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Writing Frames for improving literacy outcomes: a teacher's guide

October 28, 2021

Writing Frames for improving literacy outcomes: a teacher's classroom guide to helping children understand and communicate new ideas.

Main, P (2021, October 28). Writing Frames for improving literacy outcomes: a teacher's guide. Retrieved from https://www.structural-learning.com/post/writing-frames-for-improving-literacy-outcomes-a-teachers-guide

What are Writing Frames?

Writing frames and templates provide a great source for scaffolding instruction and building students’ confidence in writing, especially in writing tasks and genres in which they have limited prior experience . A writing frame comprises a skeleton outline provided to the students to scaffold their written work. By giving some sentence starters and a few rhetorical phrases common to the genre or task, frames provide students with a structure that enables them to concentrate on expressing their ideas.

Writing frames also assist learners in using the vocabulary they have learned about any specific topic and help them compose more sophisticated paragraphs and sentences. For example, in a writing frame with a story setting description learners are provided with a picture , keywords to use and they are demonstrated how to set out their written work .

What are the benefits of using writing frames?

There are many benefits of using different kinds of frames in writing . Writing frames:

• furnish a structure for hanging ideas.
• provide appropriate sentence starters.
• support struggling writers .
• Can be advanced to make someone a more competent writer .

Academic tasks carried out in this way can help students enhance their reading comprehension skills and start to foresee and pursue the academic writing style.

What are the Steps of Using a Writing Frame?

The model of teaching useful for applying writing frames in a classroom can be summarised as follows:

Demonstration(Teacher modelling)

Collaborative writing

Scaffolding

(Supported writing)

Independent writing

Using a writing frame must always start with the discussion and teacher modelling before starting collaborative writing (learner and teacher together) and then the student will write with the writing frame's support. This collaborative pattern of teaching/ teacher modelling is crucial as it does not only involve the words that signal transitions and connections and model the generic form but it also offers opportunities for enhancing language function and thinking of learners .

Can learning outcomes be hindered when using writing frames?

Using writing frames or templates as teaching resources for teaching complicated ideas is not cheating. It is just like learning to dance with a mentor. It enables the learner to pay attention to the right moves in his/her individual style. Writing frames will be used only as long as they are needed. Writing coaches—and dancing coaches— understand when they can remove the scaffolds . They remove the scaffolds when learners begin to combine moves in effective ways that indicate their understanding of the fundamentals and their personal expression.

Provide structure to the curriculum with writing frames

Using graphic organisers and writing frames gives children access to the underlying structure of the content. These cross-curricular resources enable students to see how ideas are organised. This provides shape and order to our thinking. Within the English language , there are a finite amount of ways of organising ideas. Once children become comfortable with these frames, the language structures fit neatly around the ideas. For example, if a child is going to write about a historical event they might organise their ideas chronologically, such as a timeline. Once the student has plotted out the events in a concrete resource they can then begin to think about the language function that explains the organisation of the ideas. In the case of a timeline, we might use conjunctions such as, before, then, after, subsequently etc.

The writing frame or graphic organiser acts as a tool for scaffolding language around the students' ideas. Once the learner has a clear understanding of a body of knowledge and they can see the curriculum context, they are in a much stronger position to be able to articulate their ideas onto paper. The national curriculum has opportunities to use writing frames all the way through each curriculum topic. The key task is to identify how to organise the ideas. This will then help the pupil to identify the type of text they will be writing. When this type of pedagogy is most effective, the resource is not used in a dedicated lesson. Their ubiquitous use becomes a basic literacy skill that the whole school embraces. They will always serve as a strong tool in English lessons but their utility holds value across the entire curriculum in school. Our collection of resources have helped teachers identify where to use visual tools when engaging in the curriculum design process.

What is the role of a teacher when using writing frames?

Teachers play a crucial role in helping learners to use a collection of writing frames to improve writing for the learners. Teachers must:

(a) challenge the learners by involving them in analysing the elements of text, fiction and non-fiction both;

(b) model a large variety of techniques for responding to the details by paying attention to the writing; and

(c) ask learners to review and modify their responses after a guided reading of the content .

