Teaching+Children+to+Write

__ Teaching children how to write __

Firstly, the children need to be able to write the actual letters in the alphabet in order to write sentences. This is an example of how a teacher can go about teaching the children how to write, starting with the letter 'a':

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This activity helps the children to write the letters accurately, involving all the children in the small group, which allows the children to interact with the teacher as well as with each other:

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Like teaching how to read, there are also four parts to teach the children how to write. These include: modelled writing, shared and interactive writing, guided writing and independent writing. A detailed explanation of these is:
 * Modelled writing- Here, the teacher writes on the blackboard, demonstrating to the children ‘how a writer uses words, sentences and text types to record ideas’. (Hill 2006, pg.87) The teacher may also choose to demonstrate various purposes for writing.
 * Shared and interactive writing- Shared writing is when the teacher leads the class ‘in exploring ways to write various text types, construct more complex sentences and check spelling and grammar’. (Hill 2006, pg.88) The children are given an opportunity to interact with the teacher as well as one another whilst sharing the pen when they are writing. This helps build their confidence within the class and encourage them to share their thoughts and opinions to the class.
 * Guided writing- Involves individuals or small groups of children writing various text types. Beforehand, the teacher may conduct a mini lesson ‘to demonstrate a particular aspect of text type, grammar, punctuation or spelling.’ (Hill 2006, pg.88)

This video is of the teacher saying why and what is done during guided reading which is also linked to guided writing:

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 * Independent writing- The purpose is to build the children’s fluency, motivation and an opportunity to express their own ideas and experiment. ‘Independent writing provides chances for using different text types and encourages children to investigate and practice a variety of written forms.’ (Hill 2006, pg.88)

__Comprehension__

‘Comprehension is understanding the meaning of what is read from the print, illustrations, layout and design.’ (Hill 2006, pg.190) As the children read, they are extracting what they think the text means to them.  There are three parts in comprehension: the reader, the text ad the activity.
 *  The reader- the person reading the text and what they gather from reading through their own background and personal ideas and thoughts.
 *  The text- Can be the print, or however the text is presented to the reader
 *  The activity- Consist of three dimensions:
 * 1)  the purpose of reading
 * 2)  the processes
 * 3) the consequences

<span style="color: rgb(91, 12, 126)"> Here, the teacher is introducing word families which will help the children build up their vocabulary and try to attempt more difficult words:

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<span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(181, 33, 139)"> Together, writing and reading prepare and enable the children to ‘properly function’ and be part of a community.