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Mountainette 4/WV - Hi Kim - just read the archives of the last meeting - very interesting!!!!!! Got a lot of great ideas!!!
Kim/KS/8th - Hello, Mountainette. I'm glad I could help.
Kim/KS/8th - Have you visited my page on Commonly Asked Questions About ORGANIZATION?
Mountainette 4/WV - Yes, I looked at your page - but didn't have time to read all of it
Kathy/5/IA - Welcome the the 6-Trait Writing Session. Tonights topic is ORGANIZATION.
Kim/KS/8th - Mountainette and Jill, are you familiar with Six Trait?
Mountainette 4/WV - Just from reading the archives on ideas and content
Jill - Hi Kim.Yes, I am a 6 Traits trainer in Billings, Montana
Kim/KS/8th - Mountainette, no problem. You'll see that you are using Six Trait, you just aren't calling it that.
Kathy/5/IA - That's great, Jill! You and Kim have a lot in common, then!
Mountainette 4/WV - Our 4th graders have a state writing test - looks like that is common throughout the US
Kathy/5/IA - Yes, our 4th graders do the same in Iowa. I have 5th graders.
Kathy/5/IA - I loved all the ideas you shared in the last session, Kim. I just got done reading the transcripts! WOW!
Mountainette 4/WV - I wrote out 4 pages of notes from the last session!!!
Kim/KS/8th - Mountainette, WOW! I need to print out the session to add to my notebook.
Kathy/5/IA - I'm helping Kim out tonight - as hostess. Let's start out with some questions for Kim.
Kim/KS/8th - Well, who has a question?
Kathy/5/IA - I printed out the bibliography at your site, Kim,on organization. How do you use the children's literature in each step of your training?
Joan/1/NY - I'm always intersted in writing suggestions i teach 1st grade
Mountainette 4/WV - Should I do this first with the whole class on a certain topic - say vacations?
Jill - My friend, Juline (third grade) is sitting right beside me. She teaches in my school and is eager to learn more about the traits, too. As Kim knows, Billings just started working with the Traits this year in a few elementary classrooms. Kim's website is fantastic! What great work she is doing for all of us!
Kathy/5/IA - Kim, do you teach each trait to the students separately with different writing ideas?
Mountainette 4/WV - Kim. should I do this with the whole class first, using a graphic organizer, on a certain topic like - summer vacation?
Kim?KS/8th - Kathy, I am just starting to use children's lit. I have used training papers.
Kathy/5/IA - We've had questions on how to use the children's literature, should this be done with the whole class with certain topics, and do you teach each trait separately - Kim.
~Sea~ - training papers?
Kathy/5/IA - What are training papers?
Kim?KS/8th - Mountainette, what do you mean by THIS? Organization?
Kim?KS/8th - Sea, at the workshop I attended, I received some actual student papers to use as examples. I found a site that offers a few on the net. I will be adding a link to my site tomorrow.
Mountainette 4/WV - To start the kids writing at the first of the year, I usually use a web and we write something together
Kim?KS/8th - Monatianette, I do something similar. I have the students write a paper about themselves. I do one as an example.
Kim?KS/8th - Mountainette, I love graphic organizers. I have 3 or 4 books of them and there are several on the web. I have some links at my site.
Kathy/5/IA - Is each piece of writing "graded" using the 6-trait model?
Mountainette 4/WV - I noticed them and looked at some on your website
Kim?KS/8th - The training papers are examples. You present them to the class and have them score them based on the rubric. It gives them a chance to see strong and weak writing.
Kathy/5/IA - Are the training papers available anywhere?
~Sea~ - oh! so training papers are writing samples on an overhead?
Kim?KS/8th - Kathy, I'll be adding a link to some I just found today. I don't think I can post the ones I have, as I don't have permission. Sea--YES.
Mountainette 4/WV - We have examples of writing on transparencies in our Harcourt-Brace reading program
Kathy/5/IA - A link would be great, Kim. Your site is so helpful.
~Sea~ - mountain, why not use some of your student's real samples?
Kim?KS/8th - Mountainette--they will work. So will samples from your own students. You just need to be familiar with them first, so you can lead the discussion.
~Sea~ - you could block out their name and discuss improvements(?)
Mountainette 4/WV - I don't want my students to have their writing picked apart - even tho their name might not be on it
Kim?KS/8th - Sea, great idea!
