Developing writing traits...
As children learn to write fluently and correctly, they can begin to learn to express themselves with style and communicate more clearly. There are six writing traits that they need to develop:
Ideas
Why
it is important
- This is the content that makes the piece of writing what it is.
How we can help.
- Model brainstorming techniques to generate ideas.
- Ask questions to prompt the child to explain ideas more thoroughly.
Sentence Fluency
Why it is important
- Sentence fluency is putting words together into sentences that sound good together--they flow nicely when they are read.
How we can help.
- Practice making sentences of different lengths. For example, join sentences together or make one sentence into two. Add more details or take some out. Talk about how this makes the sentence sound.
- Point out how good writing uses many different types of sentences and that helps it sound better.
Word Choice
Why it is important
- Word choice is using the right word that conveys what the writer is trying to say--in a very specific and clear way.
How we can help.
- Look at synonyms for some common words. Talk about the nuances of each. Practice some examples of each.
- Discuss with the child a few specific words in his or her writing that might be made more specific.
- Teach children to make some kind of an outline before they write. This will help them keep their writing organized.
Organization
Why it is important
- Organization is how a piece of writing is put together. It is the structure that helps the reader understand.
How we can help.
- Teach children to make some kind of an outline before they write. This will help them keep their writing organized.
Visualizing
Why it is important
- Good readers make a picture in their minds of what they are reading.
How we can help.
- Read descriptive writing together. Poetry works well for this. Pick out the words that help you make a picture.
- Draw a picture of what you imagine.
Voice
Why it is important
- Voice is the personality of the writing. It could be witty, direct, flowery, persuasive, (and many, many other styles).
How we can help.
- Model writing things with different types of voice.
- Read pieces of writing with different types of voice and discuss what makes them so.
- Discuss a topic that the children really care about. Have the children say outloud what they are going to write first. Often they will use a better voice in telling what they want to say. Then help them capture that emotion on the page.
Conventions
Why it is important
- Spelling
- Punctuation
- Capitalization
- Paragraphing
- Grammar
How we can help.
- Teach the children to look for mistakes in their own writing. Show them a piece of writing you have done where you have intentionally made some mistakes. Let them correct your writing.
To see all of the skills in the transitional reading and writing stage, click on the links below
Reading Fluency
Reading Comprehension
Oral Language
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