EDUC 653 Middle School Through Adult 6-Traits Writing Instruction

Register NOW!

EDUC 653 Middle School Through Adult 6-Traits Writing Instruction

EDUC 654 PK Through Elementary 6-Traits Writing Instruction

Online Course 3 semester hours graduate credit
Instructor: Renee Williams
Summer: June 26 - August 18, 2017

Tuition, Due Dates, and Registration

Try the course for five days to determine if it meets your goals and needs. 

You Will Learn How to

• Enhance student writing by teaching and assessing ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions
• Build the reading/writing connection using mentor texts
• Use digital tools in the writing process
• Use the writing process with multiple ways to teach
  Prewriting/Brainstorming
  Organizing and developing a message/drafting
  Revising/changing, rewriting, clarifying, deleting and regrouping text
  Editing/grammar, punctuation and spelling corrections
  Preparing product for publication/sharing
• Engage students in the art of writing well
• Develop time-saving assessment and feedback strategies using rubrics
• Make connections between the 6-Traits, Common Core and writing across the curriculum

Who Should Enroll?

• ESL/ELL teachers
• Middle school and high school English and language arts teachers
• Elementary teachers
• K-12 teachers interested in writing across the curriculum, special education teachers
• Technical and community college writing instructors
• Curriculum coordinators

You may enroll in this course for

• professional development
• license renewal
• graduate credits
• transfer credit to another university

This course is an approved elective in the Master of Science in Education online degree program.

EDUC 653 Middle School Through Adult 6-Traits Writing Instruction   
Course Description: Concepts, instructional methods and assessment strategies for improving writing instruction, middle school through post-secondary. Self-assessment strategies, application of 6-traits, technology and software applications, and writing across the curriculum.

EDUC 654 PK Through Elementary 6-Traits Writing Instruction 
Course Description: Application of the 6-Traits approach to assessment and instruction of student writing in PK through grade 5. Study of the continuum of primary and elementary language arts skills and writing across the curriculum.

Textbook

An e-textbook is included as part of your course tuition.

Textbook for PK-3 teachers:Spandel, Vicki, (2011). Creating Young Writers: Using the Six Traits to Enrich Writing Process in Primary Classrooms (3rd Edition) (Creating 6-Trait Revisers and Editors Series), Pearson Education.ISBN: 978-0132685856

Textbook for Grades 4*, 5, Middle School, High School, and Adult Ed teachers:Spandel, Vicki. (2012). Creating Writers: 6 Traits, Process, Workshop, and Literature (6th Edition). Pearson. ISBN: 978-0132944106

*4th grade teachers, ESL, Special Ed, and teachers working in 'inclusive' classrooms could benefit from using both books.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Articulate an understanding of the historical foundations of the 6-traits writing movement and its relevance to classroom instruction.
2. Analyze writing samples based on the critical attributes of each trait.
3. Apply a variety of composing and revision techniques used in the writing process.
4. Apply the 6-traits rubrics to analytically score writing samples and describe reasoning behind scoring decisions based on the point scale rubrics of Education Northwest (formerly NWREL).
5. Utilize online databases to practice and calibrate analytical scoring for each of the 6-traits.
6. Demonstrate effective strategies for teaching writing and differentiate 6-traits instruction based on a wide range of academic diversity including English language learners and special needs students.
7. Redesign current writing lessons and integrate the 6-traits approach with developmentally appropriate learning activities.
8. Analyze the impact of standardized testing on writing instruction and how 6-traits assessments help prepare students for Common Core state and national writing tests.
9. Apply collaborative learning theory, model the technique with writing classes, and demonstrate technology use such as discussion forums, online writing centers, and blogs for writing assignments.
10. Incorporate integrated technology activities and opportunities into writing lessons.
11. Increase the frequency of student writing and strategic integration by carefully designed writing tasks.
12. Practice providing in-depth and meaningful feedback to student writing.
13. Write reflectively about the themes, topics, and issues involved in teaching with the 6-traits.
14. Synthesize current research, contemporary theories, teaching strategies, and instructional technology to teach writing in content areas.

Alignment with Teaching Standards

Course objectives are aligned with the following:
Wisconsin Teaching Standards
(WI DPI) 1, 3, 7, 8, 9
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards 3 - Teachers are Responsible for Managing and Monitoring Student Learning
National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers
(NETS-T) 2, 3

No travel to campus required. Because this class is online and open to you 24/7, you may participate from your home or work computer during hours that are flexible and convenient for your work and family schedule and responsibilities.

The class is highly interactive with a significant discussion component. All discussion postings, projects, and assignments will be submitted via the course discussion board and Dropbox. Activities are conducted according to a schedule with specific due dates each week; there are no required "live" chat sessions.

SIGN UP SOON!

Register online

The School of Education reserves the right to cancel classes that do not meet minimum enrollment requirements.

For More Information

Request Information Online 
Contact Us: School of Education
Online Professional Development
University of Wisconsin - Stout Menomonie, WI 54751
Phone: 715-232-2693
Browse Courses
e-Newsletter