1. The Six Traits of Writing
Presented by Lisa Svoboda
August 15, 2014

2. The Six Traits of Writing
What is it?
It IS a systematic approach for looking at writing one part at a time.
It IS a scoring guide or tool for writing.
It IS a shared vocabulary for teachers and students.
It IS an instrument teachers can use to provide accurate and reliable feedback to students and to help guide instruction.
It IS a research based writing model.
It is NOT a program or curriculum.
Its IS a set of tools.

3. The Six Traits of Writing
Why?
We cannot wait until 3rd and 4th grade to start teaching writing.
We must begin using a common vocabulary to discuss writing.
The only way to improve our writing scores is to begin teaching writing in Pre-K and carry it through ALL grade levels and across ALL subject areas. Writing is NOT just the writing teacher’s job!
The TEKS say we have to!

4. The Six Traits of Writing At a Glance
Ideas
Organization
Voice
Word Choice
Fluency
Conventions

5. The Six Traits—Ideas IDEAS
The ideas are the heart of the message, the content of the piece, the main theme, along with the details that support the main idea or theme.
It is developmentally appropriate to begin teaching this trait in Pre-K and Kindergarten and continue to build with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade.
Key Areas to Focus on with Elementary Students:
*Main message and LOTS of details!
*Choose a seed NOT a watermelon.

6. The Six Traits—Ideas Activities to teach ideas:
Give students a basic picture and ask them to draw in additional details. For example, a beach scene with water, sand, and sun only. Ask students draw in details such as birds, children playing with a ball, a picnic, etc.
Ask students to brainstorm everyday giving them a new topic each time. Make lists!
Give students a broad topic (a watermelon) and ask them to make it more specific (a seed). Practice this several times a week.

7. The Six Traits--Ideas

8. The Six Traits--Organization
The internal structure of the piece of writing. It should include a beginning, middle, and end. The writing is appropriately organized, grouped, and sequenced.
It is developmentally appropriate to begin teaching this trait in Pre-K and Kindergarten and continue to build with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade.
Key Areas to Focus on with Elementary Students:
*Beginning (lead or hook), middle, end (conclusion)
*Transitional (time order) words (before, after)

9. The Six Traits--Organization
Activities to teach organization:
Begin teaching PreK students what the words beginning, middle, and end mean by using these terms while reading stories and throughout daily activities.
Teach students to use graphic organizers or webs to plan their writing ideas, BEFORE they actually begin writing.
Practice using transitional terms when writing sequential pieces, these can be VERY simple!
Teach students to write exciting leads and conclusions that leave the reader wanting MORE!

10. The Six Traits—Voice VOICE
Voice is the personality of the writer shining through.
It is developmentally appropriate to begin teaching this trait in Pre-K and Kindergarten and continue to build with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade.
Key Areas to Focus on with Elementary Students:
*Enthusiasm for writing
*Make sure writing shows the personality of the writer
*Encourage students’ voices (Dad, Daddy)

11. The Six Traits—Voice Activities to teach voice:
Teach students the term “personality.” Using a journal ask one personal question each week to help your students discover their personality.
Have students play “What’s in My Voice?” (Super Fun!)
Teach students the difference between formal (a nonfiction book) and informal writing (a letter to a relative).
Ask students to write a short story or sentence with personality and then ask others to guess who wrote the story based on the “voice” of the piece.

12. The Six Traits—Word Choice
Choosing just the right words so that writing sounds natural, but precise and is entertaining for the reader.
It is developmentally appropriate to begin teaching this trait in Pre-K and Kindergarten and continue to build with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade.
Key Areas to Focus on with Elementary Students:
*Using strong verbs (ran/raced)
*Avoiding “tired” words
“said is dead”

13. The Six Traits—Word Choice
Activities to teach word choice:
Use synonym activities to help students learn new words to use in their writing instead of tired words. For example using “raced” instead of “ran” or “gorgeous” instead of “pretty.”
Ask students to brainstorm lists of adjectives and adverbs to use in their writing.
Teach students to use similes and metaphors in their writing.
Ask students to describe an object by writing about it. Ask a partner to draw a picture of what the writer is describing. Did the picture accurately reflect what was written? Teach student to write with exact details.

14. The Six Traits—Fluency
The rhythm and flow of the writing. It should have variety, yet it should be smooth and easy to read aloud.
It is developmentally appropriate to begin teaching this trait in Pre-K and Kindergarten and continue to build with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade.
Key Areas to Focus on with Elementary Students:
*Using complete sentences! Teach students to be in the habit of reading EVERYTHING that they write aloud.
*Does it sound right???
*Expanding sentences to have variety in length and structure.

15. The Six Traits—Fluency
Activities to teach fluency:
Teach students to stretch sentences (tons of examples online), just Google “stretching sentences.”
Teach students the “Ba Da Bing” by Gretchen Bernabei.
Teach students to vary sentence structure.
Teach students to combine sentences.
Teach students to avoid run-on and rambling sentences.

16. The Six Traits—Conventions
The mechanical correctness of a piece of writing.
It is developmentally appropriate to begin teaching this trait in Pre-K and continue to build with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade.
Key Areas to Focus on with Elementary Students:
*Using capital letters and punctuation correctly in EVERY sentence.
*Practice editing sentences and stories and recognizing when something is not grammatically correct.

17. The Six Traits—Conventions
Activities to teach conventions:
Teach students to have an awareness for correct punctuation (not just with skills in isolation but actually practice editing their own writing).
Teach students the proper usage of capital letters (and hold them accountable in EVERYTHING they write).
Teach students about the correct usage of paragraphs and using indentions.
Teach students to read aloud what they have written to make sure it sounds correct.