Exploring the Power of Writing in the Primary Grades

  The True Power of Writing By Polly M. Jeremiah   I promised to sit back, relax and simply allow the course to alter my school of thought, in relation to the teaching and learning of writing. However, here I was once more. Being humbled by another week of learning. I had long known of many of the elements of a narrative piece, however, my knowledge was superficial. This week took me deeper beneath the surface of narrative writing elements. My view of students merely learning to express their thoughts and emotions, in correct sequence, through mechanically correct pieces, was drastically changed when I learned what lay deep beneath the surfaces of plot, theme, style and points of view. I learned how a clear working knowledge of these elements is essential before planning a narrative piece. I further learned how these can be manipulated in order to create different desired effects on the reader. Another key take away this week was exposure to the 5W+H questioning method...

 Recently, in LIT, we engaged deeply with two forms of writing that challenged us to think differently: narrative and persuasive. Working through the elements of narrative writing helped us understand how stories are built. The plot diagram, character development, setting, and point of view are not just technical components. They are tools that allow a writer to shape meaning and guide the reader through an experience. As I reviewed my notes and reflected on the structure of narrative writing, I began to see how each part plays a role in building tension, revealing emotion, and resolving conflict. The process felt purposeful. It reminded us that writing is not only about what happens, but how and why it matters. During our online session, we explored persuasive writing. This form requires a different kind of thinking. It is about presenting a position clearly, supporting it with evidence, and appealing to the reader’s logic and emotion. We considered how persuasive writing can be u...

This week’s focus on narrative writing  was truly eye-opening for me. I never imagined that narrative writing carried so many layers and elements beneath the surface. I have always enjoyed reading fairy tales, science fiction, and other imaginative stories, yet I never realized how much goes into teaching students to write narratives of their own. Before these sessions, I honestly did not understand how many foundational skills students need before they even begin drafting a story . Delving into the elements of narrative writing  was a major moment of growth for me. As a teacher, I was already familiar with plot, characters, and conflict, but I was completely unaware of how important style, theme, and point of view  are to shaping a strong narrative. Understanding these components helped me see narrative writing not just as a story with events, but as a meaningful piece shaped by voice, perspective, and deeper themes. Another invaluable takeaway this week was the 5W + H q...

  Bringing Writing to Life Weekending 7 th November, 2025 By: Polly M. Jeremiah   After years of teaching writing, this is the first time I have paid attention to the fact that two genres can be combined, to create a richer piece of literature. This course continues to remind me of my need to stop thinking that every topic covered makes me an accomplished writing teacher, and to sit back relax and allow the lecturer to take me through this amazing journey of learning and refining. Just when I begin to think I am adequate and ready for the classroom, another week of learning humbles me. Both my students and I have regularly used this writing combination. However, it was not until this week’s session, that have I realized this, not to the extent and in the manner in which it should be used. With the practical experience and explicit instructions, it was a lightbulb moment for me, in regards to personal practice and the teaching of writing. These sessions reminded me...

  This week’s session really opened my eyes to the beauty of descriptive and narrative writing.  We explored how these two genres work hand in hand, and I gained a deeper understanding of how powerful description can be when it’s done well. One thing that truly clicked for me was the difference between telling  and showing . It’s easy to write, “The garden was beautiful,” but it’s far more captivating to make readers see  the colors, smell  the flowers, and hear  the rustle of the leaves. Descriptive writing is about bringing a scene to life through vivid words and sensory details so readers can step right into it. I also realized that strong descriptive skills naturally strengthen narrative writing. The best stories aren’t just told, they’re experienced . When characters, settings, and emotions are painted with detail, readers connect more deeply and feel part of the moment. In my classroom, I plan to model this by encouraging students to use their five se...

  This week was another interesting one. We looked at descriptive writing, its elements, types, structure, ways to organize ideas, and even some of the transitions that make writing flow. I liked how everything connected. Descriptive writing really is about helping readers see and feel what you are talking about. It is not just about using big words or fancy adjectives, but about bringing a moment or an image to life through details. We also started narrative writing. We have not gone too deep yet, but from what we covered, I can already tell I am going to enjoy it. I like that it gives writers the freedom to tell a story and be creative while still using all the skills from descriptive writing. I honestly cannot wait to delve deeper and learn how to help my students write stories that sound real and meaningful. What stood out to me this week is how closely descriptive and narrative writing go together. The descriptions make a story come alive, and the story gives those details a...

  The Experience of Writing By Polly M. Jeremiah for weekending 31 st October, 2025   There is no better way of fully understanding any process, that to be totally immersed in it yourself. This week with no prior notice, we were thrown into an impromptu writing situation, where we had to do a piece (topic given) within a forty minute period, with very little opportunity to prepare. Now, this is what our students experience in our writing class, where they are seldom given the opportunity to choose a topic of personal preference. In that moment I realized how difficult it was to produce my best writing.   My personal experience helped come to the conclusion, that many of my practices needed thorough analysis and revision. In that instance, I saw how much my students were disenfranchised, by not being given a fair and comfortable opportunity to showcase their true potential in writing. I came to the realization that my students were tortures, thereby destroying t...

  I had ideas bursting in my head, but when my pen hit the page, there was silence. This week, our lecturer gave us an impromptu writing exercise, and it truly humbled me. I chose a topic I liked, but when it was time to write, I just sat there staring at the paper. My thoughts were loud in my mind, yet they refused to come together. That moment made me think about my students and how often I grew frustrated when they wrote slowly or said they did not know what to write. Now I realize that they were not being lazy. They were simply struggling to make sense of the ideas in their heads, just like I was. The experience helped me understand that writing is much more than putting words on paper. It takes patience, confidence, and a sense of flow that sometimes comes only after a few false starts. I have come to appreciate how important it is to give students time to think before expecting them to write. When I reflect on my past teaching, I see that I often valued the finished product ...