Synopses & Reviews
Build young writers’ competence and confidence with Vicki Spandel’s 6-Trait approach!
In this widely used book, new and experienced K—3 teachers get the most comprehensive guide available to using the highly popular six-traits approach to writing. Well-respected author Vicki Spandel presents an in-depth look at the writing process and how it connects to the six traits, while encouraging teachers to write continuously with students and model their own personal writing process. The book is a goldmine of activities, strategies, and lesson ideas ideal for use in the K—3 classroom or as part of a study group.
The treasured resource for fostering early writing skills just got better!
A total reorganization makes this new third edition even easier for teachers to work with. Vicki Spandel walks readers through trait-based instruction from Day 1, and presents information in a way that makes it understandable and accessible for teachers. Here’s what’s new:
· NEW! All information pertaining to a given trait–rubrics, papers, lessons, and book recommendation–appears in one place.
· NEW! Primary writing guides have been revised to make assessment easy.
· NEW! Advanced writing guides for young writers who are ready are now included.
· NEW! Trait-inspired lessons systematically build skills in prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing.
· NEW! Brand new book recommendations include suggestions for linking reading and writing.
· NEW! New lessons specifically designed to make modeling simple and comfortable–even for new teachers.
· NEW! Each new sample paper has its own lessons to teach.
· NEW! Specific suggestions show how to make workshop and process work in your particular teaching style.
· NEW! New and expanded discussion questions and activities at the end of each chapter make this edition ideal for use as a classroom or study group text.
· NEW! Keys to Success suggestions embedded within each chapter help teachers make the most of every strategy or lesson.
“In Creating Young Writers, Vicki shows teachers how to look at any piece of writing and focus on the power and strengths within. The shared language of the craft she creates with terms like organization, leads, fluency, detail, and many others offers students and teachers both increased understanding of how writing works and a sense of control over that writing. Knowing the craft helps keep the ball in their court. It builds confidence–one of the best foundations for skill . . . .
In this book, you will find numerous samples of fiction and nonfiction books to help you and your students learn from master authors. In addition, you’ll find practical writing lessons that combine traits with writing process, and numerous authentic student samples that show ideas, voice, fluency, and other features of strong writing emerging in the work of our very youngest writers. At a time in the United States where mandated testing has tempted too many of our veteran and first-year teachers to turn to formulaic writing instruction for quick answers, Creating Young Writers comes as a precious antidote: real writing instruction that can motivate students and boost test scores without deadening spirits.
Vicki Spandel is a writer who teaches writing. If you read her book carefully and follow its philosophy, you are likely to find yourself going further as a writing teacher than you ever dreamed you could. As the title suggests, you will create a class of writers, and one important member of that class will be you.”
– From the Foreword by Barry Lane
“If you believe that writing can rock the world, then this is your book. If you believe primary students are writers, that they communicate important ideas through their words and art, this is your book. If you can hardly wait to see and hear what your writers have to tell you next, then this is your book. Welcome to a celebration of primary writing.”
– From the Preface by Vicki Spandel
Review
Third Time’s a Charm
Is it possible that one book could serve as a quick, easy to use resource for just about everything a primary teacher needs to know about writing instruction? After reading Vicki Spandel’s Creating Young Writers: Using the Six Traits to Enrich Writing Process in Primary Classrooms (3rd ed.), I’m starting to think this might be the one. True to form, Spandel continues to open our eyes to the most important concepts about teaching writing, but in the third edition of this trusted resource, she does so while seamlessly weaving the six traits together with the components of writing workshop, writing process, and authentic literature.
In this edition, we encounter Spandel’s familiar voice of knowledge and reason, as she takes us back to the roots of the six traits, clearing away the cobwebs collecting on those old rubrics and inviting us (giving us permission?) to celebrate real, true writing in all its forms - and in the products of our young writers . In doing so, she reminds us that – as valuable as rubrics and terminology may be - our best instructional decisions still rest in the hearts and writing of the children sitting in front of us every day. To readers of Spandel’s other works, this will come as no surprise.
So, then, what’s new in the 3rd edition? Lots! For starters, the entire book has been redesigned, making it more user friendly than ever, and the organizational structure is completely different. In this edition, everything about a single trait is grouped together, making finding specific information faster and easier. Two chapters are dedicated to each of the six traits – one that clarifies the trait followed by a chapter that gives practical ideas for integrating it into your workshop and process instruction. Spandel scaffolds our own learning as she shows us how to model writing and highlights what we need to look for (and say!) when exploring the concepts of each trait with our learners. Spandel includes a new feature - perfectly placed side bar notes called “Keys to Success” - where she shares useful tips and thoughts to help you stay focused and on target. You’ll also notice stronger conversations about the writing process and the writing workshop sprinkled throughout the new edition. And, if you’re like me, you’ll appreciate the revised primary writing guides and continuums as well as the addition of writing guides for our youngest writers who aren’t yet ready for the traditional ones from the second edition.