~Sea~ - thank you, kim. didn't mean to break in ahead of you
Mountainette 4/WV - I'm afraid that might stop some from trying
Kathy/5/IA - I started to exchange writing with another 5th grade teacher last year over the internet. We kind of did the same thing, so that the students wouldn't be embarrassed showing their writing in this fashion.
Kim?KS/8th - Mountainette, you could get samples from another teacher. This year, I am going to ask my students if I can post some of there writing on my site as examples.
Jill - In my training, we were told not to use writing from our own kids.
Mountainette 4/WV - Maybe I could trade with the other 4th grade teacher
~Sea~ - mountain, you might select passages (after a little time has passes) and with your FIRST one... after they "helped" make revisions... tell them it was YOURS!
~Sea~ - opps - passed... so it won't be so fresh to their memory
Kim?KS/8th - Mount....that would work. Jill, I don't remember that in my training, but I don't usually use my students' writing anyway. I have used some when training teachers, but always with permission first.
Kathy/5/IA - I bet if you post a request for a 4th grade partner on t.net, you would find one, Mountainette.
Jill - Trading papers with another teacher at your own grade level is a great idea or even trading papers with a teacher at another grade level in your building.
Kim?KS/8th - Apparently I don't know who I am. I just noticed the ? in my name. What about this idea? Maybe I could start a ring or something where we could share student writing. We would need our students' permission probably.
Mountainette 4/WV - I thought about getting with the other 4th grade teacher and assigning the same topic, since the state writing test always gives a prompt
~Sea~ - LOL ? Kim!
Mountainette 4/WV - Maybe do this weekly or monthly
Kathy/5/IA - That would be a good idea, Kim!
Mountainette 4/WV - That's alright Kim - WE know who you are!!!! LOL
Kim?KS/8th - Mount...good idea. Anything to make your students more comfortable.
Kathy/5/IA - So, what ideas can you give us on the topic of Organization, Kim?
Kim?KS/8th - What types of questions do you gals have?
Kim?KS/8th - Jill, we haven't heard from you in a while.
Jill - What are some of your favorite picture books to use for organization?
Kathy/5/IA - Do you have specific ideas on how you teach/model the organization portion of this model. You gave great one's for the first trait.
Kim?KS/8th - Jill, I haven't used picture books much. There is a list of some at my site--a link to another district that uses 6 Trait.
Kathy/5/IA - Here is the address for the bibliography at Kim's site: http://www.kent.wednet.edu/staff/creed/organization_bib.html
Kim?KS/8th - One of the first things I do with my students is give them a set of cards with pictures. I get the pictures from clip art programs and copy them onto cardstock, laminate and cut.....
Kathy/5/IA - What do you do with the pictures, Kim...I know you are typing the next part right now. :0)
Kim?KS/8th - I give each group (2-3 students) around 50-60 cards. The task is to group the pictures according to similarities....
Kathy/5/IA - Neat - I could see this linking to my science lesson on classification, too ...
Kim?KS/8th - the only rule is that there has to be at least 3 cards in each group. The students get very creative...and competitive....
Kim?KS/8th - Kathy, definitely. The traits can carry over into other subjects. In fact, they should.
Kim?KS/8th - As long as the students can justify their groupings, I allow them. One year, one of my groups put a deer in the electric category...
Kathy/5/IA - Do they do some writing with the pictures then?
Kim?KS/8th - The explanation was that the deer was a reigndeer that you put up as an X-mas decoration.
Kathy/5/IA - Clever!
Mountainette 4/WV - Somewhere I read to have the students write a story using a sentence on a card, having the teach okay it, go back and write the next sentence, and so forth until the story is complete. Then put the card in order and write the final copy. That helped me with run on sentences.
Kim?KS/8th - Kathy, they could, but since this is my first activity, the only writing I have them do is to write down the categories and items.
Mountainette 4/WV - I tried this on Rain Forest animals and then gave all the kids an A
Kathy/5/IA - So how does this activity tie into the organization trait - how do you explain it to the kids?
Kim?KS/8th - Mountainette, I saw that idea, too. I like it! I have done a modified version by having the students do an outline with one sentence per letter/number.
