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BIG WRITING-What is it?


'Big Writing' is an innovative approach to the teaching of the skills of writing. It is highly effective for pupils from Reception to Key Stage 3, and has an immediate impact on writing standards.

There are three strands which involve:

  1. Basic skills: grammar, handwriting, spelling and sentence structure.
  2. Detail and story structure (openings, body and endings): who, what, when, where, why, and finally, emotions and feelings
  3. Writing voice - Vocabulary, connectives, sentence openers and punctuation (VCOP). 

VCOP - Vocabulary, Connectives, Openers and Punctuation

The teaching of VCOP is one of the key strands of Big Writing.

VCOP is focused teaching of the following:

Vocabulary = teach a wide range of ‘wow' words, (ambitious vocabulary, which is age related)

Connectives = teach a wide range of words and phrases for connecting thoughts, ideas, sentences etc; particularly useful for signposting the reader in CE essay writing. For a comprehensive list of connectives, click here

Openers = teach a wide range of ways of opening sentences, including sequence words, linking words and phrases and the 3 power openers: connectives, ‘ly' words and ‘ing' words. For a list of sentence openers click here

Punctuation = teach a wide range of punctuation using the punctuation pyramid (example below)  

During VCOP lessons, teachers will focus on different text types and structures, and prepare pupils for an independent writing session, the Big Write, when the children write independently and at length. 

During these sessions children are required to work quietly on their own.  Concentration is paramount and quiet music is often played. Big Writing also encourages children to proof read their own work and take responsibility for UP-LEVELLING their writing and improving it.
 

vcop_pyramid.jpg

Punctuation Pyramid



The Punctuation Pyramid is a graphic representation for the range of punctuation that should be realistic for most children at each level of writing. Each line represents a level and therefore use of a full stop only is Level 1 in punctuation (not necessarily in writing overall); a full stop and a question mark are Level 2 and so on. Children must show consistency at each level before they can progress to the next. However, teachers will praise children and encourage them to experiment with punctuation from the higher tiers.

For more information on BIG WRITING,
please visit the following web site: www.andrelleducation.co.uk/literacy.php
 

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