Building Excitement, Engagement & Achievement in Writing with Dr Murray Gadd
Murray Introduces the videos
In this section, I present videos and teacher notes for a range of writing lessons. There are two free samples at the top of the page and to access the others here, or the Murray Talks videos, you will need to have an active membership subscription.
These video lessons are aimed at all educators, teachers and learning motivators who wish to 'build excitement, engagement & achievement in writing' and are made with the belief that teachers can make a difference for all students, regardless of their level of ability.
They are developed around a long-term goal of students becoming motivated, independent writers, who are able to communicate confidently, proficiently and with impact.
More video lessons are added regularly. To find out more, please click here.
Locked Content - please login or subscribe! Murray Gadd Writes About The Monarch Butterfly for Year 3-8 students
In this episode of ‘Building Excitement, Motivation and Achievement in Writing with Dr Murray Gadd’, we watch Murray sharing information and writing about the monarch butterfly – explaining its life cycle. This lesson is primarily aimed at Year 3-8 students. The Life Cycle of a Monarch Butterfly – Purpose: The purpose of this lesson is … Read More
Locked Content - please login or subscribe! Murray Gadd Reads “A Best Friend for Bear” for NE-Year 1 students
In this episode of ‘Building Excitement, Motivation and Achievement in Writing with Dr Murray Gadd’, we watch Murray reading and writing from “A Best Friend for Bear” by Petr Horacek. This video is primarily aimed at NE-Year 1 students. “A Best Friend for Bear” – Purpose: The purpose for this lesson is to write a … Read More
Locked Content - please login or subscribe! Murray Gadd Reads “Busting” for Year 3 – 8 students
In this episode of ‘Building Excitement, Motivation and Achievement in Writing with Dr Murray Gadd’, we watch Murray reading and writing from “Busting” by Aaron Blabey. This video is primarily aimed at Year 3 – 8 students. “Busting” – Purpose: The purpose for this lesson is to persuade people in a queue (who substitute for … Read More
Locked Content - please login or subscribe! Murray Gadd Reads “The Wild Guide to Starting School” for NE-Year 1 students
In this episode of ‘Building Excitement, Motivation and Achievement in Writing with Dr Murray Gadd’, we watch Murray reading and writing from “The Wild Guide to Starting School” by Laura and Philip Bunting. This video is primarily aimed at NE-Year 1 students. “The Wild Guide to Starting School” – Purpose: The purpose for this lesson … Read More
Locked Content - please login or subscribe! Murray Gadd Reads “Inside The Suitcase” for Year 4-8 students
In this episode of ‘Building Excitement, Engagement and Achievement in Writing with Dr. Murray Gadd’, we watch Murray reading and writing from the pop-up picture book “Inside the Suitcase” by Clotilde Perrin. This writing lesson is primarily aimed at Year 4-8 students. “Inside the Suitcase” – Purpose: The purpose for this lesson is to plan … Read More
Locked Content - please login or subscribe! Murray Gadd Reads “When I Am Old With You” for Year 2-4 students
In this episode of ‘Building Excitement, Engagement and Achievement in Writing with Dr. Murray Gadd’, we watch Murray reading and writing from the picture book “When I Am Old With You” by Angela Johnson. This writing lesson is primarily aimed at Year 2-4 students. “When I Am Old With You” – Purpose: The purpose for … Read More
You have access to this content Murray Gadd reads “My Teacher’s Secret Life” for Year 1-6 students
This free read-to lesson features Dr Murray Gadd PhD, reading “My Teacher’s Secret Life” (by Stephen Krensky), This free read-to session for Year 1-6 students focusses on some very funny thoughts by a young girl about what she imagines her teacher’s ‘secret life’ to be like. This video was originally recorded and published during the October 2021 COVID-19 lock-down. Scroll … Read More
You have access to this content Murray Gadd reads “Hide and Seek” for Year 1-4 students
This free read-to session features Dr Murray Gadd PhD, reading “Hide and Seek” (by Anthony Browne). This free read-to session for Year 1-4 students focusses on the wonderful illustrations of this great writer. This video was originally recorded and published during the October 2021 COVID-19 lock-down. Scroll down for the video or click here. There are no Teachers’ Notes … Read More
