Do you have enough independent writing to assess your year 6 pupils against the writing Teacher Assessment Framework for the end of Key Stage 2?
Plazoom has created a selection of writing activities, linked to the foundation subjects where possible, to provide opportunities for independent writing. These could be used to assess pupils against the TAF statements for writing, providing vital evidence of the standard that pupils are working which could be used for internal or external moderation.
‘Pupils’ writing, on which teachers base their judgements, must be produced independently by the pupil.’ (Key stage 2 teacher assessment guidance, October 2019). This writing activity provides success criteria to help pupils understand what they have learnt and a stimulus for writing but teachers should ‘avoid modelling or over scaffolding the expected outcome.’ (Key Stage 2 teacher assessment guidance, October 2019)
In this writing task, pupils will write about online safety, choosing an appropriate form for their writing. This could be used within a computing unit on using technology safely. Pupils will revisit how to stay safe online before discussing the audiences for their writing (parents, younger or older children, organisations) and deciding whether they will write a letter, leaflet or poster. Alternatively, the resources could be used as part of online safety week.
The activity can be used to provide an opportunity for cross-curricular writing, allowing pupils to demonstrate their writing skills and independently choose the appropriate form for their writing, whilst also demonstrating their subject knowledge and understanding of keeping safe online.
This resource pack includes:
Personal writing skills checklist
For pupils to write their own writing checklists to encourage independent editing.
Keeping safe online writing skills checklist
A list of features, without modelled examples, for pupils to use as a checklist for editing writing.
Modal verbs poster
A poster for display with examples of modal verbs and how they could be used to show likelihood or importance.
Formal language poster
A poster to display with examples of formal language (vocabulary choices, passive verbs, subjunctive form).
Online safety posters
A PDF poster informing pupils how to stay safe online.
Online safety matching cards
A set of PDF cards for pupils to match to prompt discussion about online safety.
Online safety writing idea cards
A set of PDF cards with ideas for writing about online safety
Online safety planning sheet
To support pupils when planning and organising their ideas.
Themed writing paper
A PDF writing sheet for pupils to use when writing the final draft of their writing.
Teacher assessment sheets
For teachers to use to assess pupils against the year 6 writing TAF statements which could be placed in pupil’s books as a record of evidence seen.
TAF Statements the writing could provide evidence for
WTS
In non-narrative writing, use simple devices to structure the writing and support the reader (e.g. headings, subheadings, bullet points)
EXS
To write effectively for a range of purposes and audiences, selecting language that shows good awareness of the reader
To select vocabulary and grammatical structures that reflect what the writing requires, doing this mostly appropriately – modal verbs
GDS
To exercise an assured and conscious control over levels of formality, particularly through manipulating grammar and vocabulary to achieve this