Becoming a writer

The research findings of the Becoming a Writer project have built on previous research to increase our understandings of how children learn to write, particularly during the year before they start school and the first year of school, although children's individual writing journeys start much earlier. Learning to write is quite different to learning how to speak. Writing places both physical and cognitive demands on the user, and in most cases requires explicit instruction. There are many rules attached to conventional writing that are culturally determined and necessary for success and yet being able to write effectively is essential for success with literacy more broadly and academic learning across disciplines. In this chapter I will explore the findings of three phases of the Becoming a Writer program of research.