Boys' Writing

The standard of boys’ writing often lags behind their own reading and behind girls’ writing. Donald Graves (1984) described a category of young writers who seemed to use 'overt language' and exhibited 'a need for immediate rehearsal in order to write' (p36). He coined the term 'Reactive Writers' Then, as now, these writers were primarily boys. twistys pass crack

Our findings, too, identify children who need to act out in some way what is to happen through sound, movement and drawing. Play-talk-think-write® boxes have been designed with these kinds of writers, aged 4-13 in mind. Ways to use the boxes: twistys pass crack

• The teachers' Research and Development file provides research background on the importance of reading short stories to children, the need for satisfying endings and different kinds if writers.
  
  
• The file also explains how the research has informed practice and ways of developing practice.
  
  
• It contains lists of short story collections for different age-groups, guidance on how to construct 'play- plans' and procedures for introducing the boxes.
  
  
• Each PTTW Box comes with 4-6 characters, outlines of their personalities, suggestions for appropriate play-plans and ways in which stories could be generated.
  
  
• The English Team are happy to provide INSET on how to use the PTTW Boxes.
  
  
• See News and Views page for details of how to order the boxes and teachers' files.