Antony West (Author)

This is the holy grail of explicit instruction. It’s a classic for a reason, and it works an absolute treat in creative writing. ‘I Do’ is where you model the process: “I’m going to write a character description now. Watch me as I think aloud about my word choices.” ‘We Do’ is a collaborative effort: “Okay class, let’s write a setting description together. What’s the first thing we should include?” And finally, ‘You Do’ is where the magic happens: “Right, now it’s your turn. You have five minutes to write a short paragraph.” This gradual release of responsibility, championed by many pedagogues including Tom Sherrington, builds confidence and ensures students aren’t left floundering in the deep end.