Samantha - Hi! Sorry I'm late! I had cheerleading camp! I am planning on using this next year in my classroom, so I think I'm going to have to be sure to check the archives on what I missed. Mountianette, I have tried that idea as well! It works
Kathy/5/IA - The last session was very good, Samantha. What grade do you teach?
Kim?KS/8th - The tie-in is that even though every group had the same pictures to work with, they chose to categorize them in different ways. We can do the same with a piece of writing.
Samantha - Kim: How long should I wait until I start teaching in this model. As soon as possible, or after school starts a little while? Kathy: I teach 7th and 8th!!!!!!
Kim?KS/8th - Samantha, I start right away, with the first piece of writing. However, my entire district uses this model. I suggest starting with IDEAS AND CONTENT or ORGANIZATION. Then continue adding ONE trait at a time. Of course, you do CONVENTIONS at the same time because they are already familiar with that trait.
Kathy/5/IA - I see, Kim! What other ideas do you have? Do you do several of these "mini lesson" type activities before having the kids write something following all 6-traits?
Jill - We give this bibliography to participants in our classes. It is great! We are using lots of picture books in our training sessions and I use them in my own 2nd grade classroom.
Kim?KS/8th - Kathy, actually the only time I have my students do all six traits for a grade is when we do the state writing assessment, which is based on the model.
Mountainette 4/WV - So when your kids write, you focus on one or two of the traits at a time?
Kim?KS/8th - Jill, the primary teachers in our district use picture books a lot more than the secondary teachers. However, I want to start using them more in mini-lessons.
Samantha - I am a little confused. I teach each level, right? Then if I want a student to write a paper on Romeo and Juliet, for example, I do not grade them on each topic?
Kim?KS/8th - Mountainette, yes. Conventions is usually one of the traits. It seems they need constant reinforcement in that area.
Samantha - Kim, Do you have any ideas on how to use these picture books. I teach 12 levels within my 6 classes, and would like to use picture books.
Mountainette 4/WV - I don't know what conventions is.
Kathy/5/IA - I've had my students write a paragraph a week, and have graded them with other rubrics. Is the 6-trait model considered a rubric?
Kim?KS/8th - Samantha, that is up to you. Since your students aren't familiar with it. I would start with one trait and add to it.
Samantha - Conventions are those basics, punctuation, spelling, etc. Right Kim?
Kathy/5/IA - Conventions - such as mechanics (caps, puncuation, etc..) right?
Kim?KS/8th - Mountainette, sorry, conventions are spelling, punctuation, grammar, usage, etc.
Kim?KS/8th - Kathy, the 6 Trait model is based on a rubric for each trait.
Mountainette 4/WV - I was kind of figuring that out!!! After i posed the question, that is!
Samantha - Kim: Thanks to you I was able to answer that question right! If it wasn't for your website, I wouldn't have known where to start. If I forget to say thanks! I'm saying it now!
Kim?KS/8th - Mountainette, no problem. Part of 6 Trait is getting students (and yourself) used to the terminology.
Kim?KS/8th - Okay, want another mini-lesson idea?
Mountainette 4/WV - Sure!!!
Kathy/5/IA - Yes, go right a head Kim! :0) I love your ideas!
Samantha - So if my students are writing a paper, I have them write in the 5 paragraph form as usual, and I only grade on trait such as content and ideas?
Kim?KS/8th - Give the students a list of 3 or 4 items and have them figure out which one doesn't belong. Example: kitten, puppy, calf, horse
Samantha - Kim: As many as you have time to give. I am an eager learner!!!!
Kathy/5/IA - The horse...right???
Kim?KS/8th - Samantha, yes--after you have covered the trait with them. Do some mini-lessons, short writing, and then give them a large assignement that you score for that trait. I usually give 100 points for such an assignment. 50 for the rubric score times 10, and 50 points for following directions, lenght requirement, correct format, etc. The rubric score isn't really supposed to be a grade, but I think we have to put it in somewhere. OOOH, sorry, yes the horse.
Samantha - I GET IT! Thanks! You made it easy!
Kim?KS/8th - 8th graders love the "Which one doesn't belong activity. Give them some hard ones. Ex: pear, banana, stawberries, spinach--I don't like spinach doesn't count
Kathy/5/IA - Is there a book or site with these type of activities in it, Kim? Do you have them listed at your site?
Kim?KS/8th - Oh, Samantha, if you score it for 2 traits, then each trait is worth 25 points--the rubric score times 5
Kim?KS/8th - Kathy, some of the activities are listed, but I am new ones all the time.
