Strategies for Teaching the 6 Traits

Contributor

Strategy

Susan Osvald

After lots of exposure and experiences reading/listening to good examples, students could write about the same event from different points of view.

For example, a really big dog comes up to you in your yard. How would you tell about it if:

• You love dogs and want a big one of your own.
• You are afraid of dogs.
• You are dressed up to go to a wedding.
• You are a much younger child.
• You are your dad.
• You are a really old person.
  

Susan Osvald

Provide examples of bland "voiceless" writing, then rewrite. Do as a group activity first, then as an independent writing exercise.

Example: Our neighbors have a new car. It's a nice white minivan. I wish we had one. I will get to ride to school with Timmy in it next week.

Rewrite: Our neighbors brought home a new sparkly white-like-teeth minivan last night. It's cool. Timmy told me he'd show me how the moonroof works when I ride to school with them next week. My mom said that's just what they need. My dad said, "I wonder how much that set them back?"

Brian Napier

• Read Stringbean's Trip to the Shining Sea by Vera B. Williams, in which Stringbean sends postcards, full of details from his personal point of view, home to his family while he is on a trip.
• Students write postcards they might have sent if they had accompanied Stringbean.
• Students write what characters from other stories might write in a letter or postcard to a friend, or another character in the story.