Reading the 3rd edition of Creating Young Writers is like revisiting an old friend who’s just back from college. The same, familiar companion, but wiser for the time away. Updated with new sample papers, book recommendations, and study group reflections, this book is a must have. Whether you’re new to writing instruction or you’re checking back in for a tune up, you’ll feel an instant connection with an author who knows her stuff and knows how to deliver it well. And, when she’s done, you’ll walk away content that you’ve invested your valuable time wisely and empowered to apply your new learning to your daily writing instruction.
Terry Thompson Instructional Intervention Teacher Windcrest Elementary North East ISD San Antonio, Texas
A Must Have
You'll want to place the name of this brand new title at the top of your holiday shopping list: "must have." This book is the perfect gift for the professional library of individuals who work with young children. Vicki Spandel's latest and greatest work once again reflects Vicki's masterful skills when writing about writing. What a talent! She's created an easy-to-follow format so that the textual organization makes learning about the traits almost easy--enjoyable, entertaining, exciting. New samples of student writing (sometimes with original art) permeate various explanations and narratives throughout the text.
One of the greatest assets you'll find in the 3rd Edition: new writing guides designed to make assessment at primary level both easy and age-appropriate. Along with more emphasis on children's literature using various trade books from Vicki's workshops, this text will prove to be very beneficial to you within the context of a number of scenarios: if you are a professional educator or para-educator involved in instructing young children; a day-care provider working with little ones; a staff developer needing support for early childhood workshops; a principal wanting to enhance your school's professional library; or if you are the leader of a study team wanting to learn how to do a better job of teaching writing at the primary level. Creating Young Writers will fill the bill and provide you with invaluable insights about teaching writing to young children! Enjoy your learning! Vicki makes the journey fun!
Donna Flood
Part-time Faculty
Capella University
Minneapolis, MN
Synopsis
Creating Young Writers: Using the Six Traits to Enrich Writing Process in Primary Classrooms, Third Edition, gives new and experienced K—3 teachers the most comprehensive guide available to using the highly popular six-traits approach to writing. Well-respected author Vicki Spandel presents an in-depth look at the writing process and how it connects to the six traits, while encouraging them to write continuously with students and model their own personal writing process. The book is a goldmine of activities, strategies, and lesson ideas ideal for use in the K—3 classroom or as part of a study group.
Synopsis
Creating Young Writers: Using the Six Traits to Enrich Writing Process in Primary Classrooms , 3/e gives new and experienced K-3 teachers the most comprehensive guide available to using the highly popular six-traits approach to writing. Well-respected author Vicki Spandel presents an in-depth look at the writing process and how it connects to the six traits, while encouraging them to write continuously with students and model their own personal writing process. The book is a goldmine of activities, strategies, and lesson ideas ideal for use in the K-3 classroom or as part of a study group.
Here s what s new:
.
NEW All information pertaining to a given trait rubrics, papers, lessons, and book recommendation
appears in one place.
.
NEW Primary writing guides have been revised to make assessment easy.
.
NEW Advanced writing guides for young writers who are ready are now included.
.
NEW Trait-inspired lessons systematically build skills in prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing.
.
NEW Brand new book recommendations include suggestions for linking reading and writing.
.
NEW New lessons specifically designed to make modeling simple and comfortable even for new teachers.
.
NEW Each new sample paper has its own lessons to teach.
.
NEW Specific suggestions show how to make workshop and process work in your particular teaching style.
.
NEW New and expanded discussion questions and activities at the end of each chapter make this edition ideal for use as a classroom or study group text.
.
NEW Keys to Success suggestions embedded within each chapter help teachers make the most of every strategy or lesson.
"
Synopsis
KEY BENEFIT Gives new and experienced K--3 teachers practical, detailed information, and the most comprehensive guide to using the highly popular six-traits approach to writing.
KEY TOPICS Understanding the six traits, keys to good writing, using writing workshop effectively, connecting the traits to writing process, teaching voice, teaching ideas, teaching organization, teaching word choice, teaching sentence fluency, teaching conventions and presentation, and assessing young writers.
MARKET New and experienced K--3 teachers.
