Noticing Great Word Choice--Even at Home

Many of you know that I utilize a purple highlighter to acknowledge great word choice within student writing. Since purple highlighters are a more obscure color to find, I know most students don't have access to them. So I use this to my advantage. For every great word or word-phrase I notice in student writing, I highlight it in purple. I tell the students this is my way of signaling to them, "You used the right word in the right spot, and I noticed! Keep it up!"

Students quickly become more choosey of the word choice within their writing, looking to get more purple highlights on their next pieces. They even become more aware of strong word choice (purple words) within their everyday lives.

Second grade teacher Wendy Beck shared this story about one of her Bright Elementary (Bright, IN) students. "One of my 2nd grade students came up to me this morning, sharing how her finished basement flooded during the night. She told me all the yucky details of the event and ended her story by saying, 'My mom sure did use a lot of purple words!'"

I'll bet she did! Thanks for sharing, Becky.