Junior School

Writing is an Adventure! 

Article by James Gagliardi, Year 3 Teacher 

Throughout Term 2, Year 3 students have been exposed to a variety of writing skills as part of the Narrative Writing unit. They have been utilising language-rich provocations to support and extend students’ ideas and vocabulary in their writing. 

The students enjoyed weekly mini provocations, during which they were immersed in stimulating images, music and videos connected to engaging themes.  

• What would happen if your drive to school involved a time-travelling porthole appearing ahead of your family’s car on the Calder Freeway?  

• What would you do if you stumbled upon an abandoned campsite that was littered with clues suggesting the involvement of an unknown creature?  

• What would happen if a tiny magical door appeared in the corner of your Year 3 classroom?  

   

These were three key questions that inspired the different writing provocations that the students participated in. Students engaged in sessions rich in discussions, questioning and wonderings that guided the different stages of the writing process. 

Teachers observed high levels of engagement and motivation as students took ownership of the ideas and language incorporated into their stories. The multimedia elements used in each provocation remained on display in classrooms throughout the week, allowing for opportunities to revisit and remain inspired throughout each stage of the narrative writing process. At the conclusion of this unit, teachers observed a positive increase in students writing stamina, along with a greater willingness to review their work to improve its quality. 

 Students were eager to share their pieces with peers. Experiences such as these have helped develop understanding that as authors, not only do we write for enjoyment but also have a responsibility to engage our readers.