Write This Way: Structured lessons and activities for reluctant young writers

Many children avoid writing for a number of reasons – perhaps they find it tedious or frustrating, or perhaps they have dyslexia or dysgraphia. This structured programme of writing activities and lessons makes writing engaging and accessible for reluctant writers, by encouraging primary teachers and learners to work together to develop children’s writing skills. The book covers all aspects of primary school writing, including grammar, sentence development, punctuation, paragraph writing and planning. It also shows teachers how to develop self-sufficiency skills in writing and encourage learner independence. Each section in the book builds on previous skills learned, from word level up to creative writing skills, providing pupils with a complete range of writing tools. The ready-to-use resources for each topic - including mini lessons, discovery tools and activities - offer extensions and adaptations to suit all pupil needs, including fun ideas for multisensory learning, group interventions or to keep pupils learning outside of the classroom. For school staff working with children who find writing challenging, this practical toolkit provides a range of activities based on solid research and hands-on experience that can be incorporated straight into lessons and teaching practices.

About the Author :
Dr Gavin Reid is an international psychologist and author who has previously worked as a classroom teacher and university lecturer. He has written over 35 books in the field of dyslexia, learning skills and motivation. Michelle McIntosh is a Certified Structured Literacy Supervisor and Practitioner, MSLE Instructor and Supervising Mentor for other structured literacy practitioners. Michelle sits on the Canadian Academy of Therapeutic Tutors (CATT-OG) as the Communications Director and Evaluations Supervisor. She has co-authored an educator's book series in the areas of structured literacy, reading fluency, and written expression. Jenn Clark is a Certified Structured Literacy Practitioner with a private practice in Vancouver, Canada. A Certified Primary school teacher, EAL Instructor, MSLE Instructor she holds a certificate in Competence in Educational Testing (CCET) and has spent the past 10 years teaching students with learning differences. She is co-creator of Aduri, a mindfulness programme for young children and has co-authored several books on reading fluency, spelling and writing.

Review :
A useful resource which provides a wealth of experience, presenting a structured sequential framework to progress children’s writing skills with lots of fresh ideas and the know-how to implement them. As an ex-teacher, I know how difficult the act of writing is for most children, let alone children with dyslexia. This book gives practical suggestions around teaching grammar, punctuation and creative writing. The multisensory format means that children with dyslexia, will also be able to access the information in a way that suits their learning needs. A great resource for specialists, classroom teachers and parents. Write This Way! is such a useful, practical and effective book for teachers and parents who are forever struggling to teach writing. Reid, Clark and McIntosh have taken such a difficult topic to teach and turned it into lesson plans that almost constitute an intervention programme in an easy-to-read and easy-to-follow book. Simply brilliant! I highly recommend it for parents and teachers. An excellent book written by experts for adults working with children who find the process of writing challenging. So many learners are overwhelmed, fearful of the process or simply do not know where to begin. This accessible text looks at the range of skills necessary to develop those skills in a structured, comprehensive and engaging way.