor in front. The teacher writes on a big piece of butcher paper, whilst doing so talks out loud what he/she is writing so the children are following and connecting the spoken and written languages. __Interactive writing__ – is a whole class or small group approach when most commonly the teacher will write down the easier words and the children come to the front or take control when more challenging vocabulary appears, thus the pen is shared. The situation is set up similar to modeled writing or in small group situations, the group sits around one table, there is one piece of paper and one pen. __Guided writing__ – is a small group approach where the groups are established according to need or particular level focus. The teacher moves around to each group prompting and encouraging the children as well as assessing them with their use of grammar, punctuation, describing words and other aspects of writing.