Turning Criticisms to 'I" Comments

I am using Spandel's Creating Writers 6 Traits, Process, Workshop, and Literature 6th Edition in my upcoming online class: Teaching and Assessing Writing with the 6th Traits.  This is a graduate course offered by the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Part of our time is spent assessing sample papers and writing feedback. I'll use this chart to emphasize the need to convert criticism to "I" comments.

NEW! 6-Traits Resources Digital Magazine

I've launched a new digital magazine as part of my ongoing project to broadcast great resources about writing and the 6-Traits. This magazine format is easy to read and will open your ideas to many new sites and ideas.  Below is a brief glimpse at the latest topics I've posted.  Visit and click follow if you'd like to be informed when new content is posted.

I hope all of the loyal followers of this blog, also become followers of the new magazine.  I'd also love to get suggestions from all of you.

Here's where you can contribute:

• Here on the 6-Traits Resources Blog
• 6-Traits Resources Digital Magazine
• 6-Traits Resources Facebook Page

I hope to hear your voice!  Here, there,everywhere!  ~ Dennis

Fall 2011: Online Class: Teaching and Assessing Writing with the 6-Traits

EDUC 744 3 graduate credits 

EDUC 744 920 Elem (PK-4) 3 graduate credits September 26 – November 18, 2011
 
EDUC 744 909 Middle School-Adult 3 graduate credits September 26 – November 18, 2011

SYLLABUS

Course Information     Registration

Learn to teach and assess writing with the 6-Traits of writing
(voice, ideas, word choice, organization, sentence fluency and conventions). Learn to use the 6-Traits with the writing process to teach revision strategies. Help learners meet higher standards and improve test scores.

What students are saying:

 "I began this course thinking of myself as something of a blank slate with regards to the teaching of writing. I felt that writing was often a hit or miss proposition in my classroom. Today I see that while there are certainly holes in my second grade writing instruction, I'm actually doing more then I thought. I'm not starting from square #1. Today I'm able to categorize and organize what I'm already doing, plus add new things, using the framework of the 6 traits."

"I feel very fortunate to be taking a course like this so early in my teaching career. Someone mentioned to me recently that while there are many great ideas within the 6 trait model, it's easy to slip back into one's old ways of doing things. Perhaps I'm lucky in that I have no old ways to slip back into."

"I've had several important realizations as a result of work we've done these past weeks. The first is the specific connections that I now make between reading and writing. Naturally I was always aware that a connection existed. I knew on some level that reading to my kids was beneficial to their writing development. But too often the reading was undirected and without a plan. Today I have an arsenal of literature with which I can model, discuss, and teach specific traits in a focused way. And I don't have to teach writing alone. I now have the great authors of the world to help me. I can point to a piece of literature and say to my kids, "Take a look at what this author has done. We can do something similar in our own writing."

I've been teaching this course online for almost ten years.  It remains my favorite course because I get to help teachers from around the world transform their thinking about teaching writing.  Join us!  It's a remarkable experience in community, sharing, and new learning! ~ Dennis O'Connor

Facebook and 6-Traits Time to make the connection!

Find great writing contacts on Facebook!

I've just setup a page on Facebook. You'll find the 6-Traits Resources page here.  


Please drop by and click LIKE?  ~ Den

Corbett Harrison's Facebook Page 

The National Writing Project Digital Writing Page

National Writing Project  Digital IS

Be sure to check out the Digital IS webpage as well!

Vicki Spandel and Jeff Hicks on Facebook 6-Trait Gurus  


Don't miss their new SixTraitsGurus Blog

National Writing Project - Help Keep It Alive!

NWP's web resources are spectacular.  Join for NWP Interactive  Free!

WritingFix Writing Traits for Primary Writers

By now I'm sure you're all familiar with the WritingFix website. It is a treasure trove.  I encourage you all to bookmark the site as your Primary Resource! 

Here is a link to WritingFix's  Writing Traits: Traits for Primary Writers.

This is a Nevada Print Guide and Teacher Workshops sharing materials from Northern Nevada's teacher inservices and print guide.

There are many lessons and resources for Primary Writers on this page.  I also want to direct your attention to: Six By Six: Traits Writing for Little Writers.   This inexpensive book offers thirty-six writing lessons (six lessons for each of the six traits...six by six).

Also consider joining the Primary Teacher's Group on the Writing Lesson of the Month Ning. (There are 12,000+ Teachers on this network!)

In our online class, Teaching and Assessing Writing with the 6-Traits,  we quickly develop a community of practice dedicated to sharing ideas, resources and methods about the 6-Traits.  By the end of the course teachers know how powerful a like minded community can be.

WritingFix and their online groups will help any teacher seeking to improve their writing instruction find a supportive online community.

Join and online community of writing teachers! It's free and who knows where it will lead?  8-)