Staff INSET

• This presentation has been designed to give your staff an understanding of the aims, structure and content of i-learn: writing prior to a hands-on practice session

• Feel free to edit this presentation to suit your own purposes

• The Help file in i-learn: writing contains step-by-step advice on all screens

Staff INSET: Objectives

• To introduce i-learn: writing

• To demonstrate how the content can be used to teach writing in an innovative and engaging way

• To prepare for a hands-on practice session

Rationale of i-learn: writing

• i-learn: writing is a stimulating interactive whiteboard resource from Pie Corbett

• Supports non-fiction units in the renewed Primary Framework for literacy

• Children rehearse the text type orally before planning and writing: ‘Talking the text type’

Rationale of i-learn: writing

• Nine-step process, through reading, speaking and listening, to shared and independent writing.

• Encourages children to approach texts in a ‘writerly’ way

Main features

• Model texts written specifically to support writing

• Author interview videos encourage children to think like a non-fiction writer

• Talk for writing activities give speaking and listening support

Main features

• Stimulus materials for shared and independent planning and writing

• Materials can be edited on screen for personalisation to your class

• Teacher’s notes provide planning support

Structure

• Each DVD-ROM contains six units

• Each unit is divided into nine focuses

• Each unit contains two* model texts, written at different levels

* three for Years 1 and 2

Year 1 units

Instructions How to Yo-yo

How to Bounce on a Space Hopper

How to Make a Cup and Ball Game

Information My Home

All About Me

What I Like to Do

Recounts A Surprising Visit

Firefighters in the Playground

Farmyard Fun

Year 2 units

Reports Creatures of the Coastline

The Clowns of the Sea

Seaside Secrets Nature Trail

Information Ridley Castle: A Safe Place to Live

Be a Ridley Castle Detective

The Key to Ridley Castle

Explanations How Seeds Spread

How Do You Grow Great Carrots?

How Do Dandelions Grow?

Year 3 units

Reports The Beast of Bodmin MoorThe Cottingley Fairies – do they exist?

Information Hurricane Horror

Blizzard Blitz

Instructions How to mummify a body

How to arrange a Roman feast

Year 4 units

Recounts Wicked Wolf AttacksPerfect Prince Scores Again

Persuasion Super Cobra – Super CoolReptile Ranch – are you brave enough?

Explanations How and why Mr Bonecruncher protected his homeThe Bully-proof Vest

Year 5 units

Persuasion Letter to the editor: Milk production

Letter to an MP: Living Lynx

Recounts Tom’s evacuation diary

An interview with Hilda

Biographies Lewis Hamilton

Paula Radcliffe

Year 6 units

Journalistic writing

The Cretan Chronicle: A-Maze-ing Escape!Athens Advertiser: A Nation Mourns

Instructions Breaktime BuddiesTiggy Scarecrow

Revision unit What is a Nutristop?JetlanesMuseum 21CineZ-Own

The nine focuses

• Each unit is divided into nine focuses

• To increase flexibility, they can be used in the suggested sequence, or reordered to fit your own teaching

The nine focuses

• Model Texts• Reading as a Writer• Talking the Text Type• Writing Games• Stimulus and Shared Planning• Demonstration and Shared Writing• Editing• Independent Planning and Writing• Publishing

The nine focuses

Model texts

• Two model texts for children to read, enjoy and discuss. (There is an additional oral model text for Years 1 and 2.)

• Each text at a different level

The nine focuses

Reading as a writer

• Video of the author talking about the writing process

• Closer analysis of the model texts

• Key features are summarised in a ‘writer’s checklist.’

The nine focuses

Talking the text type

• Series of speaking and listening, and drama activities

• Children orally rehearse the language of the text type in preparation for writing

The nine focuses

Writing games

• Interactive writing games

• Word, sentence and text level

The nine focuses

Stimulus and shared planning

• A visual, textual or multimedia stimulus inspires shared planning

• Notemaker comprises a variety of creative planning formats.

The nine focuses

Demonstration and shared writing

• Author gives some ‘top tips’

• Children take part in shared writing

• A ‘shared writing script’ is supplied in the teacher’s notes

The nine focuses

Editing

• Examples of children’s work at different levels for discussion and editing.

The nine focuses

Independent planning and writing

• Stimuli provide a springboard for children’s own writing.

• This focus is duplicated in the children’s area for your class to access on their own computers.

The nine focuses

Publishing

• Examples of publishing options for the text type

Support materials

• Teacher’s notes

• Additional text resources

Support materials

Teacher’s notes:

• Detailed curriculum matching

• Teaching ideas for every focus

• In Word for easy editing or copying

Support materials

Additional text resources:

• Word versions of model texts, transcripts of author interviews, and editing samples

• Additional examples of each text type

The Pad

• Create your own screens within i-learn: writing

• Use pictures, video etc from within the disc, or import your own!

• Templates include drag-and-drop and multiple-choice screens

The Teacher’s Area

• Reorder screens to make your own lessons

• Assign screens to the Children’s Area for your class to access

• Edit screens in the product