Creative Writing
It’s not just writing stories…
I am often asked to teach a child creative writing. What does that mean? Should I only be teaching them how to write stories that they will enjoy writing, and that someone else will enjoy reading? I’ve spent years developing the skills to do just this. But less than 1% of parents want me to teach creative writing as a leisure activity! The goal is almost always examination success. Therefore, I have to adopt a broader approach. Let’s divide written communication into four primary types of disposition: argument, narration, description, and exposition. My teaching is always skills based. I know how to improve your child’s ability to produce these four distinct types of creative writing. Excellent content, organisation and technical accuracy are key objectives.
Online tutoring is an extremely effective way of teaching creative writing.
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This is because it is a truly shared experience.
Students can listen and learn as I annotate their homework in real-time. I always found marking school exercise books a deeply unsatisfying task because I knew that my pupils would barely glance at my corrections and comments. Their only real interest was their final mark. Online is different. They have to look at the screen and watch the corrections take place. (If I am teaching a group, I will already have marked or partially marked the work, but I’ll explain my comments.)
Another huge bonus of working online is that my students can write directly onto my screen. This is so much better than me waiting for them to write something and then reading it when we are in the same room.
From Year 5 onwards, I use the GCSE Assessment Objectives and mark schemes. My students, and their parents, like this structured approach as they can understand how they are progressing. This isn’t extreme hot-housing. GCSE is an exam that caters for all abilities (which includes some extremely weak candidates). Some of my year 5 students may have weak English skills, but none have extreme difficulty with the subject. Therefore none will be achieving the lowest possible GCSE marks.
These lessons are either given on an individual basis or in groups with children of similar abilities who meet up for a regular session once a week. The work is annotated and emailed back to the student. All classes are recorded and a link to the recording is sent to each student. This is another distinct advantage of on-line teaching.
If you are unable to commit to a weekly session, I also offer short workshop courses.