Ros Wilson - Ros Wilson Discusses Big Writing

TL;DR

Understanding and teaching writing voice through VC Opie - Vocabulary, Connectives, and Punctuation.

Transcript

through my years of addressing writing it finally became clear that one of the key differences between successful higher-level writing and the emergent phases of becoming a writer is the ephemeral component known as writing voice writing voice is the structuring of language for high level writing in ways that are different from the language of dail... Read More

Key Insights

• ✋ Writing voice is crucial for high-level writing, emphasizing language structure.
• ✍️ VC Opie (Vocabulary, Connectives, Punctuation) aids in developing writing voice effectively.
• 🤩 Repeated exposure to challenging language is key to mastering writing voice.
• 👶 Traditional methods may not effectively teach writing voice to all children.
• 🥺 Teaching VC Opie in a lively, interactive way can lead to rapid progress in writing.
• 🥺 Early stages of using VC Opie may result in purple prose, but consistent modeling leads to success.
• 🫠 Reading texts in all subjects can serve as valuable examples for teaching writing voice.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is writing voice and why is it important in higher-level writing?

Writing voice is the unique style and language structure used in high-level writing, essential for effective communication and engaging the reader with elevated language forms and structures.

Q: How does VC Opie help children improve their writing voice?

VC Opie (Vocabulary, Connectives, Punctuation) provides a structured approach to developing writing voice by focusing on expanding vocabulary, using connectives to link ideas, and mastering punctuation for emphasis and pacing.

Q: Why is it challenging for children to learn writing voice through traditional methods?

Many children struggle to learn writing voice through reading and formal analysis alone as they require repeated exposure to complex language and individualized instruction to internalize and apply higher-level language structures.

Q: What are the benefits of teaching VC Opie in a lively and fun way?

Teaching VC Opie in an engaging manner, mainly through interactive discussions and activities, can lead to rapid improvement in students' writing skills as it makes learning enjoyable and accessible to all pupils.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Writing voice distinguishes high-level writing from basic writing, focusing on language structure.

• VC Opie (Vocabulary, Connectives, Punctuation) helps children develop writing voice effectively.

• Teaching writing voice involves repeated exposure to challenging language and engaging methods like VC Opie.