Alison Wilcox – författare

Descriptosaurus Story Writing provides a resource for younger pupils that will not only expand their descriptive vocabulary but also provide them with models that demonstrate ‘language in action,’ in a genre that is popular and familiar to children aged 5–9. Providing the essential building blocks to create a narrative text, alongside contexualised banks of vocabulary, phrases and sentence types, this book is designed to provide young pupils with the opportunity to see how a text is constructed using words, phrases and sentences. This exciting new resource:Provides vocabulary for setting, character, ‘show not tell’ and sensory descriptions with clearly defined progressionDemonstrates how to use this vocabulary in different contexts using set sentence structuresOffers four model narratives written in different styles and level of difficultyPresents modelled sentences with exercises so that pupils can expand their vocabularyEnables young pupils to develop their understanding of how sentences are constructed and become more confident about using these skills in their own story writingThis is an ideal resource to dramatically improve children’s knowledge and understanding of language, grammar and punctuation for all KS1 and KS2 primary English teachers, literacy coordinators and parents. This easily accessible guide will also be helpful for teachers to use in preparation for Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar (SPAG) alongside a creative writing task.

You’ve heard of Little Red Riding Hood – now meet her cousin, Ruby Red, who makes the same journey through the forest to visit her granny. However, Ruby Red’s story takes a strange turn when she also meets a wolf in the forest. In grave danger, lost in the dark forest and sick from eating poisonous berries, Ruby learns the importance of listening to her parents, keeping her promises and not judging everyone by the actions of one member of a group.Join Ruby on her journey as she writes the story of her meeting with the wolf and as she learns with the assistance of the wolf and Punctua, the Fairy Godmother of Writing, to punctuate properly and become a bestselling author.Descriptosaurus Punctuation in Action Year 3: Ruby Red is part of a short series of age-specific, beautifully illustrated stories that can be read for pleasure and/or used as a contextualised resource, containing a step-by-step guide to teaching punctuation. The characters from each story are used to demonstrate a range of punctuation rules in a fun and engaging way appropriate to the book’s age group. Areas covered include: formulating punctuation rules. the use of misconceptions to highlight common errors. teaching tips to provide a punctuation model.The book explores the impact of punctuation on reading, understanding, meaning and effect, and can be used as a basis for pupils’ own punctuation or included in their ‘Writer’s Toolkit.’ These new Descriptosaurus stories are an indispensable teaching aid for making punctuation fun for all primary teachers and literacy coordinators.

You’ve heard of Little Red Riding Hood – now meet her cousin, Ruby Red, who makes the same journey through the forest to visit her granny. However, Ruby Red’s story takes a strange turn when she also meets a wolf in the forest. In grave danger, lost in the dark forest and sick from eating poisonous berries, Ruby learns the importance of listening to her parents, keeping her promises and not judging everyone by the actions of one member of a group.Join Ruby on her journey as she writes the story of her meeting with the wolf and as she learns with the assistance of the wolf and Punctua, the Fairy Godmother of Writing, to punctuate properly and become a bestselling author.Descriptosaurus Punctuation in Action Year 3: Ruby Red is part of a short series of age-specific, beautifully illustrated stories that can be read for pleasure and/or used as a contextualised resource, containing a step-by-step guide to teaching punctuation. The characters from each story are used to demonstrate a range of punctuation rules in a fun and engaging way appropriate to the book’s age group. Areas covered include: formulating punctuation rules. the use of misconceptions to highlight common errors. teaching tips to provide a punctuation model.The book explores the impact of punctuation on reading, understanding, meaning and effect, and can be used as a basis for pupils’ own punctuation or included in their ‘Writer’s Toolkit.’ These new Descriptosaurus stories are an indispensable teaching aid for making punctuation fun for all primary teachers and literacy coordinators.

The only cure for a deadly plague sweeping the country is the crystal fang of a dragon that has terrorised the surrounding countryside for many years. Until now, the location of its den on Dragon Ridge Mountain has remained a mystery. In a race against time, Jack battles through a storm to reach the top of Dragon Ridge Mountain. With Merlin to guide him, Jack enters the dragon’s den and comes face to face with the monstrous beast. This is a story of courage, magic and one boy’s brave quest to fulfil a destiny foretold by the legends of long ago.Join Jack on his journey as he writes the story with the assistance of the magician Merlin and Punctua, the Fairy Godmother of Writing, to punctuate properly and become a bestselling author.Descriptosaurus Punctuation in Action Years 4–6: Jack and the Crystal Fang is part of a short series of age-specific, beautifully illustrated stories that can be read for pleasure and/or used as a contextualised resource, containing a step-by-step guide to teaching punctuation. The characters from each story are used to demonstrate a range of punctuation rules in a fun and engaging way appropriate to the book’s age group. Areas covered include: formulating punctuation rules. the use of misconceptions to highlight common errors. teaching tips to provide a punctuation model.The book explores the impact of punctuation on reading, understanding, meaning and effect, and can be used as a basis for pupils’ own punctuation or included in their ‘Writer’s Toolkit.’ These new Descriptosaurus stories are an indispensable teaching aid for making punctuation fun for all primary teachers and literacy coordinators.

