The Write Stuff – The Writing Rainbow

Here is a little more information about ‘The Write Stuff’ approach to writing at Oakhurst Community Primary School.

The Three Zones of Writing

Writing Under the Writing Rainbow

When teaching writing from Year 1 to Year 6, we refer to The Three Zones of Writing: 

  • The FANTASTICs (Ideas),
  • The GRAMMARISTICs (Tools) and
  • The BOOMTASTICs (Techniques) 

Within each zone, there are nine lenses intended to support children’s learning, precision and writing.

  • The FANTASTICs
    • Feeling
    • Asking
    • Noticing
    • Touching
    • Action
    • Smelling
    • Tasting
    • Imagining
    • Checking
  • The GRAMMARISTICs
    • Adverbs and adverbial phrases
    • Basics
    • Complex sentences
    • Dialogue and contracted forms
    • Purpose
    • Paragraphs
    • Passive/Active voice
    • Past and present tense
    • Punctuation
  • The BOOMTASTICs
    • Onomatopoeia
    • Alliteration
    • Rhyme
    • Repetition
    • Simile
    • Metaphor
    • Pathetic Fallacy
    • Pun
    • Personification

The Three Zones of Writing comprise the Writing Rainbow. The Writing Rainbow is displayed in every classroom and focuses our attention on the specific elements of writing that children are learning about.

The Three Zones of Writing in the EYFS

Writing Under the Writing Rainbow

When establishing firm foundations in the EYFS, we also refer to The Three Zones of Writing:

  • The FANTASTICs,
  • The CATALYTICs and
  • The REALISTICs

Within each zone, there are nine lenses intended to support children’s learning, precision and writing.

  • The FANTASTICs
    • Feeling
    • Asking
    • Noticing
    • Touching
    • Action
    • Smelling
    • Tasting
    • Imagining
    • Checking
  • The CATALYTICs
    • Collector of language
    • A chatty or formal style
    • Together talk
    • All together write
    • Lead – model write
    • Yes / No talk
    • Together write
    • Imaginative talk
    • Construct sentence
  • The REALISTICs
    • Report / Fact files
    • Explain
    • Advise
    • Love / Hate review
    • Instruct
    • Story
    • Tell (recount)
    • Impress (persuade)
    • Contrasting views