Kim?KS/8th - Want to know where I get my ideas? I look through books of activities, not just writing either, and I adapt them to fit a trait.
Jill - Wow, I can't think, write and keep up with all of you. Sorry, I just seem to throw things out there. Is anyone else in this chat a primary teacher? Kathy, there are activities in some of the training materials we use in Billings.
Mountainette 4/WV - Do you have the kids write why they picked the one that doesn't belong?
Kathy/5/IA - So would the writing tie in to the "what doesn't belong" activity be that - just like with the 3 items that belong, our writing has to be organized, with each idea connecting with each other?
Kim?KS/8th - Spinach isn't a fruit. Yes, Mountainette.
Samantha - Kim, I have tried the Parts of the Whole activity, and I was wondering: Do you use this as a whole group activity or as a center activity? I used it in a learning center (WHICH IS SOMETHING I AM INTERESTED IN HEARING HOW UPPER GRADE TEACHER RUN THEM)and they worked great!
Kathy/5/IA - Is this training offered all over? I haven't seen any training for the 6 trait model here in Iowa. I've run acrossed it on the net, though.
Kim?KS/8th - Kathy, yes. And the best thing is you can use a few ideas or a lot, depending on how much time you have.
Jill - Kathy, I will e-mail you some of the ideas we use if you send me your e-mail address. Kim, going way back to the beginning of this chat, I would love to be involved in a writing ring of teachers who are using the Traits.
Samantha - Kim: How long have you used this successfully! Should I expect results quickly?
Kim?KS/8th - Kathy, I don't think so. I'll be adding a link to some training sessions offered by NWREL.
Samantha - Jill: That is a great idea. Is there already one going?
Kim?KS/8th - Jill, I have to figure out how to set up a ring first! Maybe we could start out as a list or something. I'll do some investigating, unless someone can give me directions.
Jill - Do you all have the website for the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory where the 6 Traits were born?
Kim?KS/8th - Samantha, my district has been using this model for over 6 years. In the beginning, the progress was slow, but visible. It is worth it. You teach the traits already, you just don't call them that.
Kathy/5/IA - I've done very primative email "rings" where I just add addresses that are interested in a certain topic to my address book.
Kim?KS/8th - Jill, this is one of the pages, but not the main one. It will get you there, though.
Kim?KS/8th - oops, the URL would help! http://www.nwrel.org/sixtraits/overview/overview.htm
Kim?KS/8th - Kathy, that is what I'm doing with the Post Card Exchange.
Kim?KS/8th - Back to ORG. I teach the students about good leads as well. There is a list of types and examples at my site.
Jill - Mountainette and Samantha, with Kim's site and the NWREL site, you will learn so much about the traits.
Kim?KS/8th - I also do the same with conclusions and transtions. They are at my site, too.
Mountainette 4/WV - I definitely will be checking both sites out!!!
Kim?KS/8th - Jill, Kathy, Samantha, and Mountainette, the NWREL site has a lot of info--acivities, sample papers, and more! Let me get the URL for a different page.
Samantha - Kim, Could I do something like the following: I like to use very familar things when teaching a new concept. For instance, if I were to use Litte Red Riding Hood. I can read the story to the students, and have them practice coming up with exciting leads. Since the story is so small and familiar I feel they could work quicker. I could then use a different fairy tale for each day of the each week and build up to higher levels. Am I on the right track?
Kim?KS/8th - Try this one--it's for the sample papers. http://www.nwrel.org/sixtraits/practice/practice.html
Kim?KS/8th - Samantha, that's a great idea! I'll bet Jill has some more ideas like that!
Kim?KS/8th - Kathy, I think I had trouble last time when I clicked on a link from here. Try typing it in.
Kim?KS/8th - Samantha, if you do that, you have to do The True Story of the Three Little Pigs!
Samantha - Believe it or not, the first essay I had my students write was about Little Red Riding Hood. The students were really able to grasp the concept by starting out with something so familiar. We sometimes forget 7th and 8th graders love those old classics!
Kim?KS/8th - Another good lesson on organization is to have the students write directions for something. Then have them trade papers and try following the directions EXACTLY as they are written. It gets pretty humorous sometimes.
Mountainette 4/WV - Oh, boy! What do you mean by good leads - the way you start off ?
