DD Hates the Big Write and said she finds most of the work boring, crying doesnt want to go to school etc.

[TheFullMrexit]

Once she gets back into it - she will be much better but - this year ( year 4) she has started to cry - moan and say she hates school. I asked her specifically what she didnt like and she said the big write.

The rules are too strict, she said she hates it - she cant stand it!

She is a good student, enjoys learning usually, top sets etc and a teacher said she was an exceptional writer. All teacher thus far have said they really enjoy reading her work. Its such a great shame this big write is making her feel so bad!

I have tried to give her stuff to look forward too out of school eg, holidays coming, what else can I do to help her make this big write more fun> Ignore the rules being set?

What rules? Big Write is just an extended piece of writing sometimes accompanied by soft music and lights

Hate to sat it but they do go to extraordinary lengths to make it fun! The rules are things like using capital letters and full stops Sounds like she is struggling with writing have you discussed it with teacher? Do you do any writing with her at home?

I don't personally think extended writing is fun. You have to shoehorn so many things in e.g.exclamatory sentences, different sentence openers, and various other grammatical things, all to tick the right boxes. I know grammar IS important, but children don't seem to write for fun anymore - it is so prescriptive - which is sad.
I particularly dislike the "can I write a story opener", then " can I write the middle of a story" followed by " Can I write a story ending" , all done over several lessons.

Extended writing -writing for an extended period of time no shoehorns required

WALT WILF TIB WAGOLL EBI WWW etc aren't Big Writing.

TBH I am not sure what they ask her to do in the BiG Write. If some one knows what it is - and what it means that would be useful

But she said she hates the rules.

2014newme Mon 20-Feb-17 11:52:14

No she is a very very good writer, she writes loads at home, I used to get her those story writing books and she loved them. Her teachers have said since year 1 she is a great writer and they enjoy reading her work. She is also a natural at Grammer and spelling she has no issues with full stops, and ! etc. She doesn't struggle in that sense, its the constraints she said of the rules.
At the moment ( and I realise I would get shot for this on MN ) I have told her to ignore the rules if she feels comfortable she can do what they are asking and write something she enjoys writing.

We've used Big Writing for about twelve years ...no rules!

http://bigwriting.co.uk/what-is-big-writing/

Mrz thats really helpful thanks, i did have a google last night but didnt come back with anything.

She has mentioned being told to write in third person so maybe its part of this. Makes more sense now.

"I have told her to ignore the rules if she feels comfortable she can do what they are asking and write something she enjoys writing."

Only problem with this approach is that she may not get good grades for it.
My ds' problem is exactly this, teacher told me he ignores instructions or whatever, and writes as he pleases. So, even though the piece of writing itself is good, teacher said she can't give him good mark for it.
I am totally fine with it, but are you?

Yes I would be irvine, I would rather her be happy with what she is writing as long as she does know the skills rather than not want to go to school because she hates this so much when she is a good writer.

She would be asked to write in the third person if she's doing a character description for example. If you're describing the BFG it's no good saying I or my or me.
It's not a rule it's writing for different purposes. I've taught lots of children who revert to story telling or personal accounts when they're meant to be writing instructions or a character description or non chronological reports.

Mrz, I find it really hard how to guide my ds to write properly.
Last year, my ds was loving writing. In his mind, he was doing great. But teacher's comment was, he doesn't write enough and too slow. I expected him to get not so great attainment. To my surprise, he got exceeding.
This year, his teacher said he isn't doing great, despite the actual quality of his writing. She said his writing itself was good, but she can't tick certain boxes due to his inability to follow objectives or instructions.

I just don't want to say anything to him anymore. He loves writing at home, in fact, he went back into his room 10 mins before time to leave for school to write his original story this morning.

I understand that children needs to be able to do what is required. But sometimes I feel like it is actually killing children's desire to write.

Sorry op, for hijacking!

It's not "writing properly" it's knowing how to write for different purposes and for different audiences. Knowing that a diary is different to a non chronological report is different to a traditional tale is different to a recount is different to instructions is different to a letter ...

Yes, I understand what you are saying, mrz, but I don't think that's the problem for my ds. I've seen him write in third person, or instruction for his creation, he writes diary, essay, poems, etc.. He writes strategy guide for his favorite game(FF), he writes fantasy stories, he writes play script.
He writes comics.

I think he knows hows to write for different purposes, but he just doesn't think it's important sometimes.

Some established writers give themselves challenges (like writing a story in exactly 100 words) to challenge themselves and build their writing skills. Could you get your DD to see this as an opportunity to challenge herself to tell the story she wants within the constraints set?

If writing's always been her thing, but she can't get her head around writing in the third person, maybe that's why she's hating it. Why don't you tip off the teacher? It would be a shame if something she's always loved becomes something she hates.

btw, Big Write at DS's school sounds like how mrz describes it. It's v.chilled and fun and a chance to let fly with their creativity. Sometimes they do have to adopt a style, so write a diary entry as a character, or similar, but they do so much talking about it all before they write that it shouldn't be stressful.

Mine have disliked Big Write all the way through primary school, as have many of their friends. They used to get sent home the day before with a prompt sheet for us to talk over in advance but I never had much luck getting them to engage with that. From what I've seen both have managed it pretty well most of the time, but definitely not enjoyed it much.

I should add that one of mine is dyspraxic and one dyslexic, which does make the handwriting and spelling harder for them, but I think it's the "being told what to write" aspect that's hard, they do better at home when they have more freedom but obviously they do need to practise different styles etc.

With due respect, your DD isn't a good writer if she is unable to adapt her style and work within a particular set of guidelines to make sure her writing is fit for purpose. If, for example, she is asked to write a story (narrative) at GCSE and she instead produces description, she will be marked down dramatically. Following a set of 'rules' (success criteria) is really important if the child is unable to interpret the task themselves.

I don't think I've ever come across a child that doesn't like the Big Write. We spend a fornight using Talk for Writing to build up to it, so every child knows what they are going to write. On the day I have low lights, I rearrange the tables into a square with a table in the middle that has candles on it. I play meditation music and in the corner is a table with popcorn, raisins and chopped fruit which they can access two at a time. They love it and the quality of writing I get from them is fantastic. The children are on Year 1 and 2.

trfifle, but she can and she does She just doesn't like it and doesn't want too.

anxious how would you know though? do teachers give pupils surveys to complete anonymously

I know through levels of engagement, quality of work and observing them to gauge reaction. And yes actually, at the end of every session I do ask for pupil feedback. They have to rate their session and how they think they did using various assessment for learning techniques. They have the opportunity to tell me if they did or did not enjoy something and would be the first to tell me if they didn't! I'm a big believer in child-led learning and if they don't enjoy it, they won't learn as well.