The only cure for a deadly plague sweeping the country is the crystal fang of a dragon that has terrorised the surrounding countryside for many years. Until now, the location of its den on Dragon Ridge Mountain has remained a mystery. In a race against time, Jack battles through a storm to reach the top of Dragon Ridge Mountain. With Merlin to guide him, Jack enters the dragon’s den and comes face to face with the monstrous beast. This is a story of courage, magic and one boy’s brave quest to fulfil a destiny foretold by the legends of long ago.Join Jack on his journey as he writes the story with the assistance of the magician Merlin and Punctua, the Fairy Godmother of Writing, to punctuate properly and become a bestselling author.Descriptosaurus Punctuation in Action Years 4–6: Jack and the Crystal Fang is part of a short series of age-specific, beautifully illustrated stories that can be read for pleasure and/or used as a contextualised resource, containing a step-by-step guide to teaching punctuation. The characters from each story are used to demonstrate a range of punctuation rules in a fun and engaging way appropriate to the book’s age group. Areas covered include: formulating punctuation rules. the use of misconceptions to highlight common errors. teaching tips to provide a punctuation model.The book explores the impact of punctuation on reading, understanding, meaning and effect, and can be used as a basis for pupils’ own punctuation or included in their ‘Writer’s Toolkit.’ These new Descriptosaurus stories are an indispensable teaching aid for making punctuation fun for all primary teachers and literacy coordinators.

Descriptosaurus Personal Writing provides young writers with an opportunity to link their personal lives and school experiences, and gives writing a meaningful and personal context. It is a resource that will guide and scaffold students to produce vivid, powerful, descriptive and meaningful personal texts, and, acting as a springboard for other genres, will dramatically improve the quality of their writing in all areas.It provides a detailed step-by-step guide through the writing process by using personal narratives to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding of writing a text. It demonstrates different techniques, and provides useful tips and suggestions on how to revise a text and transform it into a powerful, descriptive personal narrative. With prompts, plans, methods and models for poetry and prose, this book helps tackle each stage of the writing process from planning and writing a first draft to revising and editing.Descriptosaurus Personal Writing is an ideal vehicle for welcoming and celebrating different cultures, experiences and stories into the writing curriculum: an invaluable resource to dramatically improve children’s writing for all KS2 primary and KS3 secondary English teachers, literacy coordinators and parents.

Descriptosaurus Personal Writing provides young writers with an opportunity to link their personal lives and school experiences, and gives writing a meaningful and personal context. It is a resource that will guide and scaffold students to produce vivid, powerful, descriptive and meaningful personal texts, and, acting as a springboard for other genres, will dramatically improve the quality of their writing in all areas.It provides a detailed step-by-step guide through the writing process by using personal narratives to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding of writing a text. It demonstrates different techniques, and provides useful tips and suggestions on how to revise a text and transform it into a powerful, descriptive personal narrative. With prompts, plans, methods and models for poetry and prose, this book helps tackle each stage of the writing process from planning and writing a first draft to revising and editing.Descriptosaurus Personal Writing is an ideal vehicle for welcoming and celebrating different cultures, experiences and stories into the writing curriculum: an invaluable resource to dramatically improve children’s writing for all KS2 primary and KS3 secondary English teachers, literacy coordinators and parents.

Descriptosaurus Grammar Companion Ages 9 to 12 is a flexible grammar toolkit based on current research about effective strategies for teaching grammar tools and sentence construction (investigation, imitation, combining and expansion). It includes guidelines, exercises, scaffolds and models, and by showing a clear progression route to the acquisition and consolidation of increasingly more complex grammar tools it provides teachers and students with a road map that makes learning about sentence construction and revision visible. This book is a collection of connected resources that can be used as and when required and it provides an easily accessible differentiation resource for each student based on their current stage of development, not the age-related targets and expectations. It enables the learning process for grammar tools to be recursive rather than linear; to be regularly revisited in short bursts to consolidate students’ knowledge and usage, or to correct any misconceptions or problem areas without impeding any writing activities already planned. Chapters focus on four main points:InvestigationImitationCombiningExpansionThis Grammar Companion supports the main Descriptosaurus book and scaffolds students in their journey through the world of language. This essential resource will strengthen their language muscles and build confidence with sentence manipulation when revising their own texts, thus freeing their minds to think about the important issues of writing: content, audience and purpose, and organisation and structure.

