Writing strategies Estonia Activity 1 Co-writing Writing in a small group on a given topic. Depending on the topic, this kind of work is suitable for different age levels. Sample task: Creative story " Good Father" The story consists of three parts or paragraphs (they are written on the blackboard or displayed on the wall): 1. Father's appearance 2. Description of the father's work 3. What we do with my dad The groups of three are formed in the class, each member of the group writes a part of the description. Incomplete writing is passed on to the next member who writes the second part of the story, etc. The writers of paragraphs 2 and 3 should ensure that the written part has some connection to the preceding paragraphs. The recommended time for writing each part could be, for example, 5-7 minutes, then the work is exchanged. In total, three different stories of a nice father are being made in the group. Next, members of the group can choose the best father and read aloud the story in the class. Activity 2 Story writing based on questions Background information: 1
Transcript
Writing strategies Estonia
Activity 1
Co-writingWriting in a small group on a given topic. Depending on the topic, this kind of work is suitable for different age levels.
Sample task:
Creative story " Good Father"
The story consists of three parts or paragraphs (they are written on the blackboard or displayed on the wall):
1. Father's appearance
2. Description of the father's work
3. What we do with my dad
The groups of three are formed in the class, each member of the group writes a part of the description. Incomplete writing is passed on to the next member who writes the second part of the story, etc. The writers of paragraphs 2 and 3 should ensure that the written part has some connection to the preceding paragraphs.
The recommended time for writing each part could be, for example, 5-7 minutes, then the work is exchanged.
In total, three different stories of a nice father are being made in the group.
Next, members of the group can choose the best father and read aloud the story in the class.
Activity 2
Story writing based on questionsBackground information:
Due to the organization of the Literacy Day in connection with the Paikuse Library, it was necessary to motivate the class to write a story about "My Favorite Book". Not very long time ago, the introduction of books which were read by the students in summer had taken place and writing the story based on that.
The goal is to develop children's literacy and literacy skills. Develop oral and written speech, broaden the horizons, develop critical thinking, etc.
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Strategy:
Such a strategy supports the correct grammatical literacy of the children at the school, the fluency and logic of the subject, but also the interest in reading the books.
Sample questions which help the student write a story:
What book is it?
Who is the author of this book?
What were the characters in this book?
What was the most exciting, funniest or worse place?
If you could make yourself a character of the book, who would you be there?
What does the author of the book want to teach you?
Why is this book your favorite one?
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Activity 3
RAFT writing (RAFT- Role Audientce Format Topic)Writing includes four perspectives:
1. R: the role of the writer (Who are you?)
2. A: an addressee (to who do you write?)
3. F: Form (in what form do you write?)
4. T: Theme/ topic (What topic?)
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RAFT writing can be used both individually and in group work.
The RAFT writing process has the following steps:
• A teacher presents a theme (eg SCHOOL)
• A brainstorm is organised to find roles. The goal is to find as many roles as possible from the point of view of the subject, and who can be involved with this topic (a student, a teacher,a cleaner, a heamaster and so on).
Later, the student or a group of students chooses one role from whose role he/she/it writes.
• A brainstorming session in a group can be organised to find who the chosen character could write.
• Also, brainstorming on text formatting (e-mail, sms ...)
• The text is being prepared during the specified period.
• There are many possibilities for presentation, for example, the text may be presented orally, submitted using the authoritative method, the written text can be hung on the wall.
Brainstorming results can be put into a format of a table.
topic role addressee format
Activity 4
CinquainThis method is to summarize the information, express one's thoughts and understandings using only a few words.
1st line is a single word describing the topic – one noun
2nd line is a two-word description of the subject-two adjectives.
3rd line is the description of the activities of the topic- three -ing words
4th line is a four-word sentence that expresses the feelings associated with the subject.
5th line is the synonym of the first line, which repeats the essence of the subject.
Example (Volcanoes)
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Vulkaanid
Punased, kuumad
Purskamine, põletamine, keemine
Looduse hõõgav hukutav sulatusahi
Tulemägi
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Activity 5
Creative/ free story writingBackround:
As a part of Estonian curriculum, the students have to do a creative work in basic school (a research, practical work, organising an event at school etc). One student chose a topic of writing a youth story.
The process of writing:
Step 1. Planning the story- brainstorming about the characters, the style of the story, the structure, the basic content/ events that happen etc
Step 2. Writing a story- discussing grammar and vocabulary matters (using synonyms etc)
Step 3. Reading aloud the story (error correction)
Step 4. Illustrating the story, designing a cover, drawing pictures.
Step 5. Publishing the book (digital publishing platform issuu was used)
Step 6. A book review is given by the critic/ students (evaluation)
Step 7. Presenting the story by describing the process of writing, reading some extracts.
