When teaching writing to children in Grades K-2, it is especially important to reach them on familiar ground, such as through reading picture books aloud to them. Because children have significant experience with pictures and stories, it is easier to relate writing traits to these stimulae.
Our youngest writers need to know what they are doing well, be it drawing random scribbles on the page or writing several sentences, and what they need to do to take the next step. The use of traits enable teachers to show children how to break down their writing into parts so they can focus their attention on building the skills that make their writing strong.
Author and writing expert Ruth Culham introduces new teaching lessons within the Trait Crate series for Grades K-2. Each grade specific Trait Crate has picture books, teaching guides, a music CD, posters, and the professional book Using Picture Books to Teach Writing. The sample lessons in this collection teach the traits of Organization, Voice, Ideas, and Sentence Fluency with a different picture book.
Check out the Idea Song from Trait Crate CD for use with the lesson on Ideas.
Articles
Teaching Organization Using Red-Eyed Tree Frog
A sample lesson focusing on organization — the framework that holds writing together — using the Red-Eyed Tree Frog picture book
Teaching Organization Using A Busy Year
The Trait Crate for Grade 2 contains picture books to teach the traits of writing. This sample lesson uses the trait of organization using "A Busy Year". Organization is the framework that holds writing together.
Teaching Organization Using I Am America
The Trait Crate for Kindergarten introduces children to writing using a Organization is the structure that holds writing together. This sample lesson shows how the picture book and related materials can help children learn to organize their writing.
Teaching the Trait of Ideas Using My Chair
In this sample lesson for kindergartners, the writing trait of Ideas is taught using the book My Chair.
Teaching Sentence Fluency Using Whales Passing
Teaching the Trait of Voice Using Alice the Fairy
Voice is what primary writers use to assert their own way of looking at an idea. Voice can permeate writing, regardless of where the writer falls on the developmental continuum.
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- Subjects:Writing
