6+1 Writing Traits

1. 6+1 Writing Traits • Christina Hataway • christina_hataway @hcpss.org • Elementary Technology Teacher • Waverly Elementary School • Howard County Nancy Ennis nancy_ennis@hcpss.org Technology Resource Teacher Office of Media and Educational Technologies Howard County

2. Outcomes By the end of this session, participants will have: • An understanding of the 6 + 1 Writing Traits • Explored a variety of technology activities supporting the 6 + 1 Writing Traits • Access to ready-to-use activities for teaching the 6+1 Writing Traits with technology.

3. 6 & 1 Writing Trait/Technology Activities and Examples Websites http://staff.howard.k12.md.us/~nancyen http://home.comcast.net/~nennis

4. Agenda • Introduction of 6 + 1 Writing Traits • Examples of Writing Traits templates using technology • Questions?

5. What are the 6 + 1 traits? • Ideas • Organization • Word Choice • Sentence Fluency • Voice • Conventions • Presentation

6. Trait 1: Idea Development • Having quality details is more important than having quantity details • Unique idea or approach is being written about • Bigger topics are supported by sub-topics • Writing centers around a main idea http://writingfix.com/Traits.htm

7. What is my message? Is my message clear? Did I try hard to make it interesting? Do I have enough information?

8. Trait 1: Idea Development • Inspiration • Rapid Fire brainstorming • About Me, About Me, Fancy • Digital Images: focusing • Sea Lions • Sea Lion

9. Trait 2: Organization • Strong introduction to the piece of writing • Writing comes to a satisfying conclusion • Transitions are used to move the idea along logically • Paragraphs are written with purpose • Introduction somehow links back to the conclusion • Title the piece effectively http://writingfix.com/Traits.htm

10. How does my paper begin? Did I tell things in order? Does everything link to my message? How does my paper end?

11. Trait 2: Organization • Word • Storyboard(podcasts) • Kidspiration: • Ideas using images (images from Google Images) • Frog • Outlining feature • Ideas using phrases • Spider brainstorming • Spiders • Venn Diagram/ Graphic Organizers • (KidPix, Inspiration, Word)

12. Trait 3: Word Choice • Understands the importance of strong verbs • Understands the importance of precise nouns • Understands the importance of interesting adjectives • Takes risks with words • Alliteration or other types of sound devices http://writingfix.com/Traits.htm

13. Have I used words that I really love? Have I used any newwords? Did I try not to repeat words too many times? Can my reader tell what my words mean?

14. Trait 3: Word Choice • Internet: • www.thesaurus.com (Website) • www.dictionary.com (Website) • Dictionary/thesaurus (Word) • SIRS Discoverer (Website) http://www.visuwords.com/(Website) • Editing activities (Word)

15. Trait 4: Sentence Fluency • Variety of transitions are used • Variety of sentence beginnings are used • Variety of sentence lengths are used • When reading the writing aloud, the words sound natural • Complex and simple sentences are used to promote rhythm in the language http://writingfix.com/Traits.htm

16. Did I use sentences? Do my sentences begin in different ways? Does my paper sound smooth when I listen to it? Did I use some short and some long sentences?

17. Trait 4: Sentence Fluency • Audio Recorder • My First Day • Power Point • Record narration for fluency • Book Review (ppt) • Audacity/Garageband • Student Podcasts • Clemens Crossing Elementary School • Willowdale Elementary School

18. Trait 5: Voice • Awareness of an audience • Passion towards the topic • Devices of style (such as figurative language), when appropriate • Capture a tone or mood (including humor) with words, when appropriate • Awareness of perspective and point-of-view http://writingfix.com/Traits.htm

19. Do I really like this writing? Does this writing sound like me? How do I want my readers to feel? My favorite part is ______.

20. Trait 5: Voice • PowerPoint • Dog Book • dialog • Secret Knowledge of Grownups • Flipper Page

21. Trait 6: Conventions • Correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and usage • Effective paragraphing that strengthens the structure of the piece • Use of conventions that adds style and supports the reader’s understanding of the text http://writingfix.com/Traits.htm

22. Did I leave spaces between words? Did I use a title? Did I use periods or question marks? Is it easy to read my spelling? Could another person read my paper

23. Trait 6: Conventions • Wiki • Eats, Shoots, and leaves • Word • Spelling • Capitalization • Excel • If/then

24. +1: Presentation • Audio Recording (Audio Recorder) • Audio CD (iTunes) • Mother’s Day Poems • Podcast (Audacity) • http://www.podcastforteachers.org/Who'sUsingPodcastingInEducationAndHow.htm#examples • http://www.apple.com/education/profiles/wells/ • http://learninginhand.com/podcasting/ • Slide Show (PowerPoint) • Wiki or Blog • Webpage • Brochure, Book Jacket (Word)

25. Book Ideas for 6+1 Writing Traits Conventions • Punctuation Takes a Vacation by Robin Pulver • Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss Voice • At The Dog Park with Sam and Lucy by Daisy Bix Sentence Fluency • Wolf by Sara Fenilli Word Choice • No Thumpin', No Bumpin', No Rumpus Tonight! by Nancy Patz • Hooray for You! by Marrianne Richmond Word Choice/ Sentence Fluency • Pumpernickel Tickle and Mean Green Cheese by Nancy Patz • Thesaurus Rex by Laya Steinberg Sentence Fluency/ Conventions • Toot and Puddle by Holly Hobbie • Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups by David Wisniewski