Details

Date: Monday 5 August
Time: 3:45 pm AEST | 5:45 pm NZST
Duration: 45 minutes

Who is this masterclass for?

  • Classroom teachers
  • School leaders
  • Literacy coordinators
  • Principals
  • Educators looking to improve student writing

What you’ll learn:

  • Simple techniques to create a Sizzling Start that hooks the reader
  • Proven strategies to engage students (even reluctant ones!) and make writing lessons fun

About

What do Mission Impossible films, Andy Griffiths books and David Attenborough documentaries all do that makes them loved the world over?

They all begin with a white-hot Sizzling Start that hooks the audience.

In this fun hands-on masterclass, learn the simple secrets to Sizzling Starts and how they can delight, intrigue and seize the reader’s attention from the get-go.

Experience our popular Five Minute Fast Starts activity firsthand – designed to get students thinking and writing creatively like never before.

You’ll leave armed with a range of ideas and activities that you can use straightaway in your writing classroom – all it takes is a few minutes a day to turn those yawns and fizzles into inspiration and sizzles! Then, sit back and watch student engagement – and writing data – soar!

Presenter: Deb Larmer

With close to 35 years of experience, Deb’s taught every type of class in every style of school. And she’s passionate about literacy. Since meeting Seven Steps creator Jen McVeity 8 years ago, Deb has been using the Seven Steps in her classrooms with amazing results. She is so proud of her students! And most importantly, they LOVE writing.

'My Year 7s LOVED Sizzling Starts. They just loved reading them aloud with passion and energy.'
Jessica Smith
Forbes High School, NSW
'When working through Sizzling Starts, there were peals of laughter. One student said his sense of humour could finally be appreciated in the classroom!'
Brigitte Riscica
Aitken College
'Sizzling Starts has encouraged even my most reluctant writers!'
Kylie
St Margaret Mary's Randwick North, NSW

The power of a Sizzling Start

See what a few simple techniques can do to take students’ writing from meh to marvellous!

Before …

Once there was a Tooth Fairy with a bad temper.
She always went out and…

After …

‘Whaaaaat… Is that the fairy?’ the little kid in the bed muttered.

‘No!’ said the Tooth Fairy. ‘Be quiet. And keep your eyes shut or you’ll get no money for your tooth.’

It was her 104th visit for the night and her wings hurt and she was definitely over eager little kids.

Sizzling Starts in the classroom

Take a look at what Seven Steps teachers have been sharing on their social media channels.
For more inspiration, head to our Instagram page.

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