Writing for Real

‘It’s been a really great course. I really appreciated having the time to reflect and plan ahead.’

For many children, writing is a chore, something you have to do because the teacher says so. If something is a chore, you don’t think you are very good at it and you can’t see the point of doing it, why bother? Standards in writing continue to be a concern for many schools. However, making the writing experience exciting and meaningful can have a significant effect on pupils’ attitudes towards writing. Get the attitude right and standards will improve.

Writing for Real is a proven approach to motivating and exciting children as writers, igniting the spark of their imaginations through lively and creative experiences. This ethos results in children of all ages writing for authentic purposes and audiences. In one school, following a Writing for Real course, a clutch of dragon’s eggs appeared in the playground. Children across Key Stage 2 became dragonologists and wrote a set of instructions on how to take care of the eggs, a report for the local newspaper about the unusual events and a missing egg poster when one mysteriously disappeared.

‘My expectations were met in full and much, much more. It was fab! Really engaging.’

Extensive research has shown that the Writing for Real approach has a significant impact on the desire to write, the quality of writing and attitudes towards writing.

Speaking, listening and drama play a large part in the Writing for Real approach resulting in quality discussions and questioning. ‘The quality of speaking and listening has improved hugely, particularly among the less able children and their writing is much livelier and more exciting.’

‘Loved the course, would definitely recommend it. You are great Gill & Steph.’

What a Writing for Real course offers:

• Input and support from top quality trainers Gill Matthews and Stephanie Austwick
• A wealth of ideas and examples
• The chance to experience an experience – for real!
• The opportunity to plan a Writing for Real experience that can be used back in the classroom
• A free Writing for Real compendium

Writing for Real courses can be run in individual schools, for network clusters and at Local Authority level. For further details, contact Gill.

You can also read more about the impact of this approach in the The Black Country Challenge Key Stage 1 & 2 Writing Project download.