Using a frame in writing is suitable for guided writing in which the instructor assists a small group of learners in learning international languages or/ and writing a variety of text types. In guided writing, the educator models by way of mini-lessons and learners use the knowledge they acquired from shared and modelled sessions of writing with varying levels of teacher support. The teacher would help learners how to use writing frames in the following steps. The teacher would:

• Discuss the type of writing while highlighting the critical elements of the text.
• Introduce the writing frame and model how to use it.
• Review the responses of students about the writing frames with the class and invite learners to ask questions.
• Use a writing frame to provide guided practice.
• Use an informal assessment using simple sentences / everyday sentences to check student understanding about using the writing frame.
• Ask learners to use the writing frame to write individually.
• Help learners to understand the structure of any specific type of writing (i.e. expository, narrative).
• Ask learners to show their paragraphs, and clarify what they wrote and why.
• Check if students can write one paragraph comfortably. If yes, the teacher would encourage students to expand their writing to more paragraphs.
• Post examples of written paragraphs in the classroom for learners to refer to if they are writing texts without using frames . 

Examples of Writing Frames

Following are some examples of writing frames for students.

• Writing Frame For Science Writing: A writing frame is usually a teacher-made resource that is helpful in the challenging task of building scientific literacy in the classroom. The features of writing frames, with its basic elements (sentence beginners/ starters, sentence modifiers, connectives/cohesive links and key language information) and leads can be altered to prepare skeleton outlines for a variety of genres of scientific writing for the science classroom. In this way, educators can help learners to learn the stylistic conventions which are frequently employed by the scientific community. Writing prompts, sentence beginners/ starters, sentence modifiers, and connectives/cohesive links can demonstrate the kind of activity (interpretative, discursive or/ and knowledge-transforming) to the students used for any particular genre of writing. Also, the key language structures provided in the writing frames help in activating prior knowledge of that area of study in both young and adult learners and help instructors introduce learners to the scientific language inherent to that area of study. Below is the diagram exemplifying the use of writing frames for scientific literacy in the classroom.

Prompt Question Writing Frames: Just like classroom posters, a Prompt Question Writing Frame is an eye-catching writing frame mostly used for creative writing tasks in the English classroom. Prompt Question Writing Frames include a picture , lines for writing and an open-ended question to spark learners’ imagination. Below is an example of Prompt Question Writing Frames.

Speaking Frame: It is a kind of sentence frame that contains models and sentence starters for English language learners who are lacking English language proficiency and have limited knowledge of standard sentence structure needed for creating sentences independently. A speaking frame is a helpful frame that provides the desired support, and the support is gradually removed. Below is an example of a speaking frame.

Trophy Writing Frame: It is primarily used in primary schools in several ways. A Trophy Writing Frame provides a fun way for school aged children to write about someone who they consider a champion. Or, it is a frame to record memories as students can write a match report or any other big sporting event using a trophy writing frame .

Writing frames provide a great source for creating an engaging lesson . Writing frames are not only useful for language learning , but teachers can choose any lovely writing frame from a huge variety such as drawing frame, autumn frame, yellow doodle frames, blue doodle writing frames, book frame, fun frame and many more, to teach other subjects as well. Also, learners and teachers can create their own printable frame / additional writing frames according to their needs. Classroom discussion, key language structures and argument moves made by the discussion participants, all can be used to generate the most relevant and useful writing frames. However, it is suggested to connect writing frames with summarization for the tasks involving an opinion or critique of texts.

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10 Creative Writing Activities to Spark Magic in Your KS2 Primary Classroom

• 12 Jun 2024

Keeping KS2 pupils engaged with writing can sometimes feel like wrangling a roomful of kittens. But fear not! This blog post is here to reignite the writing fire with ten exciting activities that will have your learners crafting captivating stories, persuasive arguments, and beautiful descriptions in no time.

In the age of instant messaging and short-form content, nurturing a love for expressive writing is more important than ever. These activities cater to various learning styles and interests, while sneakily reinforcing key literacy skills like vocabulary development, sentence structure, and creative thinking. So, grab a pen, gather your pupils, and get ready to unleash their inner wordsmiths!

Now, let’s dive into the 10 activities and explore how they can spark magic in your classroom:

Picture Prompts Find captivating images online or in old magazines. Historical scenes, fantastical landscapes, funny animals, or even abstract shapes all work well. Project the image on the board or provide individual copies. Give children a set amount of time to study the image and jot down any thoughts, ideas, or emotions it evokes. Then, have them write a story inspired by the image. Encourage them to consider the setting, characters, plot, and mood based on their observations.

