Using Literature to Teach the Traits

Indian River County Schools Sebastian ElementaryKaty Bartolini(772)978-8231katy.bartolini@indianriverschools.org

Introduction

Using the 6 Traits of Writing and incorporating literature to model the traits.

These skills and strategies are used daily to reinforce writing skills.

Using technology to enhance the writing curriculum.

Agenda

Teaching the traits of writing literature ● Ideas ● Organization● Voice● Word Choice● Sentence Fluency● Conventions

Writer’s Workshop includes 4 main components Modeled Writing Independent Writing Conferencing Sharing

Teaching technology through writing projects. Publishing Station Writing Station

Overview

Writers will become Readers and Readers will become Writers

Share

Words

Edit

PairThink

Write

Model

ReadDraw

Vocabulary

Ideas – attention to detail, tells the whole story.

Organization – pictures and text go together,

the piece has a beginning, middle, and end

Voice – writer’s passion for the topic Word Choice – builds a picture for the

reader Sentence Fluency – sentences vary in

structure and length. Conventions – Capitalization, punctuation,

grammar

Writing Activity

Book - Where the Wild Things Are by: Maurice Sendak

discuss traits that compliment the book

use materials on the table to create your own “Wild Thing”.

write a story describing your adventures if you were a “Wild Thing.”

Literature to Teach the Traits

Ideas• If Dogs were Dinosaurs by David M.

Schwartz• Out of the Ocean by Debra Frasier• Owen by Kevin Henkes

Organization• I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff• Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt• How the Grinch Stole Christmas! By Dr.

Seuss

Literature to Teach the Traits

Voice• The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant • The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle• When Sophie Gets Angry-Really, Really

Angry by Molly Bang Word Choice

• Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor• Piggie Pie by Margie Palatini• The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by Nancy

Winslow Parker

Literature to Teach the Traits

Sentence Fluency• The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown• Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag• Hey, Al by Yorinks

Conventions• Duck on a Bike by David Shannon• Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle• Alexander & the Terrible Horrible, No

Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

Make and Take Activity 1

April Shower’s Mobile – Publishing Station● Trace and cut out a white cloud.● Trace and cut out nine blue raindrops.● Trace and cut out three red flowers.● Trace and cut out three green stems.● Glue three white strips to the cloud.● Glue the raindrops to the strips.● Glue a flower and stem to the bottom of each

strip. April Poem – Computer Station

● Type the poem you found about the month of April.

● Glue it onto your April Mobile.

Make and Take Activity 2

Butterfly Mobile – Publishing Station• Use the templates to cut out the butterfly shapes from

blue, yellow, and pink paper. Also cut 2 each of the large and small circles from each color.

• Lay out the 3 butterflies and position the spots so there are contrasting colors on each one as shown.

• Punch 2 holes in each butterfly as marked on the templates.

• Thread the yarn through the butterflies.

Butterfly Poem – Computer Station• Write your Haiku Poem• Attach your poem to one of your butterflies on

your mobile.

Make and Take Activity 3

Ladybug Activity – Publishing Station• Trace and cut out 3 body parts, 6 legs and 2

antenaes.• Glue the body parts together and attach the

writing paper.• Go to Mrs. Bartolini and she will attach the

wings.• Write about a time

Make and Take Activity 4

Short Vowel Sounds Sort – Textbook Station• Take out a piece of paper. Fold it like a hot dog. • Label each side with e and o.• Cut out the pictures.• Say the picture out loud and see if you can hear

the short e or short o sound.• Glue the picture on the correct side of your

paper.• Color the pictures.

Summary

Model the skills you wish to teach the children once a week during Writing Workshop.

The other days of the week, teach a mini-lesson using the traits before individual writing time.

The children NEED to write daily in a journal. They need to have a conference with the teacher 2-3 times a week.

Provide the tools necessary to help their writing grow.

Build the children’s writing skills at their own pace.

Writing is successful when you start the children at their own individual level and build on their skills from there.

Where to Get More Information

Resource Books Wee can Write by Northwest Regional

Educational Laboratory Using Picture Books to Teach Writing With the

Traits by Ruth Culham & Raymond Coutu Seeing with New Eyes by Northwest Regional

Educational laboratory picture books by Northwest Regional

Educational Laboratory Just Write: All Year Long Kindergarten by

Kathryn Robinson Never Too Early To Write by Bea Johnson Teaching the Youngest Writers by Marcia S.

Freeman