Jill Phillips
Design Document
2/18/10
Course/Program Title: Writing Traits in the Elementary Classroom
Course goals:
The goal of this course is to examine the 6+1 traits of good writing (ideas, organization,
voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, and presentation) along with
methods of implementing this writing process into the elementary classroom (Gr. 1-6).
Course Objectives:
1.
Intended audience:
This training is intended for the elementary, reading, and/or special education teachers
at George J. Peters School.
Teachers would access this course to:
 further develop their instructional skills in teaching writing.
 fulfill professional development hours.
 fulfill the requirements stated in the school improvement plan.
Teachers would have prior training in methods of teaching writing and have basic
computer skills to access the online modules.
Teacher’s level of experience would vary from new (first year) to experienced (more
than a year) to senior (more than ten years).
Delivery method:
This training will be a self-paced, asynchronous online training that will contain six
sessions. Participants will be able to access the class through Moodle.
Instructional approach/strategies/methods:
<describe in general terms the instructional strategies or methods to be used>
Instructional materials:
<describe in general terms the types of instructional materials to be used>
Lesson content outline
Topic 1
Goal/Objective
The goal of this
Identifying the
Six +1 Traits of lesson is:
Writing
for teachers to be
able to name and
define the 6 traits of
writing.
Objective:
Upon completion,
students will be able
to:
identify the 6 traits of
writing and match the
6 traits with their
definition.
Topic 2
Developing
writer’s Ideas
Goal/Objective
The goal of this
lesson is:
for teachers to
develop strategies to
use when instructing
students in
developing their
ideas in writing.
Objective:
Upon completion,
students will be able
to:
describe at least 3
ways to assist
students with idea
development in their
writing.
Activities
Teachers will watch a power point
presentation on the 6 +1 Traits of Writing.
http://writing.pppst.com/6traits.html
(Visual learning)
Teachers will read 6+1 Traits Definitions
(Visual and Verbal)
Teachers will complete a jigsaw puzzle
typing in the name of each trait and then
matching the name of the trait with
definition. (Visual and Kinesthetic)
Media
Web
links to
article
and
power
point
present
aion
Readings/resources
6+1 Traits Definitions
Assessment
Students will
type in the
missing title for
each writing trait
next to the
appropriate
definition.
Feedback will be
provided once
assessment is
completed.
Activities
Teachers will watch a video to develop
strategies to help students develop their
ideas for writing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwDT
TjfccaI
(Visual/auditory learning)
Students will read Writing Important and
Interesting Ideas
(Visual and Verbal)
Media
Web
links to
video
and
articles
Readings/resources
Writing Important and
Interesting Ideas
Assessment
Topic 3
Developing
writer’s
Organization
Topic 4
Developing
writer’s Word
Choice
Goal/Objective
The goal of this
lesson is:
for teachers to
develop strategies in
order to instruct
students about
organizing their
writing.
Objective:
Upon completion,
students will be able
to:
list at least 3 ways to
assist students with
organizational
development in their
writing.
Goal/Objective
The goal of this
lesson is:
for teachers to
develop strategies in
order to instruct
students about their
word choice when
writing.
Objective:
Upon completion,
students will be able
to:
identify at least 3
ways to assist
students with
choosing a variety of
rich words (strong
verbs, adjectives,
adverbs) when
writing.
Activities
Teachers will watch a video in order to
develop strategies to help student
organize their writing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDViz
5Vpv_c
(Visual/auditory)
Teachers will read Logical and Effective
Organization
(Visual and Verbal)
Media
Web
links to
video
and
articles
Readings/resources
Activities
Teachers will read the brief article Show
Me, Don’t Tell!
(Visual and Verbal)
Teachers will read the article Specific
Word Choice
(Visual and Verbal)
Media
Web
links to
articles
Readings/resources
Assessment
Logical and Effective
Organization
Show Me, Don't Tell!
Specific Word Choice
Assessment
Topic 5
Goal/Objective
Activities
Media
Readings/resources
Developing
writer’s Voice
The goal of this
lesson is:
for teachers to
develop strategies in
order to instruct
students on how to
incorporate voice into
their writing.
Objective:
Upon completion,
students will be able
to:
list at least 3 ways to
assist students with
developing voice in
their writing.
Goal/Objective
The goal of this
lesson is:
for teachers to
develop strategies in
order to instruct
students about
fluency when writing.
Objective:
Upon completion,
students will be able
to:
identify at least 3
ways to assist
students with
developing sentence
fluency when writing.
Teachers will read How Do You Teach
Voice in Writing?
(Visual and Verbal)
Teacher will read Individual and
Appropriate Voice
(Visual and Verbal)
Web
links to
articles
How Do You Teach Voice
in Writing?
Activities
Teachers will read Smooth Sentence
Fluency
(Visual and Verbal)
Teachers will read the brief overview of
Sentence Fluency and try the activity
(Visual, Verbal, and Kinesthetic)
Media
Web
links to
articles
Topic 6
Developing
Sentence
Fluency
Assessment
Individual and Appropriate
Voice
Readings/resources
Smooth Sentence Fluency
Sentence Fluency & Activity
Assessment
Topic 7
Developing
Conventions
Topic 8
Developing
Presentation
Goal/Objective
The goal of this
lesson is:
for teachers to
develop strategies in
order to instruct
students about using
writing conventions.
Objective:
Upon completion,
students will be able
to:
list at least 3 ways to
assist students with
developing writing
conventions
(punctuation,
capitalization, and
spelling).
Goal/Objective
The goal of this
lesson is:
for teachers to
develop strategies in
order to instruct
students about how
to present their
writing to readers.
Objective:
Upon completion,
students will be able
to:
describe at least 3
ways to assist
students with
presenting their
writing.
Activities
Teachers will read the article on
Conventions
(Visual and verbal)
Teachers will read the brief overview of
Conventions and then try the activity
(Visual, Verbal, and Kinesthetic)
Media
Web
links to
articles
Readings/resources
Activities
Media
Web
links to
articles
Readings/resources
Assessment
Conventions
Conventions & Activity
Assessment