Teachers Resources
FIRST!
Just in case there is any confusion, we are in NO WAY associated with Young Writers (with an ’s’) who operate out of Peterborough and who offer competitions and publish anthologies of young people’s writing.
WHY ‘YOUNG WRITER’?
‘Young Writer’ magazine was conceived in 1995 and established by Kate Jones, herself a mother and a teacher. Since September 2007, it is produced by Warners Group Publications, who also publish the two leading writing titles for adults, Writers’ News and Writing Magazine. We think it is sad that reading is seen as an enjoyable hobby and writing usually as a chore. We know how much fun writing can be, too, and we want as many children as possible to get the bug! If you yourself don’t enjoy writing yet, why not have a go at some of the ideas and challenges in ‘Young Writer?! Even at its most frustrating it can get addictive!
Material in ‘Young Writer’ is copyright, but it can all be photocopied and used for educational purposes.
We are aware of the requirements of the National Curriculum and design our technical articles to help. Many primary school teachers, for example, are not English specialists so teaching the Passive Voice or finding an angle on Reported Speech that isn’t just pedestrian can be a bit daunting. The magazines build into an on-going reference and as we don’t take advertisements they don’t date. Even with the competitions, even though the deadlines will have passed, you can enjoy using the writing challenges we set. (Then when your pupils have had a go you can read them the winning pieces from the following magazine and see how other young writers responded!). You’ll also find little articles, on ‘to’, too’ and ‘two’, for example, or on ‘there’, their’ and they’re’. Could be handy!
‘Young Writer’ is great for many reluctant readers who often enjoy reading pieces by their peers. It shows that both boys and girls can write and that age is not a barrier. The youngest child we have published was 3! Her Mum wrote down the words of a song she was singing. Helping someone with the recording aspect of writing is fine; but all the ideas and the thoughts should be by the young writer. If you are helping you may have to zip your lip! Nor do the children have to be ‘clever’, top set, A* pupils to produce a piece of writing that works. We have published pieces by children with special needs that are really worth reading. To get chosen for publication gives a huge boost to confidence. Bright children who love writing will be stretched by finding that they are not unique. There are other terrific young writers out there!
It is absolutely crucial, we think, that you don’t belittle a child’s efforts and that you find something positive to comment on! We respond to each piece we are sent. We are happy to read poetry and prose, fiction and non-fiction, serious pieces or funny ones.
FREE BOOKS FOR YOUR SCHOOL LIBRARY
Publishers send us books for review, from picture books for little children to novels for young adults. We can let you have them FREE for your school library in exchange for a review by a child of the age for whom the book was written. Some schools have used reading partnerships, linking, for example, a Year 5 or 6 pupil with a little one to read the book together and for the older child to write the younger child’s comments down. The reviews are published in ‘Young Writer’ or on our website and are really useful both for book makers and for book buyers. This sense of purpose can be a great motivator for your pupils to read. Just ask us and we’ll send you some.
CONTACT US
If we are not doing something that you think would help your pupils please ask us. If we are doing something that doesn’t work for you and your children, please tell us. If you have good practice to share please do so as then more young writers can benefit. We want to make this magazine really enjoyable, really inspiring and really useful. Telephone +44 (0)113 200 2929 or email youngwriter@writersnews.co.uk
SPREAD THE WORD
Do encourage the writers in your classes to take out their own subscriptions as a move towards becoming independent writers. And please tell your friends and teaching colleagues about us. We are a charity and funds are (of course) limited. We would be most grateful for your help.