Integrating the 6 Traits with a New Reading Series

Working with a new reading series challenges even the most seasoned teacher. Talking with teachers, a common theme is that they are overwhelmed by a new series. It's like being a first-year teacher all over again! With so many options and activities in some reading series, teachers try to dabble with much of it, just to see what works and what doesn't. It's hard to know what to "skip" in the reading series until you've done it all once. And so much of it is necessary.  Thus, many teachers are finding their "reading time" is encroaching on their "writing time." Here are a couple considerations to ease the overwhelmed teacher.

Making 6-Trait Connections
As you are skimming the reading series, selecting the passages and stories you will utilize, be conscious of your 6-Trait connections. On a first reading, you are more likely to be struck by the strong voice, interesting organization, powerful word choice, musical figurative language, etc.

That said, make note of these trait connections. Literally make notes in the margins of your text or on sticky notes along the sides. Find opportunities to read like writers. Students will tend to try things in their writing after first noticing them in their reading. Use the reading to remind them of the 6 Traits and key writing skills. By taking note of these writing skills within the reading, you are still teaching them to think like writers, even if your writing time is minimal.

Scrutinize the Writing Activities
Many teachers feel committed to doing the writing activities and assignments that coordinate with the reading. However, there are some things to consider:

1. If you are writing about your reading, then count that as "writing time." Have a focused mini-lesson, and then go into the writing. You don't need to plan an extra time for "writing workshop," too. You've already done it when you had the students writing about what they read.
2. That said, scrutinize the suggested writing activities. Typically they are spin-offs of a story's theme or topic; however they are often NOT developmentally appropriate. For many of the writing activities, if you were to have the students do them after completing the reading, you would have to provide a lot of pre-teaching in order to get them prepared to accomplish the task. Consider the writing activities, but don't feel obligated to do them simply because they are listed there. You know what your writers need next. You know what skills they are strong in. You are the best judge of what writing mini-lessons and tasks to provide.

A Final Thought
It's been said that if a classroom teacher did every activity and assignment and story in the average reading series, it would take approximately seven years! Obviously, it was never intended for a teacher to utilize all that is offered in a single reading series. Give yourself the personal goal of intentionally drawing 6-Traits connections so that as you fit in writing time, the traits are still alive and well.