Mountainette 4/WV - I'm learning so much tonight!
Kathy/5/IA - We rewrote Cindella in the same fashion, Samantha.
Kim?KS/8th - Mountainette, yes, the lead is the beginning. Just another term.
Samantha - Mountainette, Kim GREAT info about how to teach leads at her website. I am sure she won't mind me saying this, but if you want to learn more about this trait model, she knows her stuff! TRY IT!!!!
Samantha - Kathy, Great minds must think alike! (ha! ha!)
Kim?KS/8th - I can't stress enough that you are already teaching this stuff--really! This model just organizes it a little better and gives you a way of assessing it.
Mountainette 4/WV - Thanks Samantha. Today is my first experience with six traits!
Samantha - Kim, are we wearing you out? I hope not!
Jill - These is an organization lesson called Beginnings, Middles, and Ends by Linda L. Reed a teacher at Sierra Vista Elementary School http://www.nwrel.org/sixtraits/lessons/pbook/pbook1.htm If you go to this link, it should also give you some other lessons that have been developed and used by teachers using the Traits
Kathy/5/IA - I agree, Kim. We are doing these types of things in the classroom. :0)
Kim?KS/8th - Jill, I have to save that URL! I want to look!
Samantha - Kim, I always go to your site through my bookmark. Could list it for Mountainette?
Mountainette 4/WV - I have bookmarked Kim's site
Samantha - Oh! Great! Look out for all of the new things you'll find!
Kim?KS/8th - KIM'S KORNER for TEACHER TALK--http://www.angelfire.com/ks/teachme be careful not to mix up the e and the l--you will get a shock!
Samantha - Kim, remember I was the one that was shocked first! Boy was I blushing!
Mountainette 4/WV - LOL
Jill - Mountainette, Kim has a ton of excellent material on her website. Yes, you are teaching the Traits...now the model gives you the language to use with your students!
Mountainette 4/WV - What is the third trait? Any idea when you will be presenting it?
Kim?KS/8th - Samantha, you aksed a question about the Parts of the Whole activity. I have my students do it in groups--the centers method worked for you?
Samantha - Yes, but it was time consuming!
Kathy/5/IA - How much time do you spend teaching/modeling each trait?
Kim?KS/8th - The next one is either VOICE or WORD CHOICE on August 5th, the next is August 12th---assuming the baby doesn't come early.
Mountainette 4/WV - Baby?????
Samantha - Oh! I didn't realize you're expecting! How exciting!
Kim?KS/8th - Kathy, remember that my whole district uses this model, so most of my students alreay know it. I just refresh their memories. When I first started, I spent several weeks on each trait before moving on to another.
Jill - Kim, are you having a baby?
Kathy/5/IA - That would be wonderful....how big is your district?
Kim?KS/8th - Yes, I'm due October 7th, but we are doing a C-section the last week of September. My other two were early though.
Kathy/5/IA - Is everyone who deals with writing trained in this?
Mountainette 4/WV - I am really anxious to get my kids started
Samantha - Kim, Do you only teach writing or do you have to incorporate it in with teaching grammar, etc.? How much time do you spend on each during the week?
Kathy/5/IA - ( in your district )
Kim?KS/8th - My district serves around 2500 students, I think. Every language arts teacher has to go through the training. All new teachers, regardless of subject, must go through the training. In my building, every teacher has to go through the training.
Samantha - Mountainette, I am anxious, but a little nervous! Be sure to go to the first meeting that was archived.
KTG - Can you tell what that is:)
Mountainette 4/WV - Do they start in Kind?
Samantha - Kim, Take it away! We'll wait until you can brief KTG!
Mountainette 4/WV - I wrote 4 pages of notes on the first meeting, Samantha!
KTG - sorry if I am interrupting
Kim?KS/8th - Mountainette, I'm not sure about K--but 1st for sure. They only start with Ideas and Organization, then add traits. I think by 4th they are doing all of them.
Jill - KTG--Welcome. A third baby, how exciting! I am even more impressed with you and your abilities. How do you manage to keep up your website, teach and have a family?
Samantha - Oh! So you we're in the same boat. We probably know just enough to be dangerous!
Samantha - KTG - You're not interupting! The more the better!
Kathy/5/IA - No, you aren't interrupting, KTG! Glad you are here. Kim has a lot of info at her site. Could you post the address again, Kim?
