| Would you waste money on an opera ticket | | | | When the list is long and interesting, |
| for this guy? | | | | get kids to pick a few things and write |
| 'Of course I love opera,' he said, foot | | | | a paragraph to 'show' exactly what Dad |
| tapping restlessly. | | | | feels about gardening. |
| Research has shown that the old adage is | | | | I often give younger kids an opening |
| true: Actions (such as a foot tapping) | | | | sentence as it helps them to focus. |
| do speak louder than words. So when we | | | | 'What great weather we've got for the |
| write, we should 'show' with actions, | | | | working bee,' said Mum, pulling on her |
| not 'tell' with words. | | | | gardening gloves. |
| Kids like to state outright: 'Michael | | | | They can ignore this of course if they |
| was in a bad mood.' However to make it | | | | have a better idea. |
| convincing they should actually show | | | | To reinforce the skill, students can do |
| Michael in action. | | | | this every morning for a week. Here are |
| List what a teenager would do if he came | | | | some sample topics: |
| home annoyed: | | | | A teacher is about to get married.e.g. |
| * Slam the front door | | | | Her nails are always painted so she can |
| * Throw his bag into the bedroom | | | | flash the ring around. |
| * Kick off his shoes | | | | Opening sentence: 'Now, next term I |
| * Head to the kitchen - and the fridge | | | | won't be here of course,' said Miss |
| * Complain there was no food. | | | | Bettersley... |
| So now you have the ideas, it's easy to | | | | A parent and a kid are always fighting |
| put this all together into a paragraph. | | | | about playing computer games.e.g. Kid |
| She was just powering down the computer | | | | flicks the screen off every time the |
| when the door slammed. Michael was home. | | | | parent comes in. |
| 'Hi,' she called. 'How was school?' | | | | Opening sentence: 'How did the Maths |
| There was a grunt, barely heard, and | | | | test go?' I was barely home from school |
| then the sound of a bag hitting the | | | | and Mum was on my back again. |
| bedroom floor hard. Not good. She sighed | | | | The new neighbours are a pain.e.g. The |
| and headed into the kitchen. Michael was | | | | radio plays loud sport every weekend in |
| already there, staring with slumped | | | | their back garden. |
| shoulders into the open fridge. | | | | Opening sentence: 'Hey Mate, can you |
| 'Darn,' he said, shoving the door shut | | | | turn the footy down a bit?' yelled Dad |
| hard. 'There's never anything to eat in | | | | over the fence. |
| this house!' | | | | A girl thinks a guy is really hot, but |
| She took a deep breath and counted to | | | | is too shy to tell him. (Or vice |
| ten before she replied. | | | | versa)e.g. She stammers and mumbles when |
| Showing, (not telling) takes longer to | | | | they talk. |
| do, but it brings characters to life and | | | | Opening sentence: 'Isn't that Ken over |
| is far more convincing too. | | | | there?' asked Shelly. |
| Ask your kids to brainstorm about 20 | | | | Remember the chunking concept. Don't get |
| things that 'show' a Dad hates | | | | kids to write a whole story, just one |
| gardening.e.g. the weeds are 30 cm | | | | paragraph. |
| tall.e.g. he goes off to the hardware | | | | (c) Jen McVeity, National Literacy |
| store - and takes 4 hours to get back. | | | | Champion. |