Talking as a writer

Includes CD-Rom

It is difficult to write a sentence pattern down if you cannot say it aloud, and to say it aloud, you have to first have heard it. In his book Talking as a Writer, Pie Corbett examines the relationship between speaking and writing - an idea which is rooted and written into the new literacy framework. Based on projects carried out across the globe, and working from the premise that language is initially structured verbally, the book explores the idea of 'talking the text' - from storytelling and poetry performances, to classroom debates and presentations - as a preparation for writing. Packed with creative ideas and examples, this approach has been shown to improve children's writing dramatically.

This book encourages children to learn to 'talk as writers'. Providing a theoretical background as well as suggestions of practical approaches, the chapters cover:

- the primary strategy teaching pattern for literacy

- the basic plots from which most stories are derived

- storytelling as a basis for story-writing

- poetry

- plays

- non-fiction.

Pie Corbett is a writer, advisor and INSET provider on literacy.