Speaking to Writing is built on the Talk for Writing approach. Students begin by performing a text orally, using it as a guide for their writing. This method has three key stages:
Imitation: Students learn the text through actions and
by using a story map.Innovation: Together, the class modifies the model text—for example, by changing characters, adjectives, or settings. Then, students create their own versions of the story. During this stage, the teacher models various language features to support learning.
Independent Application: Students apply what they have learned in their future writing tasks.
This structured process helps students internalise language patterns and develop confident writing skills.
In Primary 2, we focus on oral performance. Students perform the text aloud using actions and the story map, focusing on imitation with a small opportunity for innovation.
You can watch Ms. Jolenka's performance here: https://youtu.be/36xJFznzyFA?feature=shared
Term 2
In term 2, the model text is "The Little Red Hen". This story is about a hardworking hen who wants to make bread. She asks the other animals for help but they refuse and so the hen does all the work herself. When it's time to eat the bread, the other animals also want a taste. The hen refuses and eats all the bread herself.
Term 3
In term 3, the model text is "Stuck in the Mud". This story is about cow called Daisy who gets stuck in the mud. Farmer Tom asks the other animals to help pull Daisy out of the mud. None of them succeed until they work together.
In Primary 3, we go through all stages of the Speaking to Writing approach. Students perform the story using actions and the story map. They use this story as a model to write their own version.
Term 3
In P3, the model text is "Jack and the Beanstalk ". This story is about a poor boy and his mother. His mother asks him to sell a cow so they could buy some food. Instead, Jack trades the cow for magic beans. The beans grow into an enormous beanstalk. At the top of the beanstalk lives a rich giant and Jack steals from him. Jack escapes the giant by cutting down the beanstalk.
In Primary 4, we did a full trial unit. The students internalised the text with actions and the story map and used the model text as a guide to write their own version of it.
In P4, the model text was "Little Charlie". This story is about a boy who decides to go to his grandma with some food: a slice of cheese, a loaf of bread and a bar of chocolate. Along the way he meets hungry animals and gives them some of the food. Charlie himself also gets hungry. By the time he arrives at grandma's house, there is no food left. Finally, they decide to make pizza together.
Retelling the story with the story map, the key connectives, pictures and lego.