Descriptosaurus Grammar Companion Ages 9 to 12 is a flexible grammar toolkit based on current research about effective strategies for teaching grammar tools and sentence construction (investigation, imitation, combining and expansion). It includes guidelines, exercises, scaffolds and models, and by showing a clear progression route to the acquisition and consolidation of increasingly more complex grammar tools it provides teachers and students with a road map that makes learning about sentence construction and revision visible. This book is a collection of connected resources that can be used as and when required and it provides an easily accessible differentiation resource for each student based on their current stage of development, not the age-related targets and expectations. It enables the learning process for grammar tools to be recursive rather than linear; to be regularly revisited in short bursts to consolidate students’ knowledge and usage, or to correct any misconceptions or problem areas without impeding any writing activities already planned. Chapters focus on four main points:InvestigationImitationCombiningExpansionThis Grammar Companion supports the main Descriptosaurus book and scaffolds students in their journey through the world of language. This essential resource will strengthen their language muscles and build confidence with sentence manipulation when revising their own texts, thus freeing their minds to think about the important issues of writing: content, audience and purpose, and organisation and structure.

Now in its fully updated fourth edition, the bestselling Descriptosaurus continues to help improve students' creative writing, confidence and facility with sentence construction.It provides young writers with a language toolkit with which to expand their descriptive vocabulary, experiment with language and sentence structure and build up narratives based around settings, characters and creatures. Its inspiring, original and proven approach encourages use of the correct grammatical structures, and helps children add colour to their writing through evaluation and experimentation.This expanded edition has been tailored to the needs of children aged 9-12. It includes new vocabulary for non-fiction topics such as volcanoes, mountains and caves and an additional chapter to cover the popular primary topic of cold climates and polar exploration. Also new guidance is provided on how word clines can be used to expand vocabulary and explore shades of meaning and new tools provided to support the teaching of sentence construction using imitation, combining and expansion techniques.Accompanied by Instructor and Student Resources containing all the games, planning sheets and vocabulary builders from the book, it is written for English teachers, literacy coordinators and PGCE students, particularly Primary PGCE with English specialism.

Building on the vocabulary and descriptive phrases introduced in the original bestselling Descriptosaurus books and using engaging classroom-tested methods, these guides will enable children to take their creative writing to the next level. Descriptosaurus: Action & Adventure (9781138858695) helps children with their own adventure stories, armed with the skills, techniques and vocabulary necessary to describe their action scenes in a way that allows the reader to feel the characters’ fear and excitement and visualise the action within the setting.Descriptosaurus: Myths & Legends (9781138858718) helps children develop the structure, words and phrases to promote colorful cinematic writing, letting them experiment with heroes, gods and supernatural beings to create a legendary story. Descriptosaurus: Fantasy (9781138858756) incorporates the essential skills and creative devices that are used in other genres while extending to themes of battle, sieges, magic and mystery to unleash children’s imaginations. Descriptosaurus: Ghost Stories (9781138858732) allows children to experiment with their own ghost stories, armed with the skills, techniques and vocabulary necessary to describe their ghostly scenes in a way that allows the reader to feel the characters’ fear and visualise the source of their terror within the setting. With methods that have been tried and tested in classrooms, these simple to use and accessible books will empower students and inspire both newly qualified and experienced teachers.

Now in full colour, the new edition of the bestselling Descriptosaurus Story Writing is a must-have resource for primary classrooms. Fully updated to reflect the DfE Writing Framework, it equips children aged 5-9 with the tools to expand their descriptive vocabulary and understand how to construct compelling narrative texts.Packed with practical guidance, this book provides essential building blocks for writing, helping young learners overcome the cognitive challenges of mastering words, phrases, clauses, and sentences. Combining proven methods with innovative approaches, it dramatically improves children’s knowledge, understanding, and application of language, grammar, and punctuation in KS1 and KS2. This exciting new edition includes:Vocabulary for settings, characters, sensory descriptions, and dialogue.Five model narratives written in different styles and levels of difficulty.Resources for poetry to encourage creative language play.A grammar-in-context section showcasing effective methods like sentence imitation, innovation, combining, and expansion.New sections exploring the use of AI to enhance literacy development.Accessible and easy-to-follow, Descriptosaurus Story Writing is an indispensable resource that provides a step-by-step approach to assist young writers in mastering sentence construction whilst empowering them to craft their own stories with confidence and creativity.

