Light Blue Pencil blog banner 31st Aug 2018

Back To School: 5 Icebreakers to Help with Getting to Know Your New Class

The school gates are open, the coffee mugs are filled, and children are scuttling through the door wearing baggy jumpers with plenty of ‘growing room’. 

The first day of term is here.

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Blue pencil blog banner 17th Aug 2018

How To Build Confidence in Early Years Writing

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) is a pivotal time in the development of a child’s literacy.

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light blue read me banner 28th Feb 2018

Can Mighty Writer Be Used with Other Resources?

The simple answer is yes!

You can use Mighty Writer alongside any other resources or strategies you already use. It is also designed to be used as a standalone resource. 

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blue read me blog banner 7th Feb 2018

Does Mighty Writer Work with Talk for Writing?

A better question is why does Mighty Writer work with Talk for Writing when – on the surface at least – they appear to be fundamentally different approaches to literacy.

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blue read me blog banner 5th Feb 2018

How to Support your Literacy Teaching in KS1&2

There are so many fantastic resources available to use with children to enable them to make progress in their literacy skills.

You can mix and match them depending on your focus and the children you are working with.

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Light Blue Pencil blog banner 13th Jul 2017

Tell Me Your Ideas | Teaching Primary Literacy

The process of learning to write involves a wide range of skills.  

Children need to acquire them and apply them. They need to become adept at combining them effectively.

It is our job to make this journey a simple one!

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red read me blog banner 3rd Jul 2017

How to Make Writing Exciting for KS1 Children

Getting ready!

I love it when a plan comes together!

The times when I literally couldn’t wait to teach what I’d planned.

I knew the children would be inspired.  I could see the outcome in my mind’s eye and I was confident in how my class would achieve it.

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orange pencil blog banner 25th Jun 2017

Constructive Classroom Organisation | Key Stage One

Where there is creativity there is always mess! 

I like to try and keep most things organised and with that sometimes come the assumption that I can be bossy! 

But children are curious and creative. Their play and exploration is always purposeful but it can be messy!

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light blue read me banner 16th Jun 2017

What Makes a Good Writer? | Key Stage One Literacy

I have always been intrigued and amazed at the way children can learn from one other. 

I can recall teaching a Polish child in my Year 3 class.  He had very little English but all the children in the class communicated well with him and they understood each other. 

One day we were doing a writing activity that involved lots of discussion.  What I observed will always stay with me and was a lesson to me in how capable and insightful children are.  

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Blue pencil blog banner 9th Jun 2017

How Can I Teach Writing Well? | Key Stage One Literacy

What does effective teaching of writing look like?

Every teacher is different and brings their own personality and unique style to the role of teaching children. 

This is important. It makes learning a vibrant and interesting journey for children.  

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blue read me blog banner 20th May 2017

Building the Right Foundations for KS1

Children are active learners.

They need to be able to ‘have a go’ – to explore and practise so the things they learn are meaningful and have lasting significance.

They need opportunities to consolidate their learning, to be shown new things in interesting and appealing ways – so they’re actively engaged in the way they learn.

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Orange read me blog banner 4th May 2017

5 Things Which Motivate Children to Write

It’s an important question. 

How can we motivate children to be interested in and excited about writing?

Learning new things has to be appealing. We are far more receptive to new ideas. It makes it easier to absorb and process information.

We should ask ourselves the following questions when teaching any part of the writing process to children...

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