Kim?KS/8th - KTG, the Six Trait Model is just writing broken into the 6 areas that teachers value most--Ideas and Content, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, and Conventions.
Kim?KS/8th - Jill, I started my site last summer, then pretty much neglected it until this summer. I try to add a new page every day.
Samantha - KTG - What grade to you teach?
Kathy/5/IA - Do you have anymore Organization mini lessons up your sleeve, Kim???
KTG - The six trait model sounds interesting. My district is big on writer's workshop.
Samantha - Kim, I can't believe it was just last summer. Last summer was when I was preparing for my first job! Without your site, I wouldn't have made it. You started it up at the perfect time! It sure got me more prepared!
Kathy/5/IA - This will fit right in, KTG! You'll impress everyone with your knowledge!
Kim?KS/8th - Another lesson (more of a medium that a mini--LOL!) I have done is to have the students use a newspaper (USA Today is great for this one) to find examples of pie graphs, bar graphs, line graphs, and charts/tables....
Mountainette 4/WV - Getting some math skills in here too!
Kim?KS/8th - Then the students select one of the graphs, charts, tables, etc. and write it in narrative form..
KTG - THe idea about using the newspaper is great. My 8th grade ss teacher made us cut out any maps we saw in the paper and paste them iin our notebooks. We then would describe our map/s. I still remember it!
Samantha - Kim, I bet we could incorporate that idea by using some of those Mini-Theme Units. I think I got those from your page, Did I?
Kim?KS/8th - The organization in the graph needs to match what is in their narrative.
Kathy/5/IA - Mini=Theme Unit...I'll have to look for that one!
Samantha - KTG - Great Idea! We are really getting into some great things when we can get all subject involved.
Kim?KS/8th - Samantha, No those aren't mine. I'm interested though!
Kathy/5/IA - So where did you find them Samantha!!!!
Kim?KS/8th - Here's one for science: The students will need background information on Mass and Volume....
Kim?KS/8th - Each step has its own box or boxes on a graphic organizer--Step 1: The students write 3 likenesses between the two--Ex: both can be measured in metric...
Samantha - Kathy, do you have the address, where others can search for Mini-Thematic Language Arts Units. They are WONDERFUL!
Kathy/5/IA - I'll go get it - Her site is in my book marks. BRB.
Kim?KS/8th - Step 2: Students write 3 differences--EX: mass is measured with a balance, volume is measured with a graduate...
Kim?KS/8th - Step 3: students write 3 important ideas associated with measuring mass and volume--can't have already used them in steps 1 and 2--EX: make sure balance is even before adding masses and objects, measure graduate from eye level for volume...
Jill - A quick mini lesson: 5 or 6 scene sequence cards. Display the cards out of order. Ask the class what's wrong with them and what to do to make them make sense. Have someone put them in order and discuss why that's important. Follow-up: Talk about the importance of order fro understanding. This mini-lesson came rifht off the Six Trait Writing Warm-Ups that I got from my training. There are about 10 lessons for each trait. This is what I will e-mail to you if you are interested. what's wrong with them
Kathy/5/IA - Here is The Teacher Desk site: http://www.knownet.net/users/Ackley/main.html
KTG - That would be great Jill. What a great minilesson. I am glad I found you guys:)
Kim?KS/8th - Step 4: students write 3 uses for each--EX: mass used to measure vergetables at grocery store, volume used to measure liquids in recipes...
Samantha - Jill- could I give you may e-mail and you send them over?
Kim?KS/8th - Jill, I'm jealous! I didn't get those with my training. Can we work out a trade?
Kathy/5/IA - What are you sending, Jill...what did I miss?
Samantha - Kim, I am still listening! I just get a little lost in SCIENCE!
Marilyn - I've been following Kim's website and all of her updates - one amazing lady! Am really excited to start this fall.
Samantha - Marilyn, Are you new at the 6 trait model or have you used it before?
Marilyn - Am brand new to 6 Trait - I've taught Grade 7 for several years now. Writing is my weakness - I'm more into the reading and Lit Circles.
Samantha - Jill, maybe you could post them on the board, and let us all go there to copy them. I am sure others would be interested!