Descriptosaurus: Action & Adventure builds on the vocabulary and descriptive phrases introduced in the original bestselling Descriptosaurus and, within the context of adventure stories, develops the structure and use of the words and phrases to promote colourful cinematic writing. This essential guide will enable children to take their writing to the next level, combine their descriptions of setting and character and show how the two interact. Children can then experiment with their own adventure stories, armed with the skills, techniques and vocabulary necessary to describe their action scenes in a way that allows the reader to feel the characters’ fear and excitement, and visualise the action within the setting.This new system also provides a contextualised alternative to grammar textbooks and will assist children in acquiring, understanding and applying the grammar they will need to improve their writing, both creative and technical.

Descriptosaurus: Action & Adventure builds on the vocabulary and descriptive phrases introduced in the original bestselling Descriptosaurus and, within the context of adventure stories, develops the structure and use of the words and phrases to promote colourful cinematic writing. This essential guide will enable children to take their writing to the next level, combine their descriptions of setting and character and show how the two interact. Children can then experiment with their own adventure stories, armed with the skills, techniques and vocabulary necessary to describe their action scenes in a way that allows the reader to feel the characters’ fear and excitement, and visualise the action within the setting.This new system also provides a contextualised alternative to grammar textbooks and will assist children in acquiring, understanding and applying the grammar they will need to improve their writing, both creative and technical.

Descriptosaurus: Myths & Legends builds on the vocabulary and descriptive phrases introduced in the original bestselling Descriptosaurus and, within the context of myths and legends, develops the structure and use of the words and phrases to promote colourful cinematic writing. This essential guide will enable children to take their writing to the next level, combine their descriptions of setting and character and show how the two interact. Children can then experiment with heroes, gods and supernatural beings to create a legendary story.This new system also provides a contextualised alternative to grammar textbooks and will assist children in acquiring, understanding and applying the grammar they will need to improve their writing, both creative and technical.

Descriptosaurus: Myths & Legends builds on the vocabulary and descriptive phrases introduced in the original bestselling Descriptosaurus and, within the context of myths and legends, develops the structure and use of the words and phrases to promote colourful cinematic writing. This essential guide will enable children to take their writing to the next level, combine their descriptions of setting and character and show how the two interact. Children can then experiment with heroes, gods and supernatural beings to create a legendary story.This new system also provides a contextualised alternative to grammar textbooks and will assist children in acquiring, understanding and applying the grammar they will need to improve their writing, both creative and technical.

Descriptosaurus: Ghost Stories builds on the vocabulary and descriptive phrases introduced in the original bestselling Descriptosaurus and, within the context of ghost stories, develops the structure and use of the words and phrases to promote colourful cinematic writing. This essential guide will enable children to take their writing to the next level, combine their descriptions of setting and character and show how the two interact. Children can then experiment with their own ghost stories, armed with the skills, techniques and vocabulary necessary to describe their ghostly scenes in a way that allows the reader to feel the characters’ fear and visualise the source of their terror within the setting.This new system also provides a contextualised alternative to grammar textbooks and will assist children in acquiring, understanding and applying the grammar they will need to improve their writing, both creative and technical.

Descriptosaurus: Ghost Stories builds on the vocabulary and descriptive phrases introduced in the original bestselling Descriptosaurus and, within the context of ghost stories, develops the structure and use of the words and phrases to promote colourful cinematic writing. This essential guide will enable children to take their writing to the next level, combine their descriptions of setting and character and show how the two interact. Children can then experiment with their own ghost stories, armed with the skills, techniques and vocabulary necessary to describe their ghostly scenes in a way that allows the reader to feel the characters’ fear and visualise the source of their terror within the setting.This new system also provides a contextualised alternative to grammar textbooks and will assist children in acquiring, understanding and applying the grammar they will need to improve their writing, both creative and technical.

Descriptosaurus: Fantasy builds on the vocabulary and descriptive phrases introduced in the original bestselling Descriptosaurus and within the context of fantasy develops the structure and use of the words and phrases to promote colourful, cinematic writing. This essential guide will enable children to take their writing to the next level. It incorporates the essential skills and creative devices that are used in other genres while extending to themes of battle, sieges, magic and mystery to unleash children’s imaginations.This new system also provides a contextualised alternative to textbook grammar and will assist children in acquiring, understanding and applying the grammar required to improve their writing, both creative and technical.