Learning to write by learning to code in Scratch

The most successful students have been exposed to enormous amounts of reading and stories. Really when teaching it is about providing as much exposure as possible to stories and words in a variety of ways.

Okay but what is this to do with coding in Scratch?

A great way to get students to become better writers is to encourage them to become better story tellers. This includes a process of retelling existing stories. These existing stories give students a good backbone to get started with making their own adaptations.

Scratch coding opens up new avenues for students to practice retelling stories

Writing should have a purpose and an audience. By giving students opportunities to use Scratch coding to retell stories or create their own we are providing them with a new media approach. For some students it is more engaging that writing with pencil and paper. For others it is more approachable as they can make a mistake and then fix it with no lasting marks left in their books. Best of all it has an audience. It can be shared in the classroom, in the school or even beyond very easily.

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Planning

Start by telling a story your students, repeat this story several times of the week and even get the students to join in the process of retelling it. Then when you are ready to code it into Scratch simplify the plans onto 4 - 6 boxes.

Writing (the new way!)

Students code it into Scratch. They can discuss the characters and how the move. Students have to justify everything they put into their animation. How does it enhance their story?

Feedback (and it is now easy)

With old age writing, the writing had to be assessed by teachers and adults to get meaningful feedback. Eventually, students can give each other meaningful feedback. But the play button in the app provides the quickest and most effective feedback. The children know what they want to achieve, they can revise and revise easily until their narration meets their specifications.

Is it really writing

YES! It is a step in the writing process. I use it as a menu of approaches in the classroom. It is one way that engages many learners, perhaps learners I wasn't engaging in the past! Writing traditionally in a book still has a place and shouldn't be replaced. However, we as teachers must empower our students to use new age media. If we don't give them chances to use blogging, animations, videos, etc to retell stories or share information we are failing them in their future lives.