As a school initiative, Oak Grove has dedicated time to developing a consistent writing approach for the school. Kindergarten and 1st grade students will follow the Lucy Calkins, Unit of Study in all classrooms and will transition to the 6-Traits Writing Model in Grades 2-5.
Six Traits of Writing
The 6-Traits of Writing can be viewed as the foundation of any piece of writing. Think of these as the "frame of a building". In order for the building to stand it needs the "frame" to be solid. Each trait is a piece of that "frame" that needs to be solid for a piece of writing to be creative.
Ideas
What is my message?
Is my message clear?
Did I try hard to make it interesting?
Do I have enough information?
Organization
How does my paper begin?
Did I tell things in order?
Does everything link to my message?
How does my paper end?
Voice
Do I really like this paper?
Does the writing sound like me?
How do I want my readers to feel?
My favorite part is_____________.
Word Choice
Have I used some words that I really love?
Can my reader tell what my words mean?
Have I used any NEW words?
Did I try not to repeat words too many times?
Sentence Fluency
Did I use sentences?
Do my sentences begin in different ways?
Did I use some long and some short sentences?
Does my paper sound smooth as I listen to it?
Conventions-these are embedded within all 5 traits
Did I leave spaces between words?
Did I use a title?
Did I use periods or question marks?
Did I use capital letters in the right places?
Is it easy to read my spelling?
Could another person read my paper?
The 6-Traits of Writing can be viewed as the foundation of any piece of writing. Think of these as the "frame of a building". In order for the building to stand it needs the "frame" to be solid. Each trait is a piece of that "frame" that needs to be solid for a piece of writing to be creative.
Ideas
What is my message?
Is my message clear?
Did I try hard to make it interesting?
Do I have enough information?
Organization
How does my paper begin?
Did I tell things in order?
Does everything link to my message?
How does my paper end?
Voice
Do I really like this paper?
Does the writing sound like me?
How do I want my readers to feel?
My favorite part is_____________.
Word Choice
Have I used some words that I really love?
Can my reader tell what my words mean?
Have I used any NEW words?
Did I try not to repeat words too many times?
Sentence Fluency
Did I use sentences?
Do my sentences begin in different ways?
Did I use some long and some short sentences?
Does my paper sound smooth as I listen to it?
Conventions-these are embedded within all 5 traits
Did I leave spaces between words?
Did I use a title?
Did I use periods or question marks?
Did I use capital letters in the right places?
Is it easy to read my spelling?
Could another person read my paper?
Writer's Workshop
Students are given the opportunity to write in a variety of genres to help foster a love of writing. Writing workshop allows to teachers to meet the needs of their students by differentiating instruction based on the information gathered throughout the workshop.
http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/literacy/writing_workshop.html
http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/literacy/writing_workshop.html
HANDWRITING
Handwriting Without Tears (HWT) parent resources
Handwriting Without Tears® aims to make legible and fluent handwriting an easy and automatic skill that students can master. A variety of resources are available to parents to practice Handwriting Without Tears in the home, in only 15 minutes per per day.
http://www.hwtears.com/hwt/parents
Create your own handwriting practice worksheet:
http://www.hwtears.com/hwt/online-tools/APLUS
Handwriting Without Tears® aims to make legible and fluent handwriting an easy and automatic skill that students can master. A variety of resources are available to parents to practice Handwriting Without Tears in the home, in only 15 minutes per per day.
http://www.hwtears.com/hwt/parents
Create your own handwriting practice worksheet:
http://www.hwtears.com/hwt/online-tools/APLUS