Teach even the youngest writers about the 6 Traits

writing

Teach even the youngest writers about the 6 Traits

apr 17, 2017

Although the “writing” done in kindergarten doesn’t look like the writing done in later years, there are still plenty of details (ideas), organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and convention skills to teach to kinders via pictorial writing, list writing, and early sentence writing. Here are some articles from our Learning Center to support your instruction.

Mini-Lessons for the Trait of Ideas

• Explain “Writing Topics” with the Bright Ideas light bulb
• Teach students to draw with more detail, Part 1
• Teach students to draw with EVEN more detail, Part 2
• Develop ideas with listed details

Mini-Lessons for the Trait of Organization

• Begin with a title
• Develop ideas with beginnings, middles, and endings (See Idea #2 at this link.)
• Model in whole-class instruction how to pre-write and organize ideas.

Mini-Lessons for the Trait of Voice

• Convey voice with color and feelings (See Strategies #1 and #2 at this link.)
• Draw feelings first with facial expressions.
• Compliment early voice in the form of voice-filled conventions.

Mini-Lessons for the Trait of Word Choice

• Draw a connection between word choice & voice.
• Expect that big words may be spelled wrong.
• Use mentor text to model good word choice.

Mini-Lessons for the Trait of Sentence Fluency

• Push for more writing and less drawing
• Supersize sentences by adding details

Mini-Lessons for the Trait of Conventions

• Encourage end marks and other conventions
• Teach students the various end marks
• Keep convention expectations in perspective

One final note, don’t forget to share the 6 Traits of Writing lingo with parents, too. Whether you’re looking for a Parent Night program or a resource to hand them, we’ve got ideas that can help.

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