Synopsis
Creating Young Writers: Using the Six Traits to Enrich Writing Process in Primary Classrooms , 3/e gives new and experienced K-3 teachers the most comprehensive guide available to using the highly popular six-traits approach to writing. Well-respected author Vicki Spandel presents an in-depth look at the writing process and how it connects to the six traits, while encouraging them to write continuously with students and model their own personal writing process. The book is a goldmine of activities, strategies, and lesson ideas ideal for use in the K-3 classroom or as part of a study group.
Here’s what’s new:
· NEW! All information pertaining to a given trait–rubrics, papers, lessons, and book recommendation–appears in one place.
· NEW! Primary writing guides have been revised to make assessment easy.
· NEW! Advanced writing guides for young writers who are ready are now included.
· NEW! Trait-inspired lessons systematically build skills in prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing.
· NEW! Brand new book recommendations include suggestions for linking reading and writing.
· NEW! New lessons specifically designed to make modeling simple and comfortable–even for new teachers.
· NEW! Each new sample paper has its own lessons to teach.
· NEW! Specific suggestions show how to make workshop and process work in your particular teaching style.
· NEW! New and expanded discussion questions and activities at the end of each chapter make this edition ideal for use as a classroom or study group text.
· NEW! Keys to Success suggestions embedded within each chapter help teachers make the most of every strategy or lesson.
About the Author
Vicki Spandel has worked as a language arts teacher, researcher, editor, journalist, technical writer, and award winning video producer. In 1984, Vicki coordinated the 17-member teacher team out of Beaverton, Oregon, that developed the original, internationally recognized 6-trait model for writing assessment and instruction. Since that time, she has served as scoring director for more than 80 state, county, and district writing assessments, and has developed instructional writing materials for students K through college. She is a frequent visitor in writing classrooms, providing coaching on writing, revision, and editing.
Vicki is the author or co-author (with Jeff Hicks) of more than 30 books for teachers and students, including Creating Young Writers, 2nd Edition (2008, Allyn and Bacon), The 9 Rights of Every Writer (2005, Heinemann), The Write Traits Classroom Kits, Grades 1 through 8 (Great Source Education Group), Write Traits Advanced, Grades 9 through 12 (Great Source), and most recently, Write Traits Kindergarten: Bringing the Traits to Kinderwriters (2008, Great Source). She lives with her family in the beautiful Three Sisters Wilderness area of Central Oregon, where she is currently working on several picture books.
Table of Contents
Coming Face to Face with the Six Traits
Where Do the Six Traits Come From?
Creating a Vision of Success
It’s All About Language
The Six “Keys to Good Writing”
Ideas: The Message
Organization: Design
Voice: Fingerprints on the Page
Word Choice: Phrasing
Sentence Fluency: Rhythm and Flow
Conventions and Presentation: Preparing to Publish
Where Should I Begin?
CHAPTER 1 IN A NUTSHELL
STUDY GROUP: INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITIES
Coming Up
Setting the Stage
What does writing workshop look like?
In Judy’s Writing Workshop
Focus on Student Writers
Opening Lessons
C onferences
Sharing
It must be working
Connecting Traits to Writing Process
Planning
D rafting
Conferences
Sharing
Revising
Revising a Sketch
Revision Strategies for Young Writers
Editing
Publishing
Speed Week
Three Published Examples
CHAPTER 2 IN A NUTSHELL
STUDY GROUP: INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITIES
Coming Up
Tracking Down Ideas
Teaching Ourselves First
Teacher 6-Point Writing Guide
Primary Writing Guide
3 Parts to a Writing Guide Continuums: Another Way to View Writing
The Importance of Art
What to Look for–and What to Say
Looking Inside Writing
CHAPTER 3 IN A NUTSHELL
STUDY GROUP: INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITIES
Coming Up
Teaching Ideas within Writing Process
When do I teach the traits? How much time do I spend?
Which trait do I teach first?
5 Ways to Teach IDEAS
Teaching IDEAS Conceptually
Ideas as Imagination and Observation 87 n Ideas as Pictures in the Mind
Ideas as Messages
Ideas as “Something to Write About”
Lessons & Strategies for Teaching IDEAS
Modeling Suggestions for the Trait of IDEAS
Some of the Best Books Around for Teaching IDEAS
CHAPTER 4 IN A NUTSHELL
STUDY GROUP: INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITIES
Coming Up
Spotting Organization
Teaching Ourselves First
T eacher 6-Point Writing Guide for Organization
Primary Writing Guide for Organization
Continuum for Organization
What to Look for–and What to Say
Looking Inside Writing
CHAPTER 5 IN A NUTSHELL
STUDY GROUP: INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITIES
Coming Up
Teaching Organization within Writing Process
Why teach organization as the second trait?