You have access to this content Murray Gadd reads “The Kiosk” for Year 4-8 students
This free read-to session features Dr Murray Gadd PhD, reading “The Kiosk” (by Anete Melece) This free read-to session is aimed at Year 4-8 students and focusses on the quirkiness of the character. It also offers a writing idea at the end. This video was originally recorded and published during the October 2021 COVID-19 lock-down. Scroll down for the video … Read More
Locked Content - please login or subscribe! Murray Gadd Reads “The Runaway Dinner” for Year 3 – 6 students
In this episode of ‘Building Excitement, Motivation and Achievement in Writing with Dr Murray Gadd’, we watch Murray reading and writing from “The Runaway Dinner” by Allan Ahlberg. This video is primarily aimed at Year 3 – 6 students, though some Year 7-8 students may enjoy it as well. This video was originally produced during … Read More
Locked Content - please login or subscribe! Murray Gadd Writes About Pterosaurs – for Year 5 – 8 students
In this episode of ‘Building Excitement, Motivation and Achievement in Writing with Dr Murray Gadd’, we watch Murray planning and writing about a pre-historic creature (pterosaurs). This video is primarily aimed at Year 5 – 8 students. Scroll down for the video or click here Pterosaurs – Purpose: The purpose for this lesson is for … Read More
Locked Content - please login or subscribe! Murray Gadd reads Tadpole’s Promise for NE-Y1 students
In this episode of ‘Building Excitement, Motivation and Achievement in Writing with Dr Murray Gadd’, we watch Murray reading and writing from “Tadpole’s Promise” by Jeanne Willis. This video is primarily aimed at NE-Year 1 students. It was first produced during the Oct 2021 Covid lockdown. Scroll down for the video or click here … Read More
You have access to this content Murray Gadd reads “The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors” – for Year 4-8 students
This free read-to session features Dr Murray Gadd PhD, reading “The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors” (by Drew Daywalt) – for Year 4-8 students. The free read-to lesson is designed to spark fun and imaginative discussion / writing. This video was originally recorded and published during the October 2021 COVID-19 lock-down. Scroll down for the video or click here. … Read More
You have access to this content Murray Gadd reads “Busting” for Year 1-8 students
This free read-to session features Dr Murray Gadd Phd, reading Busting (by Aaron Blabey) read to session for Year 1-8 students The is a read-to lesson is designed for fun and imaginative writing. This video was originally recorded and published during the October 2021 COVID-19 lock-down. Scroll down for the video or click here. There are no Teachers’ Notes … Read More
Locked Content - please login or subscribe! Murray Gadd reads “Billy – A Lolly Leopold Story” – a reading-writing lesson for Year 5-8 students
This Video Lesson features Dr Murray Gadd Phd, reading “Billy – A Lolly Leopold Story” (by Kate de Goldi) – a reading-writing lesson for Year 5-8 students. Although I’ve labelled it for Year 5-8 students, it may also be useful for some more able Year 3-4 students. It’s another lesson in which students are encouraged … Read More
Locked Content - please login or subscribe! Murray Gadd reads “Diary Of A Worm” – a fun writing lesson for Year 2-6 students
In this episode of ‘Building Excitement, Motivation and Achievement in Writing with Dr Murray Gadd’, we watch Murray reading and writing from “Diary of a Worm” by Doreen Cronin. This video is primarily aimed at Year 2 – 6 students, though some Year 7-8 students may enjoy it as well. This video was originally recorded … Read More
Locked Content - please login or subscribe! Murray Gadd Reads “The Rascally Cake” for Year 2-6 students
In this episode of ‘Building Excitement, Motivation and Achievement in Writing with Dr Murray Gadd’, we watch Murray reading and writing from “The Rascally Cake” by Jeanne Willis. This video is primarily aimed at Year 2 – 6 students, though some Year 7-8 students may enjoy it as well. This video was originally recorded and … Read More
