NOW AVAILABLE AS A SELF-PACED COURSE!!
Online Mini Courses
We’ll teach you how to raise the standards in writing in a fun and interactive way for both the student and the teacher.
What is Big Write and VCOP?
A Big Write is the chance for the students to celebrate their writing and show off the learning goals they have achieved for the week. They will learn how to up-level their work and create a ‘writer’s voice’ by using their VCOP skills (vocabulary, connectives, openers and punctuation).
What is Big Write and VCOP?
A Big Write is the chance for the students to celebrate their writing and show off the learning goals they have achieved for the week. They will learn how to up-level their work and create a ‘writer’s voice’ by using their VCOP skills (vocabulary, connectives, openers and punctuation).
Vivacious Vocabulary
What is Vocabulary (the V in VCOP)?
The term ‘vocabulary’ refers to a collection of words. But when we are referring to vocabulary in VCOP, we want the words to be specifically chosen to create impact and a writer's voice. Wow Words or Ambitious Vocabulary is the use of words of phrases that make us, the reader, go wow and the writer is proud to use them. Wow words are not limited to singular words, they can be phrases and can be any part of speech, not just adjectives.
The aim of the session is to;
· To understand the importance of teaching vocabulary.
· To look at strategies and activities to help our teaching of higher level and wider ranging vocabulary.
· To understand that the acquisition of vocabulary is 24/7.
This is a 1 hour professional development session suitable for all year levels, leadership, and support staff.
We highly recommend that support staff are involved in this session to fully support classroom implementation. The session is broken up with numerous games and activities that can be differentiated to suit all year levels and abilities. This is a great refresher or introduction to the importance of vocabulary.
The term ‘vocabulary’ refers to a collection of words. But when we are referring to vocabulary in VCOP, we want the words to be specifically chosen to create impact and a writer's voice. Wow Words or Ambitious Vocabulary is the use of words of phrases that make us, the reader, go wow and the writer is proud to use them. Wow words are not limited to singular words, they can be phrases and can be any part of speech, not just adjectives.
The aim of the session is to;
· To understand the importance of teaching vocabulary.
· To look at strategies and activities to help our teaching of higher level and wider ranging vocabulary.
· To understand that the acquisition of vocabulary is 24/7.
This is a 1 hour professional development session suitable for all year levels, leadership, and support staff.
We highly recommend that support staff are involved in this session to fully support classroom implementation. The session is broken up with numerous games and activities that can be differentiated to suit all year levels and abilities. This is a great refresher or introduction to the importance of vocabulary.
Making Connectives Clearer
What are Connectives (the C in VCOP)?
A connective is a word or phrase that links ideas, clauses or sentences. Connectives can be conjunctions (e.g. but, when, because) or connecting adverbs (e.g. however, then, therefore). Connecting adverbs (and adverbial phrases and clauses) maintain the cohesion of a text.
The aim of the session is to;
· Understand the importance of teaching connectives in a purposeful way.
· Look at connectives beyond conjunctions.
· Add more games and activities to our resource kits.
This is a 1 hour professional development session suitable for all year levels, leadership, and support staff.
We highly recommend that support staff are involved in this session to fully support classroom implementation. The session is broken up with numerous games and activities that can be differentiated to suit all year levels and abilities. This is a great refresher or introduction to connectives.
A connective is a word or phrase that links ideas, clauses or sentences. Connectives can be conjunctions (e.g. but, when, because) or connecting adverbs (e.g. however, then, therefore). Connecting adverbs (and adverbial phrases and clauses) maintain the cohesion of a text.
The aim of the session is to;
· Understand the importance of teaching connectives in a purposeful way.
· Look at connectives beyond conjunctions.
· Add more games and activities to our resource kits.
This is a 1 hour professional development session suitable for all year levels, leadership, and support staff.
We highly recommend that support staff are involved in this session to fully support classroom implementation. The session is broken up with numerous games and activities that can be differentiated to suit all year levels and abilities. This is a great refresher or introduction to connectives.
Open Your Eyes to Openers
What are Openers (the O in VCOP)?
