I am looking for strategies to teach my students to help them improve their writing scores for Ideas & Content and Organzation (in 6 Traits). I have found a wide variety of graphic organizers that are fun to use, however, I want them to be able to learn a skill/strategy that will help them when they take the state writing assessment at the end of the year.
There is a great Scholastic teacher's resource book called something like "Children's Books to Teach the Traits"- it's yellow and has puzzle pieces on the front. It has TONS of great literature connections and lesson ideas. Highly recommended.
On 9/10/06, Constance wrote: > Does anyone have suggestions for pieces of literature to > share with students to provide examples of the different > traits?
Hello! Usually I post on the Spanish teachers' board, but my 8th grader's language arts teacher has asked me to try to find a classroom set of 'Write source 2000' for her. Do any of you have a set that our district or PTA could buy (perhaps your district has invested in a new edition?) Thanks.
I need some ideas on how to get 5th graders to use more action in their writing. They are telling the story, but not really having their characters DO anything.
On 9/20/06, klg wrote: > I need some ideas on how to get 5th graders to use more > action in their writing. They are telling the story, but > not really having their characters DO anything.
Try these via mini-lessons:
1. Practice writing scenes (As she walked toward me, my eyes about bugged out of my head. She had a stick in her hand. We were in the schoolyard at lunchtime. I couldn't stand it any more so I turned and ran away as fast as I could. I could hear her screaming at me in the background. I turned my head to look but she wasn't chasing me.)
2. Dialogue (exam: Write a conversation between two people. No narrative.)
3. Have students add detail to their characters or places. (exam: His hair was red and bushy. His breath smelled like coffee. I could see the snow on the mountaintops and eagles flying round and round in the air)
>> I need some ideas on how to get 5th graders to use more >> action in their writing. They are telling the story, but >> not really having their characters DO anything. > > > Try these via mini-lessons: > > 1. Practice writing scenes > > 2. Dialogue > > 3. Have students add detail to their characters or places.
I like all the suggestions up above. Some of my best mentors have been the students telling me how THEY write. One of my former writers....said he would use recess to act out his stories and then come inside and write up a storm.
I thought about it...and realized he was onto something! Most of the imagination comes through the ability to Play/Act out their stories.
Maybe watching a show without sound. Then, have students write the story based on what they had just seen and have them use their imagination as to the dialogue.
Good afternoon, everyone. I'm looking for a detailed lesson plan for teaching students how to answer a question.
I have the obvious pieces; first sentence is to restate the question. Next are the senetences that support the answer to the question by providing appropriate details. Last sentence is conclusion.
I will be observed on Friday, so any help from you Middle School LA teachers would be greatly appreciated. I have it, but it's not "punched up" enough. Even I was bored writing it...but I think we can agree that this is a necessary skill with state-mandated testing.
Hope to hear from y'all soon. I'll also post on the middle school board. Thanks!
Just started reading 6+1 Writing Traits and would like to attend workshops. Does anyone know of any in NJ area. I would also like to hear from anyone in the area using the traits during their writing workshop. Thanks.
Traits is the driving force behind my Writer's Workshop on every paper they work on. Before my students proceed to their second or final drafts, they have to write me a brief explanation that tells me two things trait-wise they're proud of: 1) which trait they feel is the strongest in their writing thus far and 2) which trait they improved upon the most between drafts. I can't tell you how much nicer it is to respond to their drafts with these two pieces of information as my focus.
--Corbett
On 9/24/06, Joyce wrote: > Just started reading 6+1 Writing Traits and would like to > attend workshops. Does anyone know of any in NJ area. I > would also like to hear from anyone in the area using the > traits during their writing workshop. Thanks.
Writingfix posted a new organization assignment that uses Dogzilla by Dav Pilkey as its inspiration...it's pretty clever! Check it out, if you have any time during your crazy schedule!
I will receive 2 days of training for 6 + 1 Writing for preschool this week. Does anyone have any experience using this with 3-4 year olds? Just trying to get a head start as to what to expect, how to incorporate this into my lesson plans, and what do my preschool colleagues consider to be the pros and cons of this program?!
After teaching fourth grade for 4 years, I was asked to take over the mid school science dept. I did that for a year and did not have any language arts responsibilities. This year, I lost 6th grade science and had 7th grade literature and language arts to my plate. I have never taught mid high writing, and need help with rubrics and suggestions for 6 trait writing. Can you help?
I recently attended a workshop on the 6 Write traits and was introduced to the 6 + 1 rubric you can find on the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory's website. Click on the 6 +1 Writing Scoring Guide link (It will be the second one on the page.) at this address: [link removed]
This is a 5 point analytical rubric based on success. There are scores of 5, 3, & 1. We were taught to look at a paper and decide if it is a top level or low level piece of writing. If you think it is a top piece, begin assessing with the 5. Too high? Try the three. In between? The student's score is a 4.
You can also find a developmental rubric for beginning writers on this site. This rubric is a continuum. When students have reached the experienced level of this rubric in all of the traits, move on to the 5 point analytical rubric.
On 11/14/06, Ann wrote: > Mary Helen, > > I recently attended a workshop on the 6 Write traits and was > introduced to the 6 + 1 rubric you can find on the Northwest > Regional Educational Laboratory's website. Click on the 6 +1 > Writing Scoring Guide link (It will be the second one on the > page.) at this address: [link removed]
can anyone give me ideas on how 6 traits+1 works in kindergarten?? we're having a general inservice on friday on it..and i'm afriad it'll be another one of those inservices that doesn't pertain to kindergarteners? the books recommended look interesting, but i need info NOW since the inservice is friday... thanks, kirsten in guatemala
On 10/08/06, Joan/Florida/1 wrote: > > Hi Ramona, > > Yes, 6 Traits Writing is very appropriate for first graders! > I have been using it since the beginning of the year and the > writing is unbelievable! I recently "purchased" Ruth > Culham's 6 + 1 Traits of Writing for primary students using > my scholastic book points. I believe the book was one of the > choices in the bonus catalog. Here's a link to the book on > Amazon... > > Joan
On 10/23/06, kirsten wrote: > can anyone give me ideas on how 6 traits+1 works in > kindergarten?? we're having a general inservice on friday on > it..and i'm afriad it'll be another one of those inservices > that doesn't pertain to kindergarteners? the books > recommended look interesting, but i need info NOW since the > inservice is friday... > thanks, > kirsten in guatemala >
The thing about kinder is that they start the year miles from where they end it. You can use the traits even when they are 'writing' with pictures. You are probably more likely to teach them, than discuss or have the kids verbalize them. It is also important to know what will be expected in the grade above as much as it is to know what was expected in the grade below. The first grade teachers will be grateful that you are even aware of what they will be expecting when they start first grade.
Books that support the traits