How to get your Child Writing

Charlotte and I both taught as primary school teachers for over ten years, teaching from Reception all the way through to year 6, and additionally specialising in 11+ preparation. We have tutored for even longer, supporting children on a 1:1 basis as well as in small groups.

One of our main areas of educational support has undoubtedly focussed on finding ways to encourage, inspire and guide children with writing.

In this blogpost, we share the latest recommendations from the Education Endowment Foundation on improving literacy, as well as giving some practical ways on how you can encourage your child to write. Excerpts from this post have been featured in Twinkl.

Reports:
Preparing for Literacy (Early Years) – Education Endowment Foundation (updated 27th October 2021)
Improving Literacy in Key Stage One – Education Endowment Foundation (updated 27th October 2021)
Improving Literacy in Key Stage Two – Education Endowment Foundation (updated 25th November 2021)

Positive communication

High quality interaction and communication with your child is vital for their language development. By this we mean talking with your child as opposed to talking to your child. Encourage your child to think  and express themselves in their own way. Ask them open-ended questions; model effective language and explicitly extend your child’s vocabulary through conversations.

What can I do?

When out for a walk, have fun having conversations with your child which require your child to think, learn and express ourselves.
“What would happen if the sun started rising at night time?”
“How would you describe the sound of the wind? Is it whistling like a bird or howling like a wolf?”
“How do you think the clouds are feeling at the moment? What about the trees? Could you use the word ‘ominous’ to describe the clouds?”

Encourage reading

Read! Right from an early age, develop your child’s phonological awareness and interest in sounds. Singing, rhyming and storytelling can begin from a young age and are essential in developing your child’s literacy skills. Read to your children but ask them questions along the way to ensure comprehension. Bring up the story at different times in the day to help them feel excited about the book.

Once your child is starting to read independently, encourage them to read regularly. Reading both fiction and non-fiction books, magazines, newspapers and comics etc is the first step to getting those creative juices flowing. Not only this, but it exposes children to new vocabulary, aids spellings and is the starting point to their writing journey.

What can I do?

1. Find some wonderful books to read! Here is our ‘Recommended Reading List’ for primary school children and our ’11+ Reading List’.
2. If books are overwhelming, try magazines. Here is our list of ‘Children’s Magazines’.
3. Consider audio books as well. My own children listen to stories before going to sleep and it’s really helping to develop their language.
4. If you need some advice about how to encourage your children to read, read our blogpost, Reading with Children.

Writing capability

Writing can be both physically and intellectually demanding. There are so many components to being able to write confidently: handwriting; a solid grasp of phonics; spelling; punctuation; grammar; vocabulary and ideas to name but a few! Your child may have an educational learning need as well, such as dyslexia, which may add further challenges. Don’t focus on everything at once or your child may lose enthusiasm and confidence. Guide your child along the journey and provide them with a range of strategies to support them. 

What can I do?

1. Read our blogpost on ‘Help with handwriting’.
2. Check out our Bright Light Phonics Books!
   Book 1 focuses on Phase 2 phonics, which is usually taught in the autumn term of Reception. This book is ideal in supporting and reinforcing phonics for Reception children in England. Reception children are those entering the first year of primary school (4-5 year olds). Schools in England are required to follow the Government’s Letters and Sounds Programme and so this book will fit well with your child’s own school teaching of phonics.
   Book 2 focuses on Phase 3 phonics, which is usually taught in the spring term of Reception. Structured in a weekly format, we hope our workbooks will provide a straightforward and enjoyable way in which to guide your child on their phonics journey!
3. Read our blogpost on ‘What the phonics?’
4. Head to the British Dyslexia Association for further advice. Try programmes such as “Nessy” for supporting your child with dyslexia. 

Writing Support

Our Creative Writing Skills book is ideal for all children wanting to improve their writing skills. Aimed at 7-14 year olds, this inspiring combination of teaching guide and activity workbook, in an easily accessible format, will help children produce compelling stories. It is perfect for children sitting entrance examinations, those who are home-schooled, and those who simply wish to improve their story writing.

What can I do?

Head to Amazon to purchase our Creative Writing Skills book.