Feedback for the Writing Workshop

1. Comments from a Y4 teacher & children at Globe Lane Primary, Dukinfield:

Teacher:

The day as a whole went very well. It was well paced with built-in thinking/ imagination time. A whole day on literacy work could have proved challenging, however, the children surprised me with their comments afterwards. All of the children thoroughly enjoyed the day and thought the activities were fun as well as informative.

Particular areas I found useful were:

  • Creating characters based on a well-known person – Wayne Rooney!
  • Taking the perspective of that person in a particular situation – imagining Rooney’s perspective
  • Revision of strong nouns, and adjectives for descriptions; using powerful verbs and as few adverbs as possible – this got the children thinking!
  • Your novel – most of the children commented on this in discussions afterwards

Children’s Quotes (from a range of ability groups)

Michael  - We’ve been doing literacy all day and it’s been great fun!

Emily    - I liked the part where Tony North read his story because it showed us how to use powerful adjectives, adverbs, nouns and verbs.

Olivia    - I liked the imagination bit because you can really do much better with a character in the situation. I also liked your story because it showed how all the revision and creation comes together to make a brilliant story. Using the imagination can help you actually feel the character’s emotion and you can see their exact actions in your mind. Tony’s story sounded really good and I wish to buy a copy of it. Hope we meet again!

Lewis    - I liked putting Wayne Rooney’s character into other situations by imagining him there.

2. Comments from Julia Ward, Year 5 teacher at Wilmslow Prep School:

As a year 5 teacher, I found Mr North's day on creative writing a great way to reinforce what I had been teaching over the year, particularly how to improve the portrayal of characters and the quality of language used in their stories. We will definitely be making this an annual event. The children were absorbed in his book, 'The King Herself.'

3. In March 07 I gave a series of writing workshops to year 6 children at Little Leigh Primary in Cheshire, based on my Golden Rules for writing stories. Here's an email I received later from one of the girls:

Dear Mr North (Tony)

My name is Beth and I am in year 6 and from Little Leigh Primary school. Recently you have been coming in and teaching us about how to write a book.

I have learnt a lot from your lessons, and  I am very thankful that you have given up your time to come and teach us.

I have now started to write a book at home. When I have finished it, if you don't mind, I will email it to you, because I would like to have your opinion.

Once again thank you so much for all of your time.

Beth, Yr 6

4. Comments from Richard Zima and Anna Morgan, Y5 teachers at Ravensbury Primary, Clayton, Manchester

Tony,
 
Thank you very much for Thursday. The workshop was an excellent way for the children to think in depth about characters, and how to use this as a tool to write a productive story. The children enjoyed how the day was broken up into story writing, word level games and listening to each others ideas.
 
Thanks once again, and good luck with future books,
 
Rich and Anna,  
Yr 5 Ravensbury