How does the school benefit from a virtual residency?

      Our workshops focus primarily on the writing process. Thus a 'real' visit lasting for just one day can often feel rather rushed, particularly if, as often happens, we are working to the school timetable and swapping from class to class throughout the day. A virtual residency offers pupils the opportunity to develop and enhance their writing skills over a longer period of time.
Each residency is tailored to the needs of the school, in discussion with the staff running the project. 
       The virtual writer packages  provide a variety of options. The purchasing school opts for either a non-fiction package, a story writing package or a poetry package.

• Packages in non-fiction writing are:
  
  Writing with Dinosaurs (most appropriate for year 5 & 6 but could be modified for year 4 or year 7 if required)
  The Tudors (appropriate for years 4 - 6)
  Shakespeare ( appropriate for KS3 but could be modified for KS2)
  Fierce Animals (appropriate for year 4 and possibly year 3)
  Earth in Danger (The environment - most appropriate for year 5 to 7 but could be modified for pupils up to year 9)

• The Story writing package develops writing skills by looking at story structures based on mythology.
  This package is modified, as appropriate, to cover writing development appropriate for pupils in KS2,  3 & 4

• The Poetry package investigates forms and patterns in poetry.
  This package is modified, as appropriate, to cover writing development appropriate for pupils in KS2, 3 & 4

   
The residency allows a longer term involvement with the authors who will provide individual feedback to the pupils. It will allow pupils to develop and enhance appropriate skills in the writing process.

Pupils are encouraged to use ICT in a variety of ways: on-line communication with the authors, developing ICT skills in research, drafting and final production of a piece of written work.

Writing sessions can be fitted in to the school timetable without causing disruption to other classes.

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