Using the 6+1 Traits of Writing

Today I’m talking about using the 6+1 Traits of Writing.  Why do I teach with
the Traits?

• It works perfectly with the B.C. Curriculum.  
• Students get
  it.  
• It breaks the writing process down into steps we can layer up all
  year.  

That means writing doesn’t seem like such a large task.  And that
means, kids will usually write more because they feel a whole lot less
overwhelmed.  Sounds pretty good to me!

Here is the writing board in my classroom.  A large portion of it is
taken up by my 6 Traits checklist.  As the year goes on, and we introduce new pieces, it fills up and serves as a giant criteria list.  The blank space to the left is where I add pieces specific to a current focus (figurative language, punctuation, etc.)

You don’t need to have a board
dedicated to the Traits if you teach with the Traits.  I do for two
reasons:

1) I have the space.

2) It serves a giant checklist students can self assess their writing on that builds through the year as we learn new elements.

You’ll often hear me say “just because we are working on —–, don’t
forget all the other pieces we already know”.  A quick scan of the board and students know exactly what I’m looking for in their writing.

(Download that awesome “What do Writers Write?” pencil here!)

VOICES?

Why does it say “Use your writing VOICES?”.  Well, VOICES is an acronym for the Traits.

V- Voice

O- Organization

I – Ideas

C- Conventions

E- Excellent Word Choice

S- Sentence Fluency

They are now promoting 6+1 Traits and the +1 is Presentation.  That didn’t make it to my board…. but we do discuss it often.

When I was starting out with the Traits, I wasn’t sure where to go for
resources.  Here are some of my favourites to help you out:

“Using Picture Books to Teach Writing With the Traits” is an excellent
resource.  Even though I teach grade 4, I still use it.  They give you a
scripted lesson plan for every trait as well as several other picture
books that fit the trait and how you could use them to inspire writing. 
I use their examples and then extend on it for my bigger kids.

Here are my favourite picture book for for each trait:

Voice

The story of the 3 Little Pigs told through the Wolf’s perspective. 
Gives students a chance to think about the other side of things, and,
it’s funny.

Organization

Or any of the “If you Give a…” books.  I love how they are cyclic. 
You really have to think ahead to write one of these stories.  Good
cause and effect too.

Okay, I picked two for organization.  Scaredy books are organized in a different way.  I love all the charts and diagrams.  

Ideas

This book is a favourite for many reasons.  It is so touching.  The boy
in this story is searching for the answer to what a memory is.  So many
beautiful answers are given to him.

Conventions

This book uses two words.  Yo! and Yes?  You can talk about how the
punctuation helps imply more language than is given.  I also like to
teach inferring with this book.

Excellent Word Choice

Max collects words.  Although some of his words are basic, he collects
some powerful ones as well.  The author uses descriptive language
throughout this book.

Sentence Fluency

I like to teach sentence fluency with poetry, because Jack’s poems have
such a good flow.  They just roll off your tongue when you read them. 
And, they are hilarious.

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