Narrative Writing is all about connecting with others.
When a reader finishes a story, you want them to laugh or cry…or even sigh in wonder or despair!
Teaching Narrative Writing
So how do you teach the skill of writing a great narrative? It’s not as hard as you’ve always thought! The Seven Steps to Writing Success breaks down writing into explicit, practical steps that make it easy and FUN for students.
Below are a selection of resources from Seven Steps Online, the ultimate support tool for teachers in writing, that can help you unlock the fun, engaging and collaborative lessons of the Seven Steps.
Want to learn all the Seven Steps theory? Check out the most engaging PD for teachers: The Seven Steps Workshop.
One simple change to make when planning a writing lesson
Narrative Writing Samples
See the difference the Seven Steps can make in these Writing Samples
Before & After Samples
- Model how to improve a piece of narrative writing using the Seven Steps techniques.
- Annotations using the Seven Steps terminology to provide actionable feedback to students.
| GRADE | F–10 |
|---|---|
| RESOURCE TYPE | Writing Samples & Exemplars |
| STEP | Step 2: Sizzling Starts Step 3: Tightening Tension Step 5: Show, Don’t Tell |
| TEXT TYPE | Narrative |
| RELATED ARTICLE | The Power to Write |
Narrative Videos and Adverts that Demonstrate the Seven Steps
- Show students real examples of the Seven Steps techniques in action.
- Handy list of video suggestions, sorted by Step and annotated with notes about how the video demonstrates this technique in action.
| GRADE | F–10 |
|---|---|
| RESOURCE TYPE | Writing Samples and Exemplars |
| STEP | All Steps |
| TEXT TYPE | Narrative |
Alpacas with Maracas – Plotted Story Graph
- The National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) Book for 2019, Alpacas with Maracas, set out on the Story Graph
- After reading the NSS 2019 book with your students demonstrate how it follows the basic story structure with the Seven Steps Story Graph
| GRADE | F–6 |
|---|---|
| RESOURCE TYPE | Writing Samples & Exemplars |
| STEP | All Steps |
| TEXT TYPE | Narrative |
Reconciliation Week – Say Yes – Plotted Story Graph
- Say Yes: A Story of Friendship Fairness and a Vote for Hope by Jennifer Castles
- Demonstrate how this inspiring story about two indigenous Australian girls can be plotted on the Seven Steps Story Graph
| GRADE | F–10 |
|---|---|
| RESOURCE TYPE | Writing Samples & Exemplars |
| STEP | All |
| TEXT TYPE | Narrative |
| RELATED ARTICLE | Say Yes – Reconciliation Week Classroom Resource |
Dinner Table Fight
- In groups, rehearse the scene from Jen McVeity’s book Dreamcatcher with your students.
- A great sample of how dialogue can help to reveal characters and progress the plot.
| GRADE | 7–10 |
|---|---|
| RESOURCE TYPE | Writing Samples & Exemplars |
| STEP | Step 4: Dynamic Dialogue |
| TEXT TYPE | Narrative |
| RELATED ARTICLE | Dynamic Dialogue in Action |
2016 NAPLAN Exemplar – ‘Imagine…’
- See how the Seven Steps help structure and enhance a NAPLAN response.
- Gain valuable insights into the process of planning, writing and editing a text under NAPLAN test conditions.
- Analyse the markers comments about what was done well and what could be improved.
| GRADE | 3–12 |
|---|---|
| RESOURCE TYPE | Writing Samples & Exemplars |
| STEP | All Steps |
| TEXT TYPE | Narrative |
| RELATED ARTICLE | The complete NAPLAN writing guide for teachers NAPLAN Preparation – Top Tips and Activities |
2016 NAPLAN Exemplar – ‘The Sign Said’
- See how the Seven Steps help structure and enhance a NAPLAN response.
- Gain valuable insights into the process of planning, writing and editing a text under NAPLAN test conditions.
- Analyse the markers comments about what was done well and what could be improved.
| GRADE | 3–12 |
|---|---|
| RESOURCE TYPE | Writing Samples & Exemplars |
| STEP | All Steps |
| TEXT TYPE | Narrative |
| RELATED ARTICLE | The complete NAPLAN writing guide for teachers Turning Around Hearts, Minds and Writing Results |
Narrative Lesson Plans
Experience the difference the Seven Steps can make with these Lesson Plans
Creativity in the Classroom – Think Tank
- Learn how to use brainstorming and mind mapping techniques to generate and select great ideas.
- Explicit Teaching Lesson Plan with AC & NAP links.
| GRADE | F–10 |
|---|---|
| RESOURCE TYPE | Lesson Plan |
| STEP | Step 1: Plan for Success |
| TEXT TYPE | Narrative |
| RELATED ARTICLE | Creativity in the Classroom |
Collaborate, Create and Celebrate Great Writing – Five + 1 Senses
- Learn how to use the Five + 1 Senses to generate ideas for a tension scene.
- Explicit Teaching Lesson Plan with AC & NAP links.
| GRADE | F–10 |
|---|---|
| RESOURCE TYPE | Lesson Plan |
| STEP | Step 3: Tightening Tension |
| TEXT TYPE | Narrative |
| RELATED ARTICLE | Collaborate, Create and Celebrate Great Writing |
Narrative Resources
Make writing fun with these great Seven Steps resources
Meet the Authors Susanne Gervay and Hazel Edwards
- Learn some of the tricks and secrets professional writers use to create world-class stories.
- Susanne and Hazel answer your questions.
- Learn how Professional Authors Use Sizzling Starts®.
| GRADE | F–10 |
|---|---|
| RESOURCE TYPE | Expert Interviews |
| STEP | Step 2: Sizzling Starts |
| TEXT TYPE | Narrative |
| RELATED ARTICLE | Narratives – The pattern that authors use |
The Chatterbox
- A Random Ideas Generator that can create over 500 unique story ideas.
- Collaborative story planning game that students love!
| GRADE | 3–6 |
|---|---|
| RESOURCE TYPE | Activity Template |
| STEP | Step 1: Plan for Success |
| TEXT TYPE | Narrative |
| RELATED ARTICLE | Creativity in the Classroom |
Teaching Poetry with the Seven Steps
- See how the Seven Steps can be applied to any creative text type including poetry.
- This activity focuses on Haikus but can easily be used for other types of poetry.
| GRADE | 3–10 |
|---|---|
| RESOURCE TYPE | Action Activity |
| STEP | All Steps |
| TEXT TYPE | Narrative, Informative |
| RELATED ARTICLE | ‘Instructions’ – A poem by Neil Gaiman |
Learn it One Day, Teach it the Next
Imagine a vibrant writing classroom where every student is engaged and contributing ideas. When they write, there is no hesitation or resistance. They share their work with excitement.
That’s what a Seven Steps classroom looks like.
“Thank You! You inspired us throughout the day with great ideas & processes to change our thinking about how to teach writing. Our kids (and us) will love it!!”
– Rod Maggs, Gloucester Public School
“Thank You! You inspired us throughout the day with great ideas & processes to change our thinking about how to teach writing. Our kids (and us) will love it!!”
– Rod Maggs, Gloucester Public School
