Today, I had the pleasure of observing Natalie, a talented Year 6 tutor, as she guided her group through a lively and engaging session on persuasive and creative writing. From the moment the lesson began, it was clear that Natalie had a natural ability to bring writing techniques to life, making them feel accessible, exciting, and relevant to her students.

The session started with persuasive writing, where Natalie introduced the class to the importance of purpose and audience. She modelled a short persuasive paragraph, thinking aloud as she highlighted key techniques: emotive language, rhetorical questions, and strong vocabulary choices. What stood out most was how she encouraged students to question why certain words had impact. Instead of simply telling them what to do, she invited them to analyse examples and evaluate their effectiveness. This created a collaborative atmosphere where students felt confident sharing ideas and experimenting with language.The second half of the lesson moved into creative writing, with a focus on descriptive techniques. Natalie used a vivid image prompt and asked the students to brainstorm sensory details—what they might see, hear, smell, or feel in the setting. She reminded them that good writers don’t just tell a story; they paint a picture. Her modelling was rich and expressive, showing how similes, metaphors, and personification can transform simple sentences into atmospheric scenes.

Throughout the lesson, Natalie balanced structure with freedom. She provided clear frameworks but always encouraged personal voice and originality. By the end of the session, pupils were not only more confident in using writing techniques but genuinely excited to apply them.

Observing Natalie in action was a reminder of the power of thoughtful, enthusiastic teaching—and how the right guidance can inspire young writers to shine.

Maria Kargas