Writing
Is your child struggling with writing?
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Writing proficiency is central to student success during the school years, and it influences personal and vocational outcomes post-school. The importance of writing as a communication and learning tool cannot be overstated. Using the framework below, I can help your child become a skilled writer.
Writing Framework
We focus on five areas, all of which are necessary for your child to become a proficient writer.
Critical Thinking
The ability to generate ideas and gather information. (reading in order to write) Critical thinking requires skills such as summarising, note taking, answering questions, creating questions.
Critical thinking also requires an understanding of the different stages of the writing process (thinking, planning, writing, revising).
Syntax
The ability to write quality sentences using effective grammar. This is one of the most important components of writing, but often the weakest.
Text Structure
The ability to understand and write using different text structures. This includes narrative, informative and persuasive structures, as well as, paragraphs within the text.
Writing Craft
Understanding the implications of task, audience and purpose on writing such as word choice and using literary devices (for example figurative language).
Transcription
The ability to write by hand or keyboard using correct spelling
The Writing Rope
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If any area within the Writing Framework is weak, writing quality can be impacted. A good way to visualise the complex processes involved in writing is through Joan Sedita's The Writing Rope.
The Writing Rope describes writing by comparing it to the “strands of a rope.” There are five main strands
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1) Critical Thinking
2) Syntax
3) Text Structure
4) Writing Craft
5) Transcription
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Many students need more explicit instruction and practice around writing. Often students are expected to compose extended pieces of writing, even though they lack the foundational skills and knowledge in several strands.
For example, sentence level writing.
When students don’t understand how to write simple, compound and complex sentences, they are more likely to make errors. These include run-on sentences (two independent clauses joined without proper coordination or punctuation) or sentences that lack appropriate structure and punctuation.
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Targeting sentence-level instruction is effective and recommended not only in the primary years, but also in the secondary years as it supports the development of increasingly complex and sophisticated compositional writing.
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Despite this importance, Australian students are struggling with writing. NAPLAN data shows there has been no improvement in Years 3 and 5, and a moderate decline in Years 7 and 9 over the last 10 years.
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Emina McLean, The Complex Task of Teaching Writing, Senior Researcher, Australian Education Research Organisation
14 October 2021