Pearl Hyde Primary School: ‘Boosting self-confidence and improving writing skills’
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Date:2006 - 2007
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Categories:Boys motivationCitizenship & communityCross curricular learningCultural engagementCurriculum developmentLocal AuthoritiesParentsSchoolsYoung People
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Introduction:
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Article:
Our Achievement
- The children learned a number of skills through the project including storytelling, teamwork, collaboration and cooperation. Their writing skills were significantly enhanced and all children were using a much wider, enriched and exciting vocabulary.
- In only five weeks, 50% of the children in Year 4 had attained a higher level of writing. Throughout the project the standard of writing rose significantly in Years 3 and 4.
- Children became noticeably more confident in their writing throughout the project; their self-esteem was raised and they were far more prepared to take risks.
- All the children were keen to learn about different things and displayed curiosity through questioning. All children participated as 'co-learners' in the writing process and were supportive of each other: sharing, helping, reporting back asking for advice.
- The project enabled the school to develop a more intergrated curriculum and encouraged them to successfully introduce the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) the following year.
The Feedback
"The work led by Guy Hutchins (the storyteller) has had a lasting effect on the children. Following the end of the project when conducting a SAT's writing task I asked the children "What will I be looking for?"...they were able to recall various 'writer's tricks' that Guy had explained and shown them how to use in their own writing."
"Time to talk and discuss ideas should be further embedded into the literacy curriculum in order to develop a richness of language, both oral and written."
"Guy helped me a lot. When I had to catch up I had to write fast...now I can write up to a page. I've started to read more too and I'm into space books and scary stories."
"I used to do rubbish stories but Guy has helped me to write fantastic ones. He's helped the whole class!"
"The project has made a really positive improvement to my daughter's attitude and her reading and writing skills. Now she often wants to borrow and read more books from our community library. She discusses everything with us, regarding her improvement in spelling, speaking, reading and writing skills in English...Even though we come from another country and English is our second language, she now asks about unfamiliar words and what the words really mean!"
The Cre8us effect...at Pearl Hyde Community Primary School:
'Wonderful World'
'Wonderful World' involved classes from Years 3 and 4. Children in these groups spoke 18 different languages and came from India, the Philippines, Egypt, Libya and Poland. The provision of ‘English as an Additional Language’ (EAL) is a significant issue for the school. Writing results were inconsistent and had been identified as an area to be targeted in the School Improvement Plan (SIP) for a long time. The school wanted to enhance the children’s motivation and writing levels, developing speaking and listening skills as a prelude to writing. Teachers also wanted to tap into the children's rich and diverse cultural heritage and were interested to explore a more integrated curriculum.
Working collaboratively with storyteller Guy Hutchins from arts organisation 'Moby Duck', the children and teachers looked to explore the children’s vocabulary and expose them to many different aspects of storytelling - producing pieces of extended creative writing that were made into bound books.
This project increased self-confidence and engagement with learning, and improved the children's writing skills. It also illustrated the increased value brought by linking different curriculum areas together to all staff involved.
Creative Agent: Sally Harper
Creative Practitioner: Moby Duck Theatre Company
School: Pearl Hyde Community Primary School