Independent Writing: News Time
To develop purposeful independent writing through regular, personally meaningful news writing.
- Framework: EYFS
- Unit: EYFS Literacy
- Learning area: Literacy
- Level: EYFS Reception
Objectives
- Writes phonically plausible attempts
- Uses capital letters for sentence starts
- Adds finger spaces between words
- Composes simple sentences independently
Materials
- News books (child's personal writing book)
- Phonics mats for reference
- Word wall for common words
- Drawing space + writing lines
Instructions
Establish a weekly news writing routine. Children always write about their own experience — a trip, a birthday, a new pet, a weekend activity. Personal experience provides maximum motivation and vocabulary.
Model news writing regularly as a class shared write before independent time. 'This is my news from the weekend: At the weekend I went to the park. I'm going to write that. Say the words with me. AT... THE... WEEK... END...' Sound out phonically, using the class phonics mat.
Encourage 'have a go' spelling using phonics. When a child asks for a word, first try: 'Let's sound it out together. What can you hear in... 'swimming'? S-W-I-M-M-I-N-G. Write what you can hear.' Celebrate phonically plausible attempts.
Conference briefly with every child during writing: 'Tell me what you're writing today. Let me read what you've written so far.' Read back exactly what they've written, then ask: 'What comes next?'
Teach specific transcription skills during the session: 'When we write a new sentence, we always start with a capital letter. Let's find where your new sentence starts.' Embed specific teaching in context.
Share news writing in a celebratory way: 'Would anyone like to share their news?' Choose two or three children, who read aloud. Celebrate specific achievements: 'Phoebe sounded out 'butterfly' by herself — well done!'