ABSTRACT

This chapter explains how there is huge untapped potential for writing development when teaching in the foundation subjects. The chapter provides a variety of ways in which children can be moved to write in other areas of the curriculum and how teachers can exploit this. It explains the importance of children sharing personal response to what has been learnt. For example, it is possible for children to write in the curriculum subjects with purpose and for an audience, writing to learn, teach or inform, persuade or influence, entertain, paint with words, reflect or make a record. The chapter goes on to explain that, when children hybrid genres and share knowledge within the foundation subjects, it can often enhance their writing and their understanding of the topic or subject being taught. It provides practical advice to teachers on how this can be done. Finally, the chapter explains how children like to engage in the same behaviours as professional writers in the subject-specific disciplines and gives suggestions as to how children can write as historians, geographers and scientists.