Help with Year 1/2 English Lessons

[ktldxo]

Hi all!

I hope its okay to post here as I'm after a bit of advice! I'm a PGCE student currently in a year 1/2 class. My maths observations are going reasonably okay (grade 2/1) however trying to teach the children English always seem to be an nightmare and I don't seem to be improving much from a Grade 2/3 due to pupil progress. The HA children in my class are just so reluctant to write- its not that they aren't capable of it, they just don't do it. They'll write a few sentences and then say they can't do anymore, they can't think of anything else etc... despite it being modelled extensively and having prompts on the board and the iPads which are available on their tables. I'm being observed next week by my mentor, the head teacher and the deputy head and the topic of the lesson is story writing (they can pick their own topic).

Does anyone have any good strategies to encourage my higher ability groups to write more? I've tried rewards with merit points, lottery tickets for our weekly raffle, certificates etc... My mentor suggested keeping them back at lunch and/or play to finish off which I've also tried in previous lessons but nothing seems to work with them. They are always super engaged on the carpet with fabulous ideas but trying to get them to put these down on paper is tricky! They are like this with other teachers which is reassuring in terms of how I teach however its frustrating when I can't seem to improve in my observations.

Thank you!

No to keeping them in!

How much scaffolding are you actually giving them? Are you showing them how to plan a beginning, a middle and an end before writing? You could either use the Pie Corbett story maps type idea or old fashioned notes.

How clear are you about expected outcome? Are you giving them a clear checklist of 5 sentences minimum etc?

I’d also suggest choosing the topic for them and doing some work around setting and character as well as plot. Letting them choose their own is possibly too wide.

What happens if you do a class first paragraph with their input for adjectives, openers etc and then they continue from there? They might engage more if they have written the prompt. You could do the pie Corbett story map in a previous lesson and then start your observation using that to co-construct paragraph 1

I like to give reluctant writers a 'secret mission' on a post it note with your expectation written on. Eg write at least 6 sentences. I ask children to talk to me individually and say ' x this is your secret mission. Make sure you don't show anyone and tell me when you've completed it. '
If they complete it then give points or whatever your school uses and if they don't then the post it can go in the bin after a quick chat about why they didn't complete it.

Do they have a clear purpose for writing? Why are they writing? Who are they writing for/to?

Have you tried making a picture storyboard one lesson then writing at least one sentence for every picture the next day. It worked for my ds who's a reluctant writer.
Or talk for writing, get them writing their own version of a familiar story Eg we did a version of the gingerbread man set in our own school, with people from the school chasing him. They loved it.

Make sure that they have the vocabulary they need to write what you want them to write - try word games before hand so the word bank is right there for them. Are you using a book to inspire their writing? If not, try that - it gives them the knowledge to make sure their content is secure.

Maybe consider getting them to write a story in pairs? They can do the talk on the carpet then move to the table and continue to support each other.

If the story plan is done the day before they can then talk a partner through their story before they write and if you check the plans you can remind them of what they have decided to write.

Break the writing into sections e.g first paragraph setting and introduce characters, second paragraph set out problem, third paragraph resolution. Keep the structure simple.

Oh and you may want to consider focusing on quality of writing rather than length. We are doing the 500 words story competition with my class next week so will be writing hopefully good quality short stories on at least two days of the week.

I have to say I would much prefer half a page that wows me than eight pages of and then, and then, and then, or rambling speech full of okays!

Thank you for all the replies, they have been really helpful!

They did a lesson last week on the importance of sequencing a story and how a story needs a beginning, middle and an end, characters and setting etc... The children then planned out their story using a story map. I agree that choosing their own topic was too wide however I'm restricted with how much I can change what I teach as the class needs to do the same kind of work as the other class in the school so unfortunately I don't have much room to amend what the lessons will be on if that makes sense.

I really like the idea of secret missions so I may give that a go! I've made some word mats to put on the tables too but I may do a word game with adjectives as part of my intro as well to try and reinforce them.

Thanks so much :)