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Enhancing Writing for Lower Primary Pupils – August 15th, 2014

Mdm Nagarathinam Annamalai, a retired Primary School teacher, Singapore, gives tips for enhancing the writing in the  Lower Primary Pupils.

Some questions for parents
What do you understand by writing?
What are some concerns that you have about your child’s writing?

A simple definition of writing
Writing is basically, putting your thoughts into words

Before starting to-writing/strong>
Before pupils know how to write , they need to have built up on their listening and oral vocabulary,reading skills and as to
how to spell.   Primary one pupils can first begin to build a simple sentence and then gradually increase it to a paragraph of 5 sentences or so. If pupils are capable of writing more , they can write a story of 3 paragraphs.

Making Writing Meaningful
If children see writing as purposeful they will be more motivated to write. Writing can be made purposeful if adults take an interest in it and read it and comment about it positively;
if children read it to an audience;
if it is displayed in a place where others can read

Different types of writing
Writing based on a book that they have read;
pupils can write quite a bit about a story book that they have read. They can write about:
1) the characters and how they feel about the characters
2) their favourite/least liked character
what they would do if they were a certain character
3) a description of a character-
e.g. The queen in Snow White is wicked. She has an ugly face. She is a bad person.

Give the story a different ending/ setting
Write a parallel story
e.g. If the story says : Tom went to school in a scooter. He took his pet dinosaur with him.
Pupils can write: Tom went to the park in a van. He took his pet crocodile with him.
Most lower primary pupils love to illustrate what they have written, so do encourage them to draw as this increases their enjoyment of writing.

Writing with picture Cues
Pictures are great stimulus for writing.
Pupils don’t have to worry about the content- it is guided by the picture.
The picture is there for them to relate to.

Writing about everyday things
Pupils can write about numerous things they come across in their everyday life:
e.g. Describe:
My Mummy, My Daddy, My pet My raincoat, My towel, My Blanket, My toothbrush, My house, My school canteen, My Bedroom

Describing something: Picture composition
Pupils can write a description of what is happening in a picture in which a number of activities are taking place together e.g

At the Beach

It is a sunny day. The beach is crowded with people. Some school boys and girls are picking litter. They are helping to keep the beach clean. A family is having a picnic. Mother has spread a mat under a tree . She has put some delicious food out.

So let your child enjoy his/her writing

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