The Writing Exercises site has a number of prompts to support the writing process.

CLICK HERE: Writing Exercises

Check out the following resources for use in the classroom:

From the Children’s Section you can access a number of images in which learners can develop their descriptive vocabulary using images.

CLICK HERE – Random Picture

The Odd Objects section provides a stimulus for discussion which can lead to the writing process.

CLICK HERE – Odd Objects

You can also generate a Random First Line of a story in which learners can continue.

CLICK HERE – Random First Line

The Writing Exercises Main Site can be used to develop more advanced ideas. The Quick Plot Generator provides you with an outline of a creative text.

CLICK HERE – Quick Plot Generator

The Random First Line Generator can spark the beginning of a short story which can be further developed by learners.

CLICK HERE – Random First Line Generator

If you missed it, CLICK HERE for the November 2016 Emerging Literacy Update

The February 2017 Emerging Literacy update includes information on:

• Words Up Key Messages Videos
• Words Up Training
• Emerging Literacy Training
• Emerging Literacy Networks
• Early Years Emerging Literacy Training

CLICK HERE to download the February 2017 Emerging Literacy update.

When do we use a question mark? Michael Rosen’s poem ‘Question Mark’ from ‘Jelly Boots, Smelly Boots’ is a humorous tale on a lesson introducing question marks.

The Question Mark Game from Roy the Zebra can be used to consolidate the teaching of using question marks. You can find a lesson plan to support using the resource in the classroom.

CLICK HERE – Question Mark Game

World Book Day – Thursday 2nd March 2017

Next week we celebrate the 20th anniversary of World Book Day. The World Book Day Website is full of brilliant ideas to support Early Learning and Childcare (ELCC), schools and partners in supporting World Book Day.

For age/stage specific resources, click the images below:

This year’s feature The Imagination Channel can be used alongside the World Book Day resources. Click the image below for the The Imagination Channel.

Let us know what you’re up to on World Book Day by leaving a comment; we’d love to share the work that you’re doing!

Wanting to explore Myths, Folktales or Fairytales as part of your Literacy Workshop? Check out the Scholastic: Myths, Folktales and Fairytales site.

CLICK HERE – Scholastic: Myths, Folktales and Fairytales

On the site you will find links to a number of myths, folktales and fairytales which can be explored and analysed.

Wanting to develop myths through the writing process? Be sure to check out the Myths Brainstorming Machine section of the site.

CLICK HERE – Scholastic: Myths Brainstorming Machine

Read, Write, Count‘s new campaign ‘Future Me Scot‘ has been launched across the country.

This is an opportunity for families with children in P1 – P3 to see that their role in learning together is useful and purposeful, supporting their child in their hopes and dreams.

Check out the Future Me Scot video which can be shared with families:

Future Me Scot aims to get families talking with their children about their dreams and sharing these dreams with others across the country on their website. Check out some of the dreams that children have started to share across Scotland.

CLICK HERE – Future Me Scot WEBSITE

A Digital Toolkit has been created for schools. This includes information for practitioners on Future Me Scot, activities which can be shared with families and social media posts which can be shared with families on school social media accounts.

CLICK HERE – Digital Toolkit

In addition to this leaflets for all P1 – P3 children will be sent directly to schools to go home with children in P1 – P3.

The four week campaign nurtures the hopes, dreams and ambitions of all children in Scotland by encouraging families to ask: ‘What are your dreams for the future?’

This month’s ’50 Word Fiction’ from the Scottish Book Trust evokes images of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ recalled by the hot air balloons and the mysterious kingdom in the background. Using the image below as a stimulus, learners can create a story of no more than 50 words.

The deadline is Tuesday 28th February 2017. The Young Writers category is open to all children and young people under 18.

CLICK HERE – 50 Word Fiction (Picture Inspiration)

On our travels, we’re always looking for ideas to share to support the development of Literacy, Language and Communication. Thank you to Lauren Nelson from Smithton Primary School for allowing us to share the learning from her classroom.

In preparation for Fairtrade Fortnight (27th February – 12th March 2017), P6 at Smithton Primary School have been looking at all things chocolate. This has taken them down the direction of a learning context around advertising and the use of language to entice and evoke emotion through descriptive vocabulary.

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P6 have been playing around with the names of some of the nation’s favourite chocolate bars to experiment with ideas during the writing process. This will now lead onto some work with creating advertisment brands.

Fairtrade Fortnight is a great opporutnity to support the development of literacy, language and communication and Learning for Sustainability. CLICK HERE for classroom resources for Fairtrade Fortnight.

To support the Words Up Key Messages a number of videos have been created to support professional dialogue and career long professional learning in identifying where the key messages feature in practice, supporting effective adult/child interactions.

The video clips can be used for self reflection to view examples of the key messages led by practitioners, or can be used as part of a collegiate session to explore the key messages in more depth following the Words Up Level 1 training.

Click on each of the Key Messages below to access the video clips:

The video clips follow a similar format:

1. Introduce the key message(s)
2. Play a short video clip
3. Provide time to pause and reflect on where the key message(s) feature
4. Play part of the clip again with the example of the key message(s).

CLICK HERE – Play and Talk Together VIDEOS
CLICK HERE – Pause and Wait VIDEOS
CLICK HERE – Copy and Add VIDEOS
CLICK HERE – Be Careful With Questions VIDEOS

Following the post last week on ‘Getting Ready to Read‘, as promised, a number of Words Up training events for Highland practitioners have been added to the CPD calendar.

Words Up is an underpinning development of Emerging Literacy through supporting adult/child interactions, developing Oral Language. The Words Up Level 1 training is open to those within Early Learning and Childcare and Primary 1.

WORDS UP LEVEL 1 TRAINING

Please apply through the CPD Calendar