As every teacher knows, reading and writing are closely linked: if a child regularly reads high-quality texts, their writing will improve. Historically, in the school I teach in, children have made better progress with reading than with writing. Fictional writing, requiring imagination and creativity, can be a particular challenge.

So, how do we go about raising standards in writing? It is by no means an easy task; there are no quick fixes or overnight successes, and it may take a while to ascertain the best way to drive whole-school improvement. One of the flaws that I have certainly identified in many children’s writing is the lack of detail in which they write, especially with regards to narrative texts. Characters that are created, in particular, seem rather two-dimensional and lacking in depth. It is hoped that the following ideas, incorporating drama, speaking and listening, reading and writing, may inspire some of your children to think more carefully about how to create and build upon their characters, making them more real and tangible.

Activities

1. Exploring characters
2. Drama, role play and oral storytelling
3. Have a seat…
4. Writing characters