ABSTRACT
In order to understand the content of cross-curricular teaching, apprentice writers need – just as they have always needed – plenty of opportunities for talk. These are provided through the sort of ‘active learning’ that provides opportunities for speaking and listening, such as:
opportunities for imaginative engagement – drama, role-play, ‘hot-seating’; outings, excursions, field trips and other opportunities to find out about the wider
world through experience and talk to a range of adults; active engagement in learning whenever possible: experimenting, making pictures,
models, collages, websites, ‘TV documentaries’ etc (there are now so many ways of creating audio and video records of learning activities);
audio-visual aids for learning – for instance, relevant items to look at, touch and talk about;
storytelling – listening to adults telling stories and anecdotes, and having opportunities to tell them themselves;
responding to ideas through music, movement, art and craft.
