Yesterday, 12-07-2010, I spent the day at my children’s primary school working with different age groups. My aim for the day was to encourage the children be do some creative writing. With the year fives and sixes I asked them to imagine either a place of a creature and describe it to me. Not just the size, shape of colour but how did it move, what did it smell or feel like. Then they were asked to draw it and write a short piece showing me all this information.

The children were excellent, some producing pages of well thought out and planned pieces, their drawings were all done with  great excitement as they brought their creations to life.

The younger children were, in my mind at least, given the harder task. They were asked to produce a cover blurb and matching story. We started by discussing what we liked about their favourite movie or book. Then they mode a few notes and expanded them into the final pieces all of which were good. One or two excelled above the rest and created something that was very accurate to the chosen title.

This was a day worth doing, more parents should go and get involved and spend a day in their children’s world. It’s been over 30 years since my primary school days and I can honestly say that the vocabulary and understanding of the children across all of the age groups was outstanding and far beyond what I was ever taught at their age.

A heart felt thank goes to all of the children, teachers and assistants who made the day fun and teach our children everyday.