Locked Content - please login or subscribe! Murray Gadd Reads Keys for Year 4-8 students
In this episode of ‘Building Excitement, Motivation and Achievement in Writing with Dr Murray Gadd’, we watch Murray reading and writing from “Keys” by Sacha Cotter. This video is primarily aimed at Year 4 – 8 students. Sharing Usually, we ask you to share the video lessons with your class – either face to face … Read More
Locked Content - please login or subscribe! Murray Gadd Reads Ernest the Elephant for NE-Y1 students
In this episode of ‘Building Excitement, Motivation and Achievement in Writing with Dr Murray Gadd’, we watch Murray reading and writing from “Ernest the Elephant” by Anthony Browne. This video is primarily aimed at NE-Year 1 students. Sharing Usually, we ask you to share the video lessons with your class – either face to face … Read More
Locked Content - please login or subscribe! Murray Gadd Reads “Zoo” for Year 5 – 8 students
In this episode of ‘Building Excitement, Motivation and Achievement in Writing with Dr Murray Gadd’, we watch Murray reading and writing from “Zoo” by Anthony Browne. This video is primarily aimed at Year 5 – 8 students. Sharing Usually, we ask you to share the video lessons with your class – either face to face … Read More
Locked Content - please login or subscribe! Murray Gadd Reads “Handa’s Hen”
In this episode of ‘Building Excitement, Engagement and Achievement in Writing with Dr. Murray Gadd’, we watch Murray reading and writing from the picture book “Handa’s Hen” by Eileen Browne. This writing lesson is primarily aimed at Year 1-3 students. “Handa’s Hen” – Purpose: The purpose for this lesson is to reflect on and write … Read More
Locked Content - please login or subscribe! Murray Gadd Reads “Herbert The Brave Sea Dog”
In this episode of ‘Building Excitement, Engagement and Achievement in Writing with Dr. Murray Gadd’, we watch Murray reading and writing from the very dramatic picture book “Herbert, the Brave Sea Dog” by Robyn Belton. This writing lesson is primarily aimed at Year 4-8 students. “Herbert, the Brave Sea Dog” – Purpose: The purpose for … Read More
Locked Content - please login or subscribe! Murray Gadd Reads “Hachiko: A Loyal Dog” for Year 2-8 students
In this episode of ‘Building Excitement, Engagement and Achievement in Writing with Dr. Murray Gadd’, we watch Murray reading and writing from the very moving picture book “Hachiko: A Loyal Dog”. This writing lesson is primarily aimed at Year 2-8 students, but mainly younger students. “Hachiko: A Loyal Dog” – Purpose: The purpose for this … Read More
Locked Content - please login or subscribe! Murray Gadd Reads “Uncle Glenn and Me” for Year 3 – 6 students
In this episode of ‘Building Excitement, Engagement and Achievement in Writing with Dr. Murray Gadd’, we watch Murray reading and writing from the very funny picture book “Uncle Glenn and Me” by Glenn Colquhoun. This writing lesson is primarily aimed at Year 3-6 students. “Uncle Glenn and Me” – Purpose: The purpose for this lesson … Read More
Locked Content - please login or subscribe! What Do Teachers Do After YOU Leave School for Year 3-6 students
In this episode of ‘Building Excitement, Engagement and Achievement in Writing with Dr. Murray Gadd’, we watch Murray reading and writing from “What Do Teachers Do After YOU Leave School?” by Anne Bowen. This writing lesson is primarily aimed at Year 3-6 students, though it could also be undertaken with junior students and could certainly … Read More
Locked Content - please login or subscribe! Murray Gadd Writes a Senses Poem about “My Holidays” for Year 1-8 students
In this episode of ‘Building Excitement, Engagement and Achievement in Writing with Dr. Murray Gadd’, we watch Murray talk about his holidays and write a ‘senses poem’ based on this talk. This video could be used with any group of Year 1 – 8 students. It would obviously need to be adapted for junior students. … Read More
Locked Content - please login or subscribe! Murray Gadd Reads “Haere – Farewell, Jack, Farewell” for Year 3 – 8 students
In this episode of ‘Building Excitement, Motivation and Achievement in Writing with Dr Murray Gadd’, we watch Murray reading and writing from “Haere – Farewell, Jack, Farewell” by Tim Tipene. This video is primarily aimed at Year 3 – 8 students. “Haere – Farewell, Jack, Farewell” – Purpose: The purpose for this lesson is for … Read More