Character Interviews This activity helps develop well-rounded characters with strong voices and personalities. Have pupils brainstorm character ideas – they could be historical figures, fictional heroes, or even everyday people with interesting jobs. Once they’ve chosen a character, learners can write a list of interview questions to get to know them better. What are their hopes and dreams? What are their biggest fears? Finally, children write the interview itself, embodying the voice of their character in their responses.

Setting Showdown This activity challenges pupils to adapt their writing style and vocabulary to fit different environments. Choose two contrasting settings – a bustling city square at rush hour versus a deserted island paradise, or a spaceship hurtling through space compared to a cozy cottage nestled in a forest. Have learners write a story that takes place in both of these contrasting settings. This could be a single character experiencing both environments or two separate stories linked by a common theme.

Sentence Swap This is a fantastic activity to show learners the power of sentence structure and word order. Write a short paragraph on the board, with several sentences. This could be the opening of a story, a news report, or a descriptive passage. Challenge children to swap the sentences around in different orders. Have them read the paragraph aloud after each swap to see how it changes the flow and meaning of the text. Discuss as a class how sentence order can build suspense, create emphasis, or simply improve the rhythm of the writing.

News Flash! This activity brings historical events or fictional scenarios to life and helps children with factual writing and research skills. Present learners with a historical event they might not be familiar with (the invention of the printing press, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius) or a fictional headline from a fantasy world ( “Dragons Take Over Local Bakery!”). Have pupils research the event or brainstorm the details of the fictional scenario. Then, have them write a news report on the event, complete with a catchy headline, factual information, and quotes from “witnesses” (real or imagined).

Poetry in Motion This activity is a wonderful way to bridge the gap between visual imagery and written language. Show pupils a short video clip that is particularly evocative or visually stimulating. This could be a nature documentary scene, a silent movie chase sequence, or even an abstract animation. After watching the clip, give learners some time to think about what they saw and how it made them feel. Then, have them write a poem capturing the essence of the video clip. Encourage them to use vivid language, figurative speech, and sound devices to bring their poem to life.

Dear Diary… This activity is a fantastic tool for character development and creative storytelling. Ask children to choose a historical figure, fictional character, or even an inanimate object (a tree in the schoolyard, a forgotten toy in the attic). Have them write a series of diary entries from the perspective of their chosen subject. These diary entries should reflect the character’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences. For historical figures, pupils can research real diaries or letters to guide their writing.

The Persuasion Game This activity hones persuasive writing skills and encourages pupils to think critically about different viewpoints. Give learners a product, idea, or policy (flying cars, a four-day school week, uniforms in school) and have them choose whether they are for or against it. Then, have them write a persuasive letter arguing their chosen viewpoint. This letter should be addressed to a specific audience (e.g., the government, parents). Pupils should use strong arguments, factual evidence, and persuasive language to convince the reader of their point of view.

Comic Strip Capers This activity is a fun and engaging way to introduce learners to graphic novels and comic book storytelling. Provide pupils with a simple comic strip template, with a set number of panels. Challenge them to write a short story using illustrations and dialogue within the panels of the comic strip. This can be a humorous story, a dramatic scene, or even a factual account of a historical event.

Six-Word Stories This activity is a fantastic challenge for creative thinking, conciseness, and impactful writing. Challenge children to write a complete story in just six words! This forces them to think carefully about their plot, characters, and setting, and to deliver their message in an impactful way. Six-word story prompts can be provided to get pupils started (e.g., “Lost princess finds happy robot friend”, “Last human wanders through ruined city”).

Remember, the key is to make writing fun, engaging, and relevant to your children’s interests. With a little creativity, you can transform your classroom into a vibrant writing workshop where imaginations soar, and words truly come alive!

If you liked this post, you may like Beyond the Classroom Walls: 15 Outdoor Learning Activities for Key Stage 1 .

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Free Writing Frames

Subject: English

Age range: 5-7

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

29 February 2024

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Need a writing frame for an assessment or piece of published writing? This 12-page resource includes 3 blank writing frame templates; narrow lines and picture box, wide lines and picture box, and full page narrow lines.

Bonus: Also includes a diary writing template, summer-themed borders and heart borders, perfect for Valentine’s Day letters!

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