Teaching+how+to+Write

=__**Teaching Writing**__=

Teaching writing to children is based around **modeled, shared, guided and independent ** writing. This may already sounds familiar because in teaching children how to read, teachers also use this technique but in reading.

 **Modelled writing** is when the teacher shows the children in her/his class how to write. The teacher selects the idea for the story in this case depending on what the students are studying at the time so he/she can relate the writing to that topic.. Modelled writing involves the whole class and the teacher uses a enlarged book. The teacher also usually has large paper in front of the class on a board (maybe butchers paper, which is what my group used when we took ECL210 class tutorial in the morning, but for shared writing). The teacher is the only person in control of the pen and demonstrates how to write with the the right information. This also demonstrates proper spelling and punctuation

 **Shared** or otherwise referred to as **interactive writing** is when both the teacher and student put forth their ideas to the board. Shared writing is usually undertaken in small groups. The students select the idea for the story in this case. The teacher is in charge of the pen, however can ask the students to have a a go at writing words on the paper and participate. In shared writing it is usually the teacher who writes the easy words on the board, and the children write the more difficult words up. This may also be presented to the class by the teacher in sentence form where he/she may write a sentence and then prompt a/some students to write a sentence. This allows them to also improve in their spelling area. The teacher may ask, " 'What will we write first?'Who are the characters?', and then choose one child to write the opening sentence.'What will the problem be?'"(Hill, 2006, pg. 301)

(Image #6 retrieved via Google) Above is an example of a teacher and her class engaging in **Interactive** or **Shared writing**. The teacher has chosen this girl to come and write a word or sentence on the paper in front of the class.

 **Guided writing** can either be written by an individual student or can work in a small group. In Guided writing it is only the student who holds the pen and does the writing. The teacher usually does this in small groups to keep a close watch and see the students progress. The student might undertake a selection out of a range of writing texts. They may put a contribution towards a class project or may be individual work.


 *  I ****n dependent writing** is very different to all the different types of writing above. In this case the teacher has very little influence on the students work, and it is usually only the students ideas that are put into the writing. The wtudent may choose to write a story, an informative piece or possibly a personal experience. This technique is great in confidence building and lets the student experience writing for themselves.