Pie Corbett’s Reading Spine

“Imagine a school where, over seven or eight years, children are read to, enjoy, discuss and work with a core of around 80 books. These ‘essential reads’ would be a store of classics, creating a living library inside a child’s mind. Schools with a reading spine build a common story bank, binding the community together”.

Pie Corbett’s Reading Spine support guide

This free downloadable Pie Corbett’s Reading Spine support guide provides invaluable support for teachers using Pie Corbett’s Reading Spine to teach comprehension, drama and writing. Guides available for Nursery, Reception, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6.

Write a shape poem

Shape Poem - Talk for Writing

Pie Corbett provides some hints and tips to help your class write a shape or observation poem. This video is taken from the Igniting Writing ‘Waterworlds’ interactive whiteboard CD-ROM.

Hook your reader toolkit

This is a guide for teachers on how to encourage pupils to write in a way that would ‘hook’ a reader.

Writing toolkits – story secrets

In this two-page document written by Pie Corbett, Pie explains how it can be useful for children to use writing toolkits when constructing a narrative. Pie focuses on using writing toolkits in these areas: 1. Characterisation and dialogue; 2. Description – people, places, objects, creatures; 3. Dilemma – suspense and action; and 4. Crafting the opening and ending.

Not a linguist? With iLanguages – not a problem!

iLanguages is meeting the challenge of the compulsory primary language curriculum by providing teachers with a highly innovative and engaging scheme which has been designed to ensure that teachers with little knowledge or confidence of French and Spanish are able to effectively deliver language lessons.

Utilising Apps for Talk for Writing

This article will explore a number of apps that lend themselves to the Talk for Writing process and ethos. Focusing on the Top 5 (according to Talk for Writing expert Maria Richards) in a number of categories, these apps will hopefully get you started on your iPad and Talk for Writing journey!

Jumpstart imitation games

This document contains suggestions for ‘jumpstart’ imitation games – activities to stimulate children’s interest in and deepen their understanding of a story.

Story reading into writing

In this document Pie Corbett explains the concept of reading as a writer and the processes involved in teaching children to understand and use different styles of writing. The document also includes toolkits for use in class.