& Modes Traits Writing Lessons Across the Year
Ruth Culham and Libby Jachles
How to Combine Your Crates and Sequence the Lessons
Welcome!
We’ve always known the power of teaching students the modes of writing (i.e., narrative, informational, and opinion) and the traits of writing (i.e., the skills to craft their work). But in recent years, we’ve found that linking modes and traits results in stronger writing overall. After all, the modes are WHAT we write and the traits are HOW we write. Our students need both! This guide contains grade-specific unit plans for combining Modes in Focus and Trait Crate Plus and sequencing their 42 lessons. It shows you how to pace the lessons across the school year. For each grade, K–5, we’ve organized the lessons into six four-week, mode-specific units: two narrative, two informational, and two opinion. The units are flexible. You can teach them in any order you wish, but keep these two points in mind: • Keep each unit intact so that your students get the full benefit of writing in the mode, applying all six traits, and using conventions. • Avoid teaching two units on the same mode back-to-back, and instead stagger the modes across the year (e.g., narrative > informational > opinion > narrative > informational > opinion). By doing that, you prevent mode-fatigue—and you are more likely to see your students progress in all three modes across the year and not just in one mode over an eight-week period. Mentor Texts Picture books are powerful teaching tools for every mode and every trait. That’s why we include 12 of them between the two crates, six for teaching modes and six for teaching traits. Each book in Trait Crate Plus represents each trait well. You and your students will notice how the author applied all the traits expertly, but particularly the target trait. Some of the books in Modes in Focus , however, may diverge a bit from the mode for which they were chosen. For example, a book we chose as an informational mentor text may contain an opinion. An opinion mentor text may contain a story. And a narrative text may contain factual information. We call these books “hybrid texts” and believe they represent well what skilled writers do: mix modes. For more information on mode mixing, see pages 66–67 in Teach Writing Well , the professional book in your Modes in Focus crate. For more information on using mentor texts to teach writing, see Chapter 7.
2 • Modes & Traits: Writing Lessons Across the Year
Key Qualities Because covering everything about a mode or a trait is overwhelming, we’ve broken each one down into teachable characteristics—or “key qualities.” For example, the grades K–5 key qualities for the narrative mode are plot, character, and setting, and the grades 3–5 key qualities for the ideas trait are finding a topic, focusing the topic, developing the topic, and using details. Spiraling key qualities across the year, as we’ve done in the unit plans on pages 4–27, allows students to refine their writing skills over time. It reinforces the fact that writing modes and traits work together. A Weekly Plan Now consider how your rich collection of mode lessons and trait lessons might fit into a week of instruction. Here’s what we propose:
Days 1 and 2: Mode Lesson From a MIF Teaching Guide
Days 3 and 4: Trait Lesson From a TCP Teaching Guide
Day 5: Conventions
• Prepare
Assign Writing Inspired by the Mentor Text
Teach the Lesson
Go Further With the Key Quality
Teach a grade-level standard for conventions and have students apply
Students for the Lesson
it by editing a piece of their writing from this week.
• Teach the Lesson
Start by spending about 45 minutes a day on each lesson, if possible. You’ll likely slow down or speed up lessons, based on your assessment of how they’re going. (See page 28 for assessment guidelines.) It’s writing after all—so that’s expected! Also, if your students are working on long- term, curriculum-based writing projects, consider devoting Day 2 and/or Day 4 to those projects, rather than continuing the mode lesson and/or trait lesson. For Day 5, consult your grade-level standards by school, district, or state for a spelling, punctuation, capitalization, or grammar and usage skill to teach and have students apply to a piece of their writing. Final Thoughts
Companion Websites To access lesson pages for students, assessment tools, video interviews of mentor text authors, and other useful resources, go to each crate’s companion website: Modes in Focus scholastic.com/modesresources Trait Crate Plus scholastic.com/traitplusresources
Don’t expect mastery overnight. Remember, you are working with writers who are learning day by day, lesson by lesson, unit by unit, draft by draft. Over time, trust they will show expertise and understanding. Trust that at the end of the year they will know a lot more about modes and traits than they did at the beginning. By doing that you, too, will learn more about writing right along with your students, and grow professionally. You’ll begin to spot the modes and traits in books and other teaching materials, and create your own lessons and activities—this process is addictive. Teaching writing using mentor texts is a powerful way to invigorate writing instruction.
How to Combine Your Crates and Sequence the Lessons • 3
GRADE 3
SIX 4-WEEK UNITS ON NARRATIVE, INFORMATIONAL, AND OPINION WRITING
Mentor Texts in Modes in Focus (MIF) You’ll Use
Mentor Texts in Trait Crate Plus (TCP) You’ll Use
16 • Modes & Traits: Writing Lessons Across the Year
UNIT 1: NARRATIVE WRITING Week Days 1 and 2
Days 3 and 4
Day 5
1
• Mode Lesson: Plot • MIF Teaching Guide, pages 4–7 • Mentor Text: The Word Collector • Mode Lesson: Characters • MIF Teaching Guide, pages 8–11 • Mentor Text: The Word Collector • Mode Lesson: Setting • MIF Teaching Guide, pages 12–15 • Mentor Text: The Word Collector
• Trait Lesson: Finding a Topic (Ideas) • TCP Teaching Guide, pages 4–5 • Mentor Text: The Swing • Trait Lesson: Creating the Lead (Organization) • TCP Teaching Guide, pages 4–5 • Mentor Text: Train • Trait Lesson: Establishing a Tone (Voice) • TCP Teaching Guide, pages 4–5 • Mentor Text: The Pet Shop Revolution Invite students to choose a favorite piece of writing from the unit and share it with the class.