5 Ways to Teach ORGANIZATION
Teaching ORGANIZATION Conceptually
Organization as Order
Organization as Grouping
Organization as Planning
Organization as Sculpting
Lessons & Strategies for Teaching ORGANIZATION
Modeling Suggestions for the Trait of ORGANIZATION
Some of the Best Books Around for Teaching ORGANIZATION
CHAPTER 6 IN A NUTSHELL
STUDY GROUP: INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITIES
Coming Up
on the Hunt for Voice
Teaching Ourselves First
Teacher 6-Point Writing Guide for Voice
Primary Writing Guide for Voice
Continuum for Voice
What to Look for–and What to Say
Looking Inside Writing
CHAPTER 7 IN A NUTSHELL
STUDY GROUP: INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITIES
Coming Up
Teaching Voice within Writing Process
Why voice matters
5 Ways to Teach VOICE
Teaching VOICE Conceptually
Voice as Metaphor
Voice as Individuality
Voice as Art
Voice as Mood
Lessons & Strategies for Teaching VOICE Modeling Suggestions for the Trait of VOICE
Some of the Best Books Around for Teaching VOICE
CHAPTER 8 IN A NUTSHELL STUDY GROUP: INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITIES Coming Up in Search of Word Choice
Teaching Ourselves First
Teacher 6-Point Writing Guide for Word Choice
Primary Writing Guide for Word Choice
Continuum for Word Choice
What to Look for–and What to Say
Looking Inside Writing
CHAPTER 9 IN A NUTSHELL STUDY GROUP: INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITIES
Coming Up
Teaching Word Choice within Writing Process
What are we teaching when we teach word choice?
5 Ways to Teach WORD CHOICE
Teaching WORD CHOICE Conceptually
Word Choice as Meaning
Word Choice as Weight
Word Choice as The Target
Lessons & Strategies for Teaching WORD CHOICE
Modeling Suggestions for the Trait of WORD CHOICE
Some of the Best Books Around for Teaching WORD CHOICE
CHAPTER 10 IN A NUTSHELL
STUDY GROUP: INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITIES
Coming Up
stalking Sentence Fluency
Teaching Ourselves First
Teacher 6-Point Writing Guide for Sentence Fluency
Primary Writing Guide for Sentence Fluency
Continuum for Sentence Fluency
What to Look for–and What to Say
Looking Inside Writing
CHAPTER 11 IN A NUTSHELL
STUDY GROUP: INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITIES
Coming Up
Teaching Sentence Fluency within Writing Process
What are we teaching?
5 Ways to Teach SENTENCE FLUENCY
Teaching SENTENCE FLUENCY Conceptually
Fluency as Dance and Rhythm
Fluency as Personal Poetry
Fluency as “Come Alive” Poetry
Lessons & Strategies for Teaching SENTENCE FLUENCY
Modeling Suggestions for the Trait of SENTENCE FLUENCY
Some of the Best Books Around for Teaching SENTENCE
FLUENCY
CHAPTER 12 IN A NUTSHELL
STUDY GROUP: INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITIES
Coming Up
Celebrating Conventions & Presentation
Teaching Ourselves First
Teacher 6-Point Writing Guide for Conventions & Presentation
Primary Writing Guide for Conventions & Presentation
Continuum for Conventions & Presentation
What to Look for–and What to Say
Looking Inside Writing
CHAPTER 13 IN A NUTSHELL
STUDY GROUP: INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITIES
Coming Up
Teaching Conventions & Presentation within Writing Process
What are we teaching?
5 Ways to Teach CONVENTIONS & PRESENTATION
Teaching CONVENTIONS & PRESENTATION Conceptually
Conventions as Customs
Conventions as Courtesy
Presentation as Packaging and Design
Lessons & Strategies for Teaching CONVENTIONS &
PRESENTATION
Modeling Suggestions for the Trait of CONVENTIONS &
PRESENTATION
Some of the Best Books Around for Teaching CONVENTIONS &
PRESENTATION
CHAPTER 14 IN A NUTSHELL
STUDY GROUP: INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITIES
Coming Up
assessing Young Writers Well
Three Levels of Assessment
Level 3: Large-Scale Formal Assessment
Level 2: Classroom Assessment
Level 1: Personal Assessment
Making Assessment All It Can Be
At the Large-Scale Level
Making Assessment All It Can Be
At the Classroom Level
The Dreaded Grades
Final Thoughts
CHAPTER 15 IN A NUTSHELL STUDY GROUP: INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITIES SOURCES CITED
Appendix Connection Between College- and Career-Readiness Anchor Standards for Writing and the Six Traits of Writing
Index