The note
How schools teach it now
Schools practise this as 'continuing a narrative'. Children reread the opening and note who is telling it (I or she/he), the tense, the setting and the mood, then plan what happens next so their writing matches the start and builds to an ending.
5-minute kitchen-table activity
Read the first paragraph of a book your child hasn't read, then close it. Ask: who is telling the story, is it past or present tense, and how does it feel (spooky, funny, tense)? Your child says what happens next in three sentences. Then read on and compare.
Worked example
Continue: 'The fog rolled in so fast that by the time Sam reached the footbridge, he couldn't see his own feet.'
- Notice: third person (he), past tense, a tense and slightly scary mood.
- Plan the next steps: a sound on the bridge, someone needs help, Sam must decide what to do.
- Keep 'he' and the past tense all the way through, and plan an ending before you start.
Answer: A continuation that keeps Sam, the fog and the past tense, builds the tension and resolves it.
Common mistakes to watch for
- Switching from 'he' to 'I', or from past to present tense, partway through.
- Repeating the opening instead of moving the story on.
- Forgetting a detail from the opening, such as a name or the weather.
Encouragement
- Try saying
- “You kept the same mood as the opening. How will it end?”
- Rather than
- “That's not what the author would have written.”