The term ‘openers’ refers to the beginning of all sentences, not just the beginning of the text. Students need to be aware how openers effect their writing for the audience, to know when to vary, when to be repetitive for effect and when to use power openers. They also need to understand the power of a strong ending, which we teach alongside openers.
The aim of the session is to;
· Focus on a variety of openers and the importance of varying them.
· Understand the importance of a strong finish.
· Look at how to go about teaching and practising openers and differentiating for learners.
This is a 1 hour professional development session suitable for all year levels, leadership, and support staff.
We highly recommend that support staff are involved in this session to fully support classroom implementation. The session is broken up with numerous games and activities that can be differentiated to suit all year levels and abilities. This is a great refresher or introduction to openers.
The term ‘openers’ refers to the beginning of all sentences, not just the beginning of the text. Students need to be aware how openers effect their writing for the audience, to know when to vary, when to be repetitive for effect and when to use power openers. They also need to understand the power of a strong ending, which we teach alongside openers.
The aim of the session is to;
· Focus on a variety of openers and the importance of varying them.
· Understand the importance of a strong finish.
· Look at how to go about teaching and practising openers and differentiating for learners.
This is a 1 hour professional development session suitable for all year levels, leadership, and support staff.
We highly recommend that support staff are involved in this session to fully support classroom implementation. The session is broken up with numerous games and activities that can be differentiated to suit all year levels and abilities. This is a great refresher or introduction to openers.
Perfecting Punctuation
What is Punctuation (the P in VCOP)?
Punctuation are the marks or symbols we use in writing to separate sentences and their elements and to clarify meaning. In Big Write there are two different types of punctuation, these that fall under GHaSP and are used simply for grammar, and those we use to create effect. The Australian Punctuation pyramid covers both so that we remind students of the basics, while teaching them to enhance the piece.
The aim of the session is to;
· Look at what we need to know as teachers regarding punctuation.
· Understand that each piece of punctuation has more than one use.
· Learn how we go about teaching and practising punctuation.
This is a 1 hour professional development session suitable for all year levels, leadership, and support staff.
We highly recommend that support staff are involved in this session to fully support classroom implementation. The session is broken up with numerous games and activities that can be differentiated to suit all year levels and abilities. This is a great refresher or introduction to punctuation.
Punctuation are the marks or symbols we use in writing to separate sentences and their elements and to clarify meaning. In Big Write there are two different types of punctuation, these that fall under GHaSP and are used simply for grammar, and those we use to create effect. The Australian Punctuation pyramid covers both so that we remind students of the basics, while teaching them to enhance the piece.
The aim of the session is to;
· Look at what we need to know as teachers regarding punctuation.
· Understand that each piece of punctuation has more than one use.
· Learn how we go about teaching and practising punctuation.
This is a 1 hour professional development session suitable for all year levels, leadership, and support staff.
We highly recommend that support staff are involved in this session to fully support classroom implementation. The session is broken up with numerous games and activities that can be differentiated to suit all year levels and abilities. This is a great refresher or introduction to punctuation.
Utilising the VCOP Boards
SELF-PACED ONLY - COURSE DURATION: 60 -120 MINUTES
What is a VCOP Board?
A VCOP display board is a classroom display space, broken into 4 quadrants. It is used as a visual reinforcement and celebration of the student’s learning. It is colour
co-ordinated with the VCOP elements. Yellow is for vocabulary, pink is for connectives, blue is for openers and green is for punctuation. These are the colours we also link to in the Student Analysis highlighting stage.
After this course, you will understand the importance and value of the VCOP boards, for both the student and classroom teacher. They will be a focal point of the classroom and they will continue to grow and develop throughout the year. You will have a new repertoire of games and activities that require minimal to no additional resources, beyond the VCOP boards. You will understand the benefit of differentiating at both a class level, as well as a school wide level.
This course is suitable for educators of Pre-School to Adult learners, using or wishing to use the VCOP elements in their classroom. It is also suitable for leadership, support staff, or educators wishing to raise writing or oral language skills of their students.
Ideally this course will be completed as a staff using the school license.
This course provides a further understanding of the benefits of VCOP, and is linked to the Big Write and VCOP writing approach and training courses.
What is a VCOP Board?
