P4 English: how to get your child to plan their own composition

As we approach the halfway mark of the first school term, it is a good time to gently move away from helping too much in planning compositions and getting your child to plan on their own. Most would have had the experience of discussing their ideas with guided words and phrases. With much encouragement, most have built up their confidence and realised that all ideas are good and when tweaked can be excellent and realistic.

Composition planning

A guide is still needed, but instead of using sentences and phrases, one out of two, can just be words. A box with new vocabulary/phrases, most of which can be re-used again and again, can be created for your child, with the basic meanings of these words/phrases.

For example, on the topic of A Burglar, such a simple box below can 

1. build up a child’s vocabulary by replacing basic vocabulary with more complex ones
2. help them associate certain words and phrases with a topic. This is essential with the new writing format.

P4 Composition- Vocabulary and Creating Independent Writers

stroll – a slow walk
smelt a rat – suspicious of something or someone
heart beating wildly – afraid
events unfold – what was happening
commended – praised

The child should still be guided on how to Introduce a story, create the Problem and Solution and the Ending. However, let them express their own ideas as much as possible and that will build on their love of writing.