Today’s spotlight is on writing in the primary classroom. Writing is a fundamental skill that forms the foundation for a child’s academic and personal development. At GCC, we place great importance on nurturing the writing abilities of our students throughout their primary school years.

I would like to highlight two essential components of writing instruction; Sketch to Write and Personal Narrative Writing.

Sketch to Write is a lower primary writing technique that encourages children to draw before they write. At this stage, many children possess rich imaginations and visual thinking skills. By allowing them to sketch their ideas before writing, we help them tap into their creative potential and provide them with a supportive platform to express their thoughts.

Sketching provides a visual scaffold for young writers, helping them develop a clear understanding of what they want to communicate. It allows them to visualise characters, settings, and events, leading to more engaging and descriptive writing. Additionally, the connection between sketching and writing enhances their ability to organise their ideas and develop coherent storylines.

Personal Narrative Writing is an important component of writing instruction that occurs throughout the entire primary school years. Personal narratives are stories based on a child’s own experiences, enabling them to connect with the content and make it more meaningful. By focusing on one topic, children learn to delve deeper into their chosen subject, enhancing their understanding of storytelling elements such as character development, setting, and plot.

In personal narratives, it is essential to make the characters move, talk, think, and feel. By using “show, not tell” language, writers can create a more vivid and engaging narrative. For example, instead of telling the reader that a character is sad, the writer can show the character crying or slumping their shoulders. By incorporating sensory details, dialogue, and internal thoughts, young writers can create more immersive and impactful narratives.

Writing personal narratives nurtures creativity and self-expression and promotes language development, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. It encourages children to organise their thoughts, sequence events, and use descriptive language to engage the reader.

At GCC, we are committed to creating a supportive and nurturing environment for our young writers. We encourage you to engage with your child’s writing journey by providing opportunities for sketching, discussing their personal narratives, and celebrating their accomplishments. By working together, we can empower our young writers to become confident and proficient communicators.

Sarah Jennings, Primary Curriculum Coordinator