A VCOP display board is a classroom display space, broken into 4 quadrants. It is used as a visual reinforcement and celebration of the student’s learning. It is colour
co-ordinated with the VCOP elements. Yellow is for vocabulary, pink is for connectives, blue is for openers and green is for punctuation. These are the colours we also link to in the Student Analysis highlighting stage.
After this course, you will understand the importance and value of the VCOP boards, for both the student and classroom teacher. They will be a focal point of the classroom and they will continue to grow and develop throughout the year. You will have a new repertoire of games and activities that require minimal to no additional resources, beyond the VCOP boards. You will understand the benefit of differentiating at both a class level, as well as a school wide level.
This course is suitable for educators of Pre-School to Adult learners, using or wishing to use the VCOP elements in their classroom. It is also suitable for leadership, support staff, or educators wishing to raise writing or oral language skills of their students.
Ideally this course will be completed as a staff using the school license.
This course provides a further understanding of the benefits of VCOP, and is linked to the Big Write and VCOP writing approach and training courses.
How to Run A Warm Write in Foundation - Video Series
SELF-PACED ONLY - VIDEO SERIES DURATION: 90 - 120 MINUTES
What is a Warm Write?
A Warm Write is what we call one of the writing/pre-writing assessments that we collect for our writing data trackers. A Warm Write means they are more supported test conditions, where as a Cold Write is a more formal test, similar to NAPLAN conditions. In general, warm writes are for pre-writers, or beginning writers.
The course will focus on providing you with;
· A detailed video of a warm write assessment being completed.
· A extensive workbook complete with;
– An assessment template broken into smaller tasks to observe skill.
– A test collection template for collecting the data.
– A task template to use if tactile items cannot be sourced.
– A breakout of the when to run warm assessment.
– An overview of what to do with the data you collect.
– Instructions on how to set up a data tracker, and more.
After this course, you will be able to run and mark a warm write using the Foundation Level of the Australian Criterion Scale. You obtain an overview of Cold/Warm Writes to be able to schedule them into your assessment timetable, and you will be able to start your individual student Data Tracker.
This course is suitable for Pre-School, Foundation and Year 1 start, leadership, support staff, or educators with pre-writers in their care.
This course provides an essential understanding of assessing pre-writing or emergent writing skills using the Australian Criterion Scale. It is linked to the Big Write and VCOP writing approach. As such, it should be completed AFTER completing either Big Talk or the Introduction to Big Write and VCOP.
What is a Warm Write?
A Warm Write is what we call one of the writing/pre-writing assessments that we collect for our writing data trackers. A Warm Write means they are more supported test conditions, where as a Cold Write is a more formal test, similar to NAPLAN conditions. In general, warm writes are for pre-writers, or beginning writers.
The course will focus on providing you with;
· A detailed video of a warm write assessment being completed.
· A extensive workbook complete with;
– An assessment template broken into smaller tasks to observe skill.
– A test collection template for collecting the data.
– A task template to use if tactile items cannot be sourced.
– A breakout of the when to run warm assessment.
– An overview of what to do with the data you collect.
– Instructions on how to set up a data tracker, and more.
After this course, you will be able to run and mark a warm write using the Foundation Level of the Australian Criterion Scale. You obtain an overview of Cold/Warm Writes to be able to schedule them into your assessment timetable, and you will be able to start your individual student Data Tracker.
This course is suitable for Pre-School, Foundation and Year 1 start, leadership, support staff, or educators with pre-writers in their care.
This course provides an essential understanding of assessing pre-writing or emergent writing skills using the Australian Criterion Scale. It is linked to the Big Write and VCOP writing approach. As such, it should be completed AFTER completing either Big Talk or the Introduction to Big Write and VCOP.
Enhancing Talk in the Classroom and at Home
SELF-PACED ONLY - COURSE DURATION: 60 -120 MINUTES
‘If they can’t say it, they can’t write it… and what they do say, they write’ So we need to target the oral language, in order to impact the writing!
The aim of this session is to help enhance oral language in both the classroom, and in the home environment.
The course will focus on providing you with;
· An interactive presentation filled with background information, discussions, games and activities.
