How to How to write Step 2write Step 2

Sizzling Sizzling StartsStarts

Jen McVeityJen McVeity

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Jen McVeity (Creator)

Seven Steps to Writing SuccessSeven Steps to Writing SuccessTakes 10 mins a dayTakes 10 mins a day

NAPLAN scores increase (1-3 levels)

Seven Steps Seven Steps Works for all text typesWorks for all text types

Imaginative - Narrative, poetry, etcInformative – Factual, recounts, etcPersuasive – Persuasive, ads, debate etc

Secret # 1Secret # 1Chunk big jobsChunk big jobs

Don’t write whole storiesDon’t write whole stories

Secret # 2Secret # 2Verbal is vitalVerbal is vital

..Language, verbal or non-verbal, is critical

for the development of literacy skills. (ACARA)

Also an excellent scaffold for students with:– ESL– Weak verbal skills– Learning disabilities.

Step 2Step 2Sizzling StartsSizzling Starts

Step 2 Step 2 Sizzling StartsSizzling Starts

Main Pain:

Starting too early! (Warm up writing.)‘I woke up, I ate breakfast, I was

getting nervous...’

Before and After samplesBefore and After samples

‘I opened the door to the disco…’ (p12 Narrative manual)

‘Books are Better than TV’ (p18 Persuasive manual)

Or quote any classic recount ‘On the way to the zoo…’ where you get more about the bus than the zoo..

Nigel, graph of storyNigel, graph of story

Key Point 1Key Point 1

Start with ACTION – ‘Moment of Change’ Think action movies:

– Avatar– James Bond– The Avengers

I opened the door to the disco...

Key Point 2Key Point 2

Use backfill to explain Who What and Why.

‘It was the big dance competition....’

Then go back to the live action.

Task of first paragraph– Task of first paragraph– Make them want to read Make them want to read

MORE!MORE!

•YouYou’’re in the reality show from hell. re in the reality show from hell.

•Brothers are SO much better than sisters. (Or not!)Brothers are SO much better than sisters. (Or not!)

•You and a friend are having a big fight – in a hot air You and a friend are having a big fight – in a hot air balloon.balloon.

•Country living is better than city living.Country living is better than city living.

•ThereThere’’s a tree in the school yard that eats kids!s a tree in the school yard that eats kids!

Action ActivityAction ActivityFive Minute Fast Starts Five Minute Fast Starts

(One per minute) (One per minute)

ShareShare

Pick 1-2 of your best starts and share them with your group.

Share, scaffold and model great writing.

Yes – Works for NAPLANYes – Works for NAPLAN

NAPLAN rewards Sizzling Starts.

E.g. Lion’s Glorious Hair.(5/6 marks for ‘Audience’)

(But you won’t have time to go into this.)

Secret # 3Secret # 3Repetition – muscle memoryRepetition – muscle memory

Secret #1Chunk – Small steps for small kids

Secret #2Talk first – write second

Secret # 3Repetition - puts skills into muscle memory. Do every day for a week.

ChunkingChunkingDo NOT write the Do NOT write the

story!story!

Say NO to the Say NO to the ‘‘sweetsweet’’ kid kid‘Can we write the story?’‘Can we write the story?’

Keep it short and fun.Keep it short and fun.

More Action ActivitiesMore Action ActivitiesFocus on Sizzling StartsFocus on Sizzling Starts

1. Watch the start of 5 movies.

2. Go to library and read starts of 5 books.

3. For P-1. Start with a sound: ‘Crash’. Woosh’.

Lots more Action ActivitiesLots more Action Activities

P. 19 Persuasive Manual

P. 20-1 Narrative Manual

WritingWriting

‘Writing is not something you do with a pen, it is something you do with your brain.’

Jen McVeity

ImportantImportantPlease protect copyright!Please protect copyright!

Please remember this information has been created just for you by Jen McVeity.

Extracted from Week 1 of the Seven Steps to Writing Success Coaches Course.

www.sevenstepswriting.cowww.sevenstepswriting.comm