First steps towards text production in primary school: the Writing and Reading Workshop and Making Learning and Thinking Visible methods in the approach to written composition

Abstract

This paper aims to offer reflections on the many variables involved in writing production and the complex operations underlying the processual nature of composing in primary school. In particular, it describes some strategic supports provided to pupils in the early years of primary education, drawn from the MLTV (Making Learning and Thinking Visible) and WRW (Writing and Reading Workshop) approaches. When applied to the prewriting phase, these strategies enabled young apprentice writers to manage the generation and planning of ideas, helping them to overcome the fear of the blank page.