N:\2013-14\Teacherweb\Level 2 Big writing Objectives Help for Parents .docx
Big Writing Level 2
How You Can Help Your Child
1. Your child can write at least 4 simple sentences that make sense.
Ask your child to read through anything they write at home for meaning and punctuation.
2. Your child can write several sentences with meaning on an idea.
Create a box of interesting objects. Ask your child to choose one and write or say 4, then 5 things
about it.
3. Your child can use the right words so that his/her writing makes sense.
Use your box of interesting objects again. Ask your child to choose an object
and write or say four things about it in full sentences.
4. Your child can spell most CVC words and use his/her basic phonics for new words (90%
decodable).
Ensure your child learns his/her weekly spelling and ‘has a go’ at sounding out new words.
5. Your child can write at least 50% of his/her letters correctly and
neatly.
Practise letter formation in the handwriting booklet
6. Your child can use any connective.
From your box of interesting objects ask your child to say two things about objects of his/her
choice. Then join the sentences using e.g. ‘and ‘ or ‘but’. Write the compound sentences down.
7. Your child can write several sentences which ‘flow’ (not a ‘list’).
Ask your child to retell / summarise a story they have read or heard at
school. Make sure that they have added as much detail as possible.
8. Your child can keep writing sentences on a theme.
Give your child a subject e.g. a forest. Ask them to think of as many different phrases, sentences
or words about the theme in five minutes. Reward more than ten ideas.
N:\2013-14\Teacherweb\Level 2 Big writing Objectives Help for Parents .docx
9. Your child can add descriptions to make his/her writing interesting.
Take some of the ideas from number 8 above, or show your child a
different interesting picture. Ask them to describe it. Think about shape, colour, size, smell,
feelings ….. etc.
10. Your child can use a range of sentence openers and make his/her writing interesting to the
reader.
Ask your teacher for a ‘Level 2 Healthy Writing 5 a day’ leaflet. Ask your child to begin sentences
using a selection of openers on the page.
11. Your child can use a range of ‘wow’ words.
 Using the ‘Level 2 Healthy Writing 5 a day’ leaflet, ask your child to begin
sentences using a selection of ‘wow’ words.
 Play the Tennis Game. Decide on a boring word like ‘big’. Take it in turns to
say a better word for big, eg, enormous, gigantic, huge etc... Whoever runs out of a
word or repeats one that has been said, loses the game! A thesaurus will help with this
game. Have a look at some new words one night and play the game the next.
12. Your child can use features of fiction and non-fiction texts (teacher assessment).
Teacher assessment for classwork
13. Your child can correctly use full stops and capital letters in at least half his/her writing.
When your child has written homework ensure that every sentence starts with a
capital letter and ends with a full stop. Point out a capital letters and punctuation
in his/her reading books. Ask them to clap each time they see a full stop.
14. Your child can spell high frequency words.
Ask for a list of high frequency words from your teacher. At home, practise these using the Look,
Cover, Write, Check method.
15. Your child can use phonetic strategies to spell more difficult words.
When your child is stuck in a spelling ask them to sound each letter out. It doesn’t matter if it is
incorrect at this level, as long as it can be read. Encourage the use of a children’s dictionary for a
few words that your child might use regularly.
N:\2013-14\Teacherweb\Level 2 Big writing Objectives Help for Parents .docx
16. Your child can use connectives other than ‘and’.
Make a bank of connective cards such as and, because, so, or but. Put them face down on the desk.
Write the beginning of a sentence on a small whiteboard. Ask your child to pick a card and complete
the sentence using the connective. You can take it in turns to write the beginning and end of
sentences. Decide who has written the most interesting ending and who has remembered to add a
‘wow’ word!
17. Your child can use punctuation and vary sentence length to make his/her writing interesting.
On a white board, write three sentences that need either “. ! or?”. Ask your child to put
in the correct punctuation. Your child could write some for you to punctuate. Some
sentences may have different punctuation depending on the meaning. E.g. Mum said,
“We need to go home.” Or Mum said, “We need to go home!”
18. Your child can use time connectives to create ‘flow’.
Put a set of time connective cards, such as a First, Then, After that, Next, Finally, on the table. Ask
your child to retell a story or set of instructions using these time connectives.
19. Your child can use description at least 3 times in his/her writing.
Show your child an interesting setting picture or story character e.g. a fairy, a queen, a monster
….. etc. Ask them to describe the scene or character. Think of wow words too!
20. Your child can use full stops and capitals correctly in at least 80% of his/her writing.
When your child has written homework ensure that every sentence starts with a capital letter
and ends with a full stop. Point out a capital letters plus punctuation in his/her reading books. Ask
him/her to clap each time they see a full stop. Expect more to be correct now.
21. Your child can write all letters accurately and neatly.
Practise your letters in your handwriting booklet. All letters need to be neat now.
22. Your child can start to join his/her letters in writing.
Use the handwriting booklet to practise joins.