Term 4

VERBS: What is a Verb???

This term we will be writing Narratives on Realistic fiction, Historical fiction, Myths & Legends and Science fiction.
Here are the Seven Steps to Writing Success:

Step 1: Plan for Success
A joke, a movie, a TV sitcom, a book and a great story – what do they all have in common? They all follow the same ‘story graph’. Start with a bang, slowly build up the tension and end on a real high point.

Step 2: Sizzling Starts
Start where the action is. Not at the beginning of the day where nothing is happening. Begin when the volcano starts oozing lava or as you walk in the door to the big disco competition.

Step 3: Tightening Tension
You must believe the hero (male or female) will fail. The tornado is too strong, the villain is too evil, the black forces of depression are too overwhelming. Yet, through strength, talent and determination, somehow our hero wins.

Step 4: Dynamic Dialogue
Think of dialogue as a mini play in the story. Let your characters walk, talk or even stalk – that’s how we get to know them.

Step 5: Show, Don’t Tell
If I tell you I am generous, do you believe me??? No way. But if I buy all 20 raffle tickets to help cancer research, are you more convinced? Actions really do speak louder than words.

Step 6: Ban the Boring Bits

Everyone gets up, gets dressed, travels to school…it’s not exactly exciting. So why write about it? Ban all mention of the ‘boring B’ words – beds, breakfast and bus trips. Think like the movies, the heroes never travel, they just arrive…

Step 7: Exciting Endings
Would you tell a joke without knowing the punch line? If you want to build to a big climax you have to know where you are heading.

Term 3

Our literacy topics this term are Poetry and Report writing. We have written a range of types of poetry and have some of them on display in the classroom. We are currently publishing our reports on a Natural Water Disaster. 

Term 2: In Literacy this term we are looking at Procedure & Persuasive texts. This will involve lots of different ways for the students to learn.