The Writing Programme started at our school in September 2008. Aiming at becoming a Writing Process School, our school asked the Malta Writing Programme for support and a three-year project has been set-up.
A Writing Process School commits itself to the comprehensive implementation of writing process methodology across grades. On its part, the MWP commits itself to a three-year intensive programme of teacher training, provision of resources, weekly in-class support and mentoring, community writing programmes and parental support. After three years the school community develops the in-house capability to continue implementing writing process methodology with minimal technical support.
Aims of the project
The aims of this project are all related to the fulfilment of various aspects of the National Curriculum. These are:
- Autonomous learning
- Effectiveness and correctness in writing
- Writing for enjoyment
- Reading for enjoyment
- Parental participation
- Transformation of teachers into self-reflective practitioners
The Project
The Project is in its third and final year now. The core of the day school part of the project is the presence, for one day a week of MWP staff at our school. During this time, the MWP staff gives regular writing lessons as part of the syllabus to the classes of the Yr 6 year group (this year) in the morning while in the afternoon supports teachers from other year groups (Yr 2-Yr 5). The focus is always on the development of specific writing skills.
The Project has been running in the following way:
Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 6 | |
2008-09 |
Writing process input |
Yr 5 teachers prepare for writing process input next year |
|
2009-10 |
Yr 4 teachers continue writing process application to their classrooms in line with previous year’s experience and ask for support when needed |
Writing process input |
Yr 6 teachers prepare for writing process input next year |
2010-11 |
Yr 4 teachers continue writing process application to their classrooms in line with previous years’ experience and ask for support when needed | Yr 5 teachers continue writing process application to their classrooms in line with previous year’s experience and ask for support when needed |
Writing process input |
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As part of the project, meetings with parents were organised in order to explain the programme and other sessions held with the aim of equipping them with strategies they can use at home with their children.