Pick a text type and an age band, and this writing planner template sets out the right stages, with thinking questions, sentence starters, a word bank and a model of what good looks like. Students can plan on screen and print, or you can print blank planners for the whole class. It’s free, there’s nothing to sign up for, and nothing students type leaves the page.
How teachers use it
- Plan before drafting: students work through each stage on screen, then print or save their plan as a PDF and write from it.
- Class sets for handwriting: choose the text type, age band and topic, add your instructions, then print a blank planner for every student, each on its own page with a name and date line.
- Modelled writing: open the projector view and walk the class through the stages one by one, with the model text large on the board, a timer, and a ‘write together’ box.
- One link for the whole class: lock the text type, age band and topic, add your own starters or word-bank words, and share a class link. Nothing is uploaded; the settings travel inside the link.
- Information report research: students add a section for each sub-heading and log every fact with where they found it, then build a glossary, a ‘Did you know?’ box, a labelled diagram and a sources list.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free?
Yes. The Text Type Planner is completely free to use with your class, on screen or printed.
Do students need to sign up?
No. There are no accounts and no names collected. Students open the page and start planning.
Which ages is it for?
Ages 5 to 18, in four bands: 5–7, 8–10, 11–14 and 15–18. Each band has its own stages, starters, word bank and checklist, so younger students get simpler steps and older students get more sophisticated ones.
Which text types does it cover?
Twelve: narrative, persuasive, discussion, information report, explanation, procedure, recount, descriptive, response or review, letter, biography and poetry. For set poetry forms such as haiku and limericks, it links to the Poetry Form Builders.
Does it work on a projector or interactive whiteboard?
Yes. Teacher mode has a projector view with large, high-contrast text that steps through each stage, shows the model text big for modelled writing, and includes a timer.
Is student writing private?
Yes. Everything stays in the student’s own browser on their own device. Nothing is sent to us or anyone else, and there’s no tracking. Students can print, save as a PDF or download their plan to keep it.
Related teaching guides
- Different text types explained
- Information report writing guide
- Narrative writing guide
- The writing process
- Writing perfect paragraphs
- Graphic organisers for writing
More free tools for your classroom: see all Classroom Tools.
Want a full year of writing lessons? Year-Long Writing Bundle on TpT.