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CISD uses the 6 Trait Writing model.
For more information on 6 Traits, go to the following links.
Northwest Regional Education Laboratory
Writing Warm-up: Students begin everyday with writing. They are to write 1/2 to a whole page on the given topic in their composition book. Examples of topics:
| When I grow up... | Bubblegum | Hiking boots (Students could observe a pair of my hiking boots) |
| These are a few of my favorite things... | How I would help the world | If I were famous... |
| Places I've been | I'm the best at ... | Books |
| Why my mom is the best! | Why my dad is the best! | My hero... |
| If my house were on fire, I would grab ... | Write a definition of courage. | A friend is... |
| Write about a time you were scared. | How to make a friend | The best part of being an American is... |
| If I could change ... | My favorite birthday/Christmas present ever... | If kids ruled the world... |
| If I could break a Guiness World record... | Junk food | Ocean creatures |
| My chores | Cartoon characters I like...why? | My favorite time of day |
| If I were 5 years older... | My rules... | Red |
| College | I can... | Free time |
| I'll never eat another... | Creepy, crawly ... | If I were nocturnal ... |
| Peanut butter | When I can't sleep, I ... | I want to remember... |
| I want to forget ... | I love the taste of ... | I jumped in a pile of leaves and found ... |
| The biggest thing I ever saw was... | The best thing about fall is... | The worst thing about fall is... |
| I am thankful for ... | On the first Thanksgiving ... | I wish I had a million (blank), not dollars. |
| I have the most fun when... | My mom thinks I ... | The best month of the year is... |
| All at once the snow turned into ... | Oh no! Rudolph's nose has turned green! | My favorite holiday ... |
| Inside the box... | The best thing about winter is... | The worst thing about winter is... |
| The cool morning air made me... | My favorite family holiday tradition is... | During winter break I will... |
| Tis the season for... | My new year resolution... | Which are you more like: a snowflake or an avalanche? Why? |
| The best part of living in The Woodlands is... | If you could be any person in the world, who would you be? Why? | What is your favorite day of the week? Why? |
| If I could become invisible... | My 3 wishes | If I could live anywhere in the world... |
| I have a dream that... | If I could have any animal for a pet ... | Explain, "You are what you eat." |
| At the zoo... | Would you rather be a sculptor, painter or cartoonist? | I look/act like my mom/dad... |
| When I grow up I want to be like my mom/dad. Why? | Phil, the groundhog, saw his shadow and ... | When I don't feel good... |
| If I had $100, I would ... | On rainy days... | My house ... |
| When & how did you meet your best friend? | What is the nicest thing you've ever done for someone? | If I were President I would ... |
| When I opened the Valentine... | I think ... should be the next President, because ... | If I were teacher for a day, I would ... |
| If I were a superhero, my special powers would be... | I am glad that I am a boy/girl because ... | I am glad that I am a writer because... |
| I am glad that I am not an adult yet... | I am glad that I am a Texan because... | Which are you more like a lion or a lamb? Why? |
| Where would you go in a hot air balloon? | What can you do in spring; that you can't do in winter? | At the end of the rainbow... |
| During Spring Break, I will... | How do you decorate Easter eggs? | Imagine you had a pet rabbit. |
| Pretend you are a drop of rain. Describe your life. | Pretend you are a chocolate bunny that has come to life. | Pretend you are a butterfly coming out of your cocoon. |
| The kite flew away... | If you planned a party, what kind of party would you have? | My first business... |
| My fantasy birthday cake... | Plan the perfect picnic. | Pretend you are a baseball. Here's the pitch, a hit, and ... |
| Jackie Robinson was the first African-American baseball player. What would you like to be first to do? | Scientists have discovered a way for you to live on a cloud. What is life like now? | A friendly whale swims by and offers you a ride... |
| What can kids do to save the Earth? | What is the funniest book you have ever read? funniest movie you've watched? favorite comedian/comedienne? | What is your favorite restaurant/ meal? |
| What is the first thing you thought about this morning? | What is your very first memory? |
Writing Workshop: Based on the ideas of author, Lucy Calkins, our writing workshop has begun. Students are writing in their journals daily on a variety of topics. We have generated a list of "Strategies for Generating Personal Narrative Writing".
They include making a list of people who matter to you, choosing 1, listing small moments spent with that person, then writing a personal narrative about that small moment.
We have also explored the idea of writing about a place that matters to us.
Using an idea shared by author, Jack Gantos, we made a neighborhood map, then made a list of small moments that happened in the neighborhood, then chose one moment to write a personal narrative.
Another strategy, we will explore is chosing an object and using it to write a personal narrative.
Students have learned the difference between BIG watermelon topics vs. little seed stories. This idea will help them to focus their writing on the important events in their lives.
Recently, students learned how to add details of events to create a mental movie. This is another strategy to put in their writer's toolbox.
Writing Conferences: Students will participate in conferences with Mrs. Kahn and myself. They should be prepared to answer the following three questions:
- What are you working on as a writer?
- What are you trying to do as a writer?
- What will you do today in your writing?
"Paint a Picture with your words."
A strategy from Scholastic's Super Story-Writing Strategies & Activities by Barbara Mariconda & Dea Paoletta Auray. Students work on adding details to elaborate their writing and create "Descriptions That Dazzle!" To write detailed, effective descriptions, young authors should ask questions about color, size, texture, shape, material, age, condition, smell, sound, what it reminds you of, and physical features.
Recently students wrote a detailed description of their messy bedroom, then illustrated it.
Next, they will do the same with a spooky forest.
"Main Event"
After writing detailed descriptions of the setting and characters of their story, writers need to develop the main idea or plot. This should be the heart of their writing. Writers will learn how to elaborate by asking questions to "build and stretch" their writing with action, description, exclamation, thoughts and feelings.
Build Suspense
Students learned this week about "The Rule of 3".
This strategy is used to help build suspense and action in to their stories.
1. Make the character wonder
2. Don't reveal it - leave clues for the reader or dismiss clues
3. Reveal it!
Leads or Beginnings
If writers don't grab the attention of the reader, they are most likely going to put it down. Students can write effective beginnings by showing action.
ex. Describe going on a ride at Disney World
rather than the plane trip getting there.
Another way to begin a story is by having the main character exclaim or say something relevant to the story.
ex. "Can we go on the ride again?" the twins asked in unison.
A third way to begin a story is by sharing the thoughts or feelings of the main character.
ex. I was finally here. Disney World. I had been hoping, waiting, and dreaming of one day getting to visit the Magic Kingdom, since I was 5 years old.
Finally, writers can use a sound to grab the readers attention.
ex. Whoosh! went the roller coaster as it blazed past me. Thump! Thump! went my heart as I stood in line waiting for my turn.
Our mantra: When you think you're done, you've only just begun.
Watch out for Worn-Out Words!
big
good
stuff
small
pretty
great
fun
got
went
ran
very
said
Parents Guide to Writing
Word document from Mandy Gregory's website.
