Raising Boys’ Raising Boys’ Achievement Achievement

In WritingIn Writing

Jayne Whitehouse Jayne Whitehouse St Laurence Infant SchoolSt Laurence Infant School

Year TwoYear Two

Why am I on this course?

In the 2005 SATS 45% of girls achieved level 3 for

writing, but…

Only 14.9% of boys achieved level 3!

We clearly have a gender issue to address

My Focus GroupMy Focus Group

Aaron A capable boy. Finds writing a real chore. Easily content with what he produces.

Bobby More than capable, but very under confident. Finds it hard to think of ideas.

The six most likely to……………… achieve a level 3

Elliot Doesn’t particularly enjoy writing. Really labours over his work. Produces little content wise.

Jack Not really interested in writing. Produces very little, yet is capable of so much more.

Owen Full of ideas, he just doesn’t like having to write them down!

Thomas A very able writer who writes a lot at home. Finds it hard to think of ideas about a given subject.

Unit 1

Why Mulan?Why Mulan?LiteracyLiteracy ––Stories from other culturesStories from other cultures

GeographyGeography- - Compare and contrast Compare and contrast two locations.two locations. We compare We compare Birmingham to Hong Kong/ Mainland Birmingham to Hong Kong/ Mainland China.China.

ArtArt-Work about Chinese New Year.-Work about Chinese New Year.

It was a film that few of the children It was a film that few of the children were familiar with.were familiar with.

Week 1 SettingsWriting:A description of the army training camp

Week 2 CharacterisationWriting:A “WANTED” poster for Shan Yu

Week 3 Letter WritingWriting:A letter from Mulan describing the places she has seen and the people she has met.

Activities• Hot seating

• Thought Bubbles

• Conscience Alley

• Zone Of Relevance

• Emotions

Our first ever Zone Of Relevance!

Daniel in the hot seat as Daniel in the hot seat as Mulan’s father. He’s normally Mulan’s father. He’s normally much too shy to volunteer!much too shy to volunteer!

Add your textUnit 2

Why The Iron Giant?Why The Iron Giant? Literacy –Literacy – ..Dictionaries, glossaries, indexesDictionaries, glossaries, indexes

.. Explanations Explanations

our usual texts this half term are about machinesour usual texts this half term are about machines

Science – MaterialsScience – Materials D&T – Making modelsD&T – Making models Major appeal to boysMajor appeal to boys Opportunity to compare the film to Opportunity to compare the film to

the original Ted Hughes textthe original Ted Hughes text

Week 1 Distinguishing the difference between appearance and character.

Writing: A description of the Iron Giant

Week 2 Viewing scenes from the director’s perspective and the Iron Giant’s powers.

Writing:Invent a superhero/heroine and write about their appearance and their powers

Week 3 Story boarding and animation.

Writing: Use a storyboardto write the seuel “The Iron Giant 2.”

ActivitiesActivities Focused Listening – Listening to the Focused Listening – Listening to the

soundtrack without the aid of pictures.soundtrack without the aid of pictures. Camera angle/sound/colourCamera angle/sound/colour Oral story tellingOral story telling Story boardingStory boarding The work of the animatorThe work of the animator Hot seatingHot seating Conscience AlleyConscience Alley Zone Of RelevanceZone Of Relevance

We found a new way to use the Zone Of Relevance!

We had an “Iron Giant Day”

We painted Iron Giants

We made Iron Giants from junk

We used pretend cameras to role play the film crew

We alsoWe also Used plasticine to model Iron Used plasticine to model Iron

GiantsGiants

Used untuned instruments to Used untuned instruments to represent the Giant’s voicerepresent the Giant’s voice

Made flick books to demonstrate Made flick books to demonstrate animationanimation

ResultsResults Really pleasing results across the class.Really pleasing results across the class. Boys in group 4 have made excellent Boys in group 4 have made excellent

progress in terms of confidence, ideas, progress in terms of confidence, ideas, and the amount of writing they and the amount of writing they produce.produce.

One reticent girl with an IEP has taken One reticent girl with an IEP has taken part more readily in all lessons since part more readily in all lessons since we started the project.we started the project.

One very able girl, a level 3 reader, but One very able girl, a level 3 reader, but a reticent writer, has really been a reticent writer, has really been inspired to write.inspired to write.

Results For Focus Group

PupilPupil Pre Pre

Unit 1Unit 1

End End

Unit 1Unit 1

End End

Unit 2Unit 2

AaronAaron 2B 2B (just!)(just!)

2B 2B (secure)(secure)

2A2A

BobbyBobby 2C2C 2B2B 2A2A

ElliotElliot 2C2C 2B2B 2B2B

JackJack 2C2C 2B2B 2B2B

OwenOwen 2C2C 2C2C 2B2B

ThomasThomas 2C2C 2B2B AbsentAbsent

Impact On Impact On WritingWriting

Ambitious vocabularyAmbitious vocabulary Use of similesUse of similes Use of paragraphsUse of paragraphs Increased outputIncreased output Increased motivationIncreased motivation Increased creativityIncreased creativity Increased confidenceIncreased confidence Increased Increased ENJOYMENT!ENJOYMENT!

Benefits……Benefits……

Renewed interestIncreased motivation

Improved subject knowledgeFresh ideasNew skills

Vastly increased ICT capability!

…..to me as the teacher

Benefits……Benefits……

Increased motivationIncreased confidence

Improved speaking and listening skillsNew activities

Greatly improved writingMore fun in literacy

…..to the children as learners

Benefits……Benefits……

Re-skilled staffStandards raised in literacy

Fully motivated, happier childrenOne fully motivated, happier member of

Staff (Others to follow!)

…..to the school

The nominations for the award The nominations for the award

“Best Achievement In Boys’ “Best Achievement In Boys’ Writing”Writing”

are….are….

Aaron – For his description of the Huns

attack Bobby – For his script of The Iron Giant 2 Elliot – For his description of the Iron Giant

Jack – For his writing about a superhero Owen – For his description of the soldiers

training camp Thomas –For his letter from Mulan

And the winner And the winner is…is…

All of them!!All of them!!

Another Another production production

from Whitehouse from Whitehouse

Enterprises Inc.Enterprises Inc.

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