Kim?KS/8th - Step 5: Students write 3 paragraphs comparing and contrasting mass and volume. 1) likenesses and differences from steps 1 and 2, 2) important ideas to keep in mind when measuring mass and volume from step 3, 3) how are mass and volume used in the real world? from step 4. You could also add on a lead and a conclusion, and voila--a 5 pargaraph essay--completely organized!
Mountainette 4/WV - We do mass and volume in math towards the end of the year - sounds like a great way to see what they learned, Kim.
Kim?KS/8th - Want another mini-lesson? I'm sitting here with my notebook...
Marilyn - Kim - my question... as a real rookie with 6 Trait, do I need to do much pre-work with my kids? What should I do first? And yes please to the mini lesson.
Kim?KS/8th - This one is called, Find My Secret Category. Its similar to the one where you had to figure out which one didn't fit.
Kim?KS/8th - The students will need paper and pencil. Have them create 3 columns for 1st guess, 2nd guess, and final guess...
Kim?KS/8th - Give the students a series of 4 items that are related, but only give two, let them guess, give a 3rd, let them guess, then give them the 4th, let them guess--they are guessing the catgory..... EX: pencil, paper...
Kim?KS/8th - Oh, 2 or all 3 guesses can be the same...books....
Marilyn - My kids would really like that, Kim. A good source for categories/items might be the HELP series put out by Linguisystems.
Kim?KS/8th - and finally, chalkboard...what's my secret category?
Kathy/5/IA - Great idea! You have SO many!!!
Kim?KS/8th - Did you guess things in the classroom? Make them harder as you go along--you could tie this in with other classes.
Mountainette 4/WV - I liked that idea, Kim.
Marilyn - You could do great concept reviews in all sorts of subjects with that method. Thanks!
Kim?KS/8th - Marilyn, I'm not familiar with Linguisystems. I found my list in a teacher resource book.
Marilyn - It's a publisher that does lots of language and speech problems - they have lots of remedial materials for LA students with language based disabilities or difficulties.
Kim?KS/8th - This next one goes with Parts of the Whole, which is at my site. Take a piece of writing and put each sentence on one line. Then cut the lines apart and let the students put it back together again. This is the same as numbering the correct sequence, but is much more fun--great for tactile/kinesthetic learners.
Samantha - This one works great! My kids really had fun, and learned a lot!
Kathy/5/IA - Yes, that does sound much more fun, Kim!
Kim?KS/8th - Well, it's been over 2 hours, and my feet are starting to swell--heat and pregnancy, you know. Any last questions?
Samantha - Be sure to laminate them the first time!
Marilyn - Not to sound silly - what sorts of pieces do you use for this? Just a paragraph that you create, or from a mag, or what?
Kim?KS/8th - My last advice is this: If you find something, try it even if it seems too "young" for your students. Make some adaptions to fit the grade level, and go with it!
Kathy/5/IA - So true, Kim - just about anything can be adapted to any grade level! I get some of my best ideas from K-3 idea books!
Kim?KS/8th - Marilyn, anything will work. I took mine from an old book on reading skills. It had the "number the correct sequence" activities. I just retyped it and laminated.
Marilyn - Thanks, Kim. I guess I thought that you were creating your own and tailoring it.
Kim?KS/8th - Kathy, maybe you could post a message at the main board inviting others to join. Marilyn, I borrow from other sources whenever I can, and make adaptions when I have to!
Kim?KS/8th - Goodnight all! Thanks for a great session!
Marilyn - Something I'd like to ask all of you. Whenever I go to conferences, or read resource books, I get the feeling that presenters' or authors' students are writing this wonderful stuff, or turning out this perfect work...some of my kids do excellent stuff, but so many are weak or pretty in the middle. Have you found 6 Trait to really improve writing skills?
Kim?KS/8th - Marilyn, I have seen a lot of improvement--our scores prove it. However, do all of my students do great? No.
Marilyn - Thanks again< Kim, it was great. My daughter needs me, so I need to run. Talk to you again, I hope _ I'm truly an admirer!
Kim?KS/8th - I only had one student this year that received all fives on her Six Trait assessment when it was scored by our district raters. I did have several with 4s and 5s, though! Overall, the writing is much better, but I won't pretend that all of my students are doing great, or even that all of them are in the middle. It is a lot better, though!
Kim?KS/8th - Goodnight, all! See you again in August.
Marilyn - A relief -- I always feel incompetent! Bye!
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