English Online – http://english.unitecnology.ac.nz
Myths and Legends

Modelling

Texts can be modelled (constructed) by the teacher using:

·	the overhead projector so that the text is clearly visible to the students as it is being written 
·	the whiteboard 
·	large sheets of paper 

Modelling can be both planned and incidental.  It provides opportunities to introduce students to the purposes and structures of various writing forms. 

Planned modelling opportunities may include:

·	The selection of a particular text based on the teaching focus that is to be developed and the planned reading and analysis of the text with the students. 
·	The planned demonstration and construction of a particular writing form.

Discuss the features, structure and process as the writing form is being written. 

Modelling is a powerful way of demonstrating:

·	how authors go about writing 
·	how they plan for their writing and how they work and rework their writing (brainstorming, draft writing, editing)
·	how they proof read (use of dictionary and thesaurus)
·	how different writing forms are used for different purposes and audiences 

Modelling empowers the students to observe, discover, classify and organise their knowledge about written language and then apply this learning to their own reading and writing. 

Additional information on modelling:

Exploring Language (p 166, 167,168, 169) Reading and Writing to, with and by students.
Ministry of Education 1996
Learning Media, Wellington N.Z. 

The Learner as a Reader
Ministry of Education 1996
Learning Media, Wellinton N.Z. 

Write Ways - Modelling Writing Forms
Lesley Wing Jan
Oxford University Press Australia
First Published 1991, Reprinted 1992,1993,1994.

© Ministry of Education, Wellington, New Zealand (First published 1998)