My new district focuses on 6 traits in Writer's Workshop. However, I am researching ways to allow the students to also focus on the mechanics. Has anyone used or heard of a program where the students use different colored pencils or pens for different parts of a paragraph? There is a program that I ran into called Step Up to Writing, but it is over a hundred dollars. I really dont want to buy the whole program, so if anyone can give any info that I can take and run with I would appreciate it! :thanks:
Are you wanting information on how to do Step Up to Writing? Our district has been using both SUtW and Writer's Workshop (seems to be moving towards a little more WW as the paragraphs that SUtW produce, although VERY organized and easy to put together, become a bit repetitive and not in the format that the benchmark wants.
Im not sure really. We use Writer's Workshop plus teach 6 Traits. The problem is, at least what I found during my student teaching, the kids write but do not seem to grasp the basic structure. I tried using graphic organizers, and that seemed to help some focus their structure but didnt do it for all of them and really was not as concrete as I would have liked. I read a little about the program. I think it would have to be as a starter until they have the structure and then can focus more on the traits, correct? I guess I am asking since you have the experience with the program is that how you see it? I see the importance of both, you cant have great paragraphs without building the structure yet you cant have great paragraphs on structure alone. It seems that there has to be a way to pull it all together. We have the Write Traits system for the 6 Traits, and I like it, but it does not deal with concrete structure enough in my opinion. Soooooo... I guess I am looking for opinions and information. Im searching on this, sorry.
What I have found in my classroom (2nd grade) is that I like to use Writer's Workshop for my narrative writing, poetry, etc... I think that the SUtW format lends itself to more expository writing (although I do have my students write informational narratives as well). Let me tell you how our school has done SUtW... We use different colored strips of paper (green, red, and yellow). The green strip is for the topic sentence and the conclusion at the bottom. The red strips are for different things that they want to tell about the topic sentence (one for each supporting sentence), and the yellows are for elaboration of their "red" sentences (one or more for each red). The students write their sentences on these strips, and then glue them to another piece of paper (I use construction paper) in the right order. Make sense? The students are taught to use a "Power Statement" in their topic sentence, which is usually just a number word. "There are several things I want to tell you about...." I've learned many things about......", etc... They are also taught to use transition words on the red strips. And on the conclusion strip they are taught to restate the topic sentence with a conclusion word. Here is an example of what I'm talking about: My family and I did many things on our summer vacation. (green strip) First, we went to the library to check out books. (red strip) One of my favorites was reading a book about Artemis Fowl. (yellow strip) Next, we went out to eat a lot with our friends. (red strip) I especially liked it when we went to the Olive Garden. (yellow strip) It was funny when Brandy's chicken was "jiggly"! (yellow strip) Finally, we went to Branson for a couple of days. (red strip) We went to see "Batman Begins" at the IMAX theater. (yellow strip) Wow! That was exciting! (yellow strip) As you can see, my family and I did many things on our summer vacation. (green strip) Even though we give our students a list of power, transition, and conclusion words, they tend to always use the same ones over and over again. You can see how this would make their writing seem very mechanical and repetitive. I do have to admit, though....I have 2nd graders who can write VERY organized sentences b/c of this method, but I agree that you can't use this method alone to teach writing...there's a time and a place for writing like this. Hope this helps! ps...I know I put the green strips in the right place, but I hope I didn't confuse the red/yellow ones. If the reds are supposed to be yellow and vice versa, I'll let you know
Thank you! I wouldnt think the colors matter so long as I maintain continuity throughout the time that we are using them. I just think it would be a visual way to start or reinforce the structure before we start working on the revising and creative aspects of writing. I teach fourth grade and it is amazing how many students do not know how to set up a paragraph!
Online writing program Has anyone used the writing program called 6 Trait Power Write? www.stepup4learning.com :thanks:
Never heard of that. We use Write Traits which teaches 6 traits. Is this a similar program to that? I looked at the website and it appears to be all online, correct?
Yes, but I watched the power point demo and it says all strategies may be printed so you could do a combination of online and working at desks. The demo took about 3 minutes to load but it was helpful once it opened.