· A detailed workbook to ensure you can follow along and take notes.
· Resource downloads so that you can begin straight away.
Remember, oral language plays a massive role in the success of writing development. We need to specifically target and model the correct use of these skills, in a variety of different ways in order to make an impact and raise standards.
This course is suitable for Pre-School through to Secondary School Educators, including leadership, support staff, casual relief, and pre-service teachers.
Ideally this course will be completed as a staff using the school license
This course provides an essential reminder to staff and parent about the important role of oral language development. Through fast, fun and active talk based games and activities, linked to the Big Write and VCOP writing approach, students will thrive.
‘If they can’t say it, they can’t write it… and what they do say, they write’ So we need to target the oral language, in order to impact the writing!
The aim of this session is to help enhance oral language in both the classroom, and in the home environment.
The course will focus on providing you with;
· An interactive presentation filled with background information, discussions, games and activities.
· A detailed workbook to ensure you can follow along and take notes.
· Resource downloads so that you can begin straight away.
Remember, oral language plays a massive role in the success of writing development. We need to specifically target and model the correct use of these skills, in a variety of different ways in order to make an impact and raise standards.
This course is suitable for Pre-School through to Secondary School Educators, including leadership, support staff, casual relief, and pre-service teachers.
Ideally this course will be completed as a staff using the school license
This course provides an essential reminder to staff and parent about the important role of oral language development. Through fast, fun and active talk based games and activities, linked to the Big Write and VCOP writing approach, students will thrive.
Prompt Planning
SELF-PACED ONLY - COURSE DURATION: 60 -120 MINUTES
What is Prompt Planning?
When it comes to getting started, many students sit there tapping their pencil on the page or their fingers on the keys. Why? Because the ideas are not clear in their minds yet.
The scariest moment is just before you begin. – Stephen King
We need to help students to become quicker and clearer with their ideas, no matter what the text type, so they can begin writing.
Teaching students to plan effectively in 2, 5, or 10-minute blocks will help them become more confident in expressing themselves.
The course will focus on providing you with;
Prompt planning encourages students to investigate and identify their planning strengths and weaknesses.
Together, we will teach the students to;
– Verbalise their ideas in pairs or threes.
– Practice paired planning.
– Play around with graphic organisers.
– Practice without organisers.
– Look for hints and tips in stimulus prompts.
– Borrow, build and begin writing.
Remember, oral language plays a massive role in the success of writing development. We need to specifically target and model the correct use of these skills, in a variety of different ways in order to make an impact and raise standards.
This course is suitable for Pre-School through to Secondary School Educators, including leadership, support staff, casual relief, and pre-service teachers.
Ideally this course will be completed as a staff using the school license
This course provides an essential reminder to staff about the important role of oral language development. Through fast, fun and active talk based games and activities, linked to the Big Write and VCOP writing approach, students will thrive with Prompt Planning.
What is Prompt Planning?
When it comes to getting started, many students sit there tapping their pencil on the page or their fingers on the keys. Why? Because the ideas are not clear in their minds yet.
The scariest moment is just before you begin. – Stephen King
We need to help students to become quicker and clearer with their ideas, no matter what the text type, so they can begin writing.
Teaching students to plan effectively in 2, 5, or 10-minute blocks will help them become more confident in expressing themselves.
The course will focus on providing you with;
Prompt planning encourages students to investigate and identify their planning strengths and weaknesses.
Together, we will teach the students to;
– Verbalise their ideas in pairs or threes.
– Practice paired planning.
– Play around with graphic organisers.
– Practice without organisers.
– Look for hints and tips in stimulus prompts.
– Borrow, build and begin writing.
Remember, oral language plays a massive role in the success of writing development. We need to specifically target and model the correct use of these skills, in a variety of different ways in order to make an impact and raise standards.
This course is suitable for Pre-School through to Secondary School Educators, including leadership, support staff, casual relief, and pre-service teachers.
Ideally this course will be completed as a staff using the school license
This course provides an essential reminder to staff about the important role of oral language development. Through fast, fun and active talk based games and activities, linked to the Big Write and VCOP writing approach, students will thrive with Prompt Planning.