Written by the pioneer of 6-trait writing, this Fourth Edition brings everything up to date, offering a comprehensive overview of the best education strategies and philosophies from the worlds of writing assessment and instruction. It provides clear guidelines on helping students draft, assess, and revise their writing, as well as explicit criteria to show students precisely what they must do to succeed as writers in virtually any situation. Widely used at the state level, school districts are incorporating the 6 traits into their state standards or assessments. This is the only book on the market that effectively helps teachers of writing prepare their students for success on state tests.

• New format and organization is designed to make the content clear and simple.
• New and revised checklists for genre-specific writing instruction to separate key elements in narrative writing, literary analysis, and persuasive writing.
• New and creative ways to use 6-trait writing in classrooms are explored - including adaptations for kinesthetic learners and second language learners.

Ringing Endorsements for CREATING WRITERS!

“Not only is Creating Writers the most comprehensive book ever on 6-trait writing instruction and assessment, it's also a practical, inspirational guide for any writing classroom. It's one of those rare professional books that both teachers and administrators read cover to cover, and you'll find the well-worn copies on their desks to prove it. This extensively revised edition, with voluminous examples from students and literature, draws the strongest link yet between writing assessment and instruction. No writing classroom should be without it.”

–Barry Lane

Author of After THE END: Teaching and Learning Creative Revision, The Reviser's Toolbox, and The Portfolio Sourcebook.

“Spandel has done it again! In Creating Writers, Fourth Edition, she shares her current thought and unparalleled skill, framed around the traits of writing. The originator once again inspires us with practical, enriched instruction and assessment applications–promising practices for teaching and learning at its zenith. On behalf of classroom teachers everywhere –Thank you, Vicki!”

–Dr. Donna Flood

Director of Staff Development and Instructional Improvement, Millard Public Schools, Omaha, NE

“If you're only going to read one book about teaching writing this year, make it Creating Writers. It's lively and fast-paced, filled cover to cover with practical help on using the six traits to enrich writing instruction and assessment, from one-on-one writing conferences to building craft lessons. This book gives you and your students a shared language with which to talk about writing. No writing teacher in America has done more than Vicki Spandel to show how to actually make writing workshops work. Whether you're a new teacher or a veteran, you'll find both inspiration and how-to-do-it strategies in Creating Writers. As an added bonus, you will find that the strategies detailed in this book prepare students for success on state writing assessments as well as for their journey as life-long writers.”

–Dr. Tommy Thomason, Head of Journalism

Texas Christian University, Ft. Worth, Texas

For more information on this book and related books, visit www.abprofessionaled.com.

Vicki Spandel

Creating Writers Through 6-Trait Writing: Assessment and Instruction, 5/e

From Vicki Spandel, the pioneer of 6-trait writing, this fifth edition of our market-leading resource brings everything up to date, offering a comprehensive overview of the best education strategies and philosophies of writing assessment and instruction. It provides clear guidelines on helping students draft, assess, and revise their writing, as well as explicit criteria to show students precisely what they must do to succeed as writers in virtually any situation. With its new lessons, updated rubrics, and inclusion of diverse learners, this book prepares teachers to guide their students to success on state tests and beyond. Give students the preparation they need to become writers for life!

Now teachers have access to a new multi-level, research-based series written for the second grade through eighth grade classroom that shows revision in action. Creating 6-Trait Revisers and Editors is the perfect complement to Vicki’s classic text, Creating Writers Through 6-Trait Writing! To learn more about the new series see the inside front cover.

“I cannot name another book that provides such relevant material that is so easy to incorporate into classroom teaching. This text delivers what it promises–it actually surpasses what it promises. A precious jewel for writing teachers!”

–Donna Horton, Hillcrest Middle School, Simpsonville, South Carolina

“Vicki Spandel has an authentic voice that speaks to people in the profession. [She] is the strongest part about the text: here is a teacher who really knows her stuff and is, above all, realistic and practical.”

–Tamara Doehring, Melbourne High School, Melbourne, Florida

Vicki Spandel has worked as a language arts teacher, editor, journalist, technical writer, and award winning video producer. Since her work developing the original, internationally recognized 6-Trait Model for writing assessment and instruction, she has served as scoring director for more than 75 state, county, and district writing assessments. Vicki is a frequent visitor in writing classrooms, providing coaching on writing, revision, and editing.  Her books include Creating Writers Through 6-Trait Writing and Creating Young Writers (Allyn and Bacon); The 9 Rights of Every Writer (Heinemann); and The Write Traits series (Great Source Education Group).

Vicki Spandel was co-director of the teacher team that developed the 6-trait model and has designed instructional writing materials for all grade levels, K through college.  She is the author of Creating Writers and Creating Young Writers (Pearson Education), The 9 Rights of Every Writer (Heinemann), and The Write Traits Classroom Kits (Great Source Education). Vicki is a former language arts teacher, journalist, technical writer, and scoring director for over 80 state and district writing assessments.

FORWORD.

PREFACE.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

Appendix 1. Copy for Posters.

Appendix 2. Millard Public Schools.

Appendix 3. The Pitcher.

Appendix 4. “Finnel Fruters.”