About this resource

One year, planned as one

200 short writing warm-ups, designed as one school year: Foundations in Term 1, Growing in Term 2, Stretching in Term 3 and Choosing in Term 4. Every week keeps the same shape and each term builds on the last, so skills grow without the routine changing.

Perfect for you if…

  • You want the whole year planned, each term building on the last
  • You want a daily writing warm-up with no preparation, every term
  • You want writing that is safe for everyone: it stays private unless a student chooses to share, and students can always write about a character instead of themselves

The same routine every day

  1. Look (1 minute): read the prompt together
  2. Think and talk (1 minute): partners share one idea
  3. Write (6 minutes, or up to 11 if they are still going)
  4. Share (2 minutes): a few volunteers read aloud, then show the teacher example

Students learn the routine once, so their energy goes into the writing.

Three challenges on every prompt

  • One dot is a starting point
  • Two dots asks for more
  • Three dots asks for deeper thinking, not longer writing

Students choose their level and you guide them, so a mixed class starts together and stretches from there.

Peek inside Read two short passages from the slides

Week 1 Monday prompt, in each term

Term 1: Write about 3 good things about starting a new school year.

Term 2: Write about 3 good things about starting Term 2.

Term 3: Write about 3 good things from the holidays. Tiny things count too.

Term 4: Write about 3 good things from the holidays or the weekend.

Term 4, week 9 Thursday teacher example

Dear future me,

I hope you will make new friends, and I think you might join a soccer team. You should keep trying even when things feel hard. I do not want to forget the day we all sang together at assembly, because it felt like we were one big team.

From,

Theo

Questions

Good to know

Which stage do I need?

A stage is a band of the NSW syllabus, and each one covers two school years: Stage 1 is Years 1 and 2, Stage 2 is Years 3 and 4, and Stage 3 is Years 5 and 6. A Year 3 class uses Stage 2. Every stage keeps the same routine every Monday and every Friday. Stage 1 meets each new format a few weeks after Stages 2 and 3, so younger students have longer with each routine.

When do I get it?

Straight after you pay. It is emailed to the address you used at checkout, from support@termtalk.com.au. The download links expire, so save the files somewhere you will find them. Your licence does not expire: if a link runs out, email me and I’ll send a fresh one for free. Nothing arrived? Check your junk folder, since school email filters are enthusiastic, then email support@termtalk.com.au.

What do I need to open it?

PowerPoint for the slides, and anything that opens a PDF for the teacher guide. Your instructions are in the slide notes, so students only see the prompt and example slides. To change the fonts, colours or names in the examples, edit the slides in PowerPoint or import them into Canva.

Can my whole team use it?

It comes with a single classroom licence: use it with your own classes for as long as you teach. If you job share or team teach the same class, you can both use it. For a stage team or a whole school, email support@termtalk.com.au about a school licence. Licence terms.

Can I get a refund?

Yes. If it is not what you needed, email support@termtalk.com.au within 30 days and I’ll refund you. No reason needed. Refund policy.

Do I need a membership to buy?

No. Anyone can buy a resource. Members pay 80% less.

Is the membership worth it if I only buy a few things?

If you would spend $200 a year in the store, the 80% discount alone covers the annual membership. The tools and the weekly webinar come on top.

Your purchase counts towards membership.

Join Term Talk within 60 days of buying and reply to your delivery email. I will credit what you spent against your first membership payment, up to the full amount of that payment.

See what is included