Inspiring Writing in Primary Schools

Liz Chamberlain is a Senior Lecturer in Primary Education at the Open University and is a former primary teacher, leading literacy teacher and Assistant Headteacher. Her main area of expertise is linked to the field of English and, in particular, children’s home writing practices. In particular, her interests focus on the ways in which children are positioned, and position themselves, as writers both at home and in school. She continues to work with children as co-researchers through the capture of on-going writing practices through the use of video and photographs. For four years she was the Strategic Consultant for the Everybody Writes national writing project and continues to use this work to reflect on effective literacy practices. She regularly runs after-school writing clubs in local schools.

• Introduction1. Children and their writing2. Writing is not a subject3. Writing and the national curriculum4. Charting the writing journey5. Teachers as readers and teachers as writers6. Becoming a historical enquirer7. Creating a geographical soundscape8. Telling stories using story stones9. Inspiration through quality texts10. Poetry through found words11. Researching through digital devices12. Writing beyond the classroom