Conventions: Teach a grade-level standard for conventions and have students apply it by editing a piece of their writing from this week.
2
3
4
• Trait Lesson: Checking Spelling (Conventions) • TCP Teaching Guide, pages 4–5 • Mentor Text: Exclamation Mark
UNIT 2: INFORMATIONAL WRITING Week Days 1 and 2
Days 3 and 4
Day 5
1
• Mode Lesson: Facts and Details • MIF Teaching Guide, pages 4–7 • Mentor Text: Standing on Her Shoulders • Mode Lesson: Structure and Features • MIF Teaching Guide, pages 7–11 • Mentor Text: Standing on Her Shoulders • Mode Lesson: Clarity and Focus • MIF Teaching Guide, pages 12–15 • Mentor Text: Standing on Her Shoulders
• Trait Lesson: Applying Strong Verbs (Word Choice) • TCP Teaching Guide, pages 4–5 • Mentor Text: Lizards • Trait Lesson: Crafting Well-Built Sentences (Sentence Fluency) • TCP Teaching Guide, pages 4–5 • Mentor Text: Too Many Toys • Trait Lesson: Focusing the Topic (Ideas) • TCP Teaching Guide, pages 6–7 • Mentor Text: The Swing Invite students to choose a favorite piece of writing from the unit and share it with the class.
Conventions: Teach a grade-level standard for conventions and have students apply it by editing a piece of their writing from this week.
2
3
4
• Trait Lesson: Puncuating Effectively (Conventions)
• TCP Teaching Guide, pages 6-7 • Mentor Text: Exclamation Mark
How to Combine Your Crates and Sequence the Lessons, Grade 3 • 17
GRADE 3
UNIT 3: OPINION WRITING Week Days 1 and 2
Days 3 and 4
Day 5
1
• Mode Lesson: Claim/Opinion • MIF Teaching Guide, pages 4–7 • Mentor Text: I Can Be Anything!
• Trait Lesson: Using Sequence Words and Transition Words (Organization) • TCP Teaching Guide, pages 6–7 • Mentor Text: Train • Trait Lesson: Conveying the Purpose (Voice) • TCP Teaching Guide, pages 6–7 • Mentor Text: The Pet Shop Revolution • Trait Lesson: Selecting Striking Words and Phrases (Word Choice) • TCP Teaching Guide, pages 6–7 • Mentor Text: Lizards Invite students to choose a favorite piece of writing from the unit and share it with the class.
Conventions: Teach a grade-level standard for conventions and have students apply it by editing a piece of their writing from this week.
2
• Mode Lesson: Evidence • MIF Teaching Guide, pages 8–11 • Mentor Text: I Can Be Anything!
3
• Mode Lesson: Logic • MIF Teaching Guide, pages 12–15 • Mentor Text: I Can Be Anything!
4
• Trait Lesson: Capitalizing Correctly (Conventions)
• TCP Teaching Guide, pages 8–9 • Mentor Text: Exclamation Mark
UNIT 4: NARRATIVE WRITING Week Days 1 and 2
Days 3 and 4
Day 5
1
• Mode Lesson: Plot • MIF Teaching Guide, pages 4–7 • Mentor Text: Musical Mac • Mode Lesson: Characters • MIF Teaching Guide, pages 8–11 • Mentor Text: Musical Mac • Mode Lesson: Setting • MIF Teaching Guide, pages 12–15 • Mentor Text: Musical Mac • Trait Lesson: Applying Grammar and Usage (Conventions) • TCP Teaching Guide, pages 10–11 • Mentor Text: Exclamation Mark
• Trait Lesson: Varying Sentence Types (Sentence Fluency) • TCP Teaching Guide, pages 6–7 • Mentor Text: Too Many Toys • Trait Lesson: Developing the Topic (Ideas) • TCP Teaching Guide, pages 8–9 • Mentor Text: The Swing • Trait Lesson: Structuring the Body (Organization) • TCP Teaching Guide, pages 8–9 • Mentor Text: Train Invite students to choose a favorite piece of writing from the unit and share it with the class.
Conventions: Teach a grade-level standard for conventions and have students apply it by editing a piece of their writing from this week.
2
3
4
18 • Modes & Traits: Writing Lessons Across the Year
UNIT 5: INFORMATIONAL WRITING Week Days 1 and 2
Days 3 and 4
Day 5
1
• Mode Lesson: Facts and Details • MIF Teaching Guide, pages 4–7 • Mentor Text: The Very Impatient Caterpillar*
• Trait Lesson: Creating a Connection to the Audience (Voice) • TCP Teaching Guide, pages 8–9 • Mentor Text: The Pet Shop Revolution • Trait Lesson: Using Specific and Accurate Words (Word Choice) • TCP Teaching Guide, pages 8–9 • Mentor Text: Lizards • Trait Lesson: Capturing Smooth and Rhythmic Flow (Sentence Fluency) • TCP Teaching Guide, pages 8–9 • Mentor Text: Too Many Toys Invite students to choose a favorite piece of writing from the unit and share it with the class.
Conventions: Teach a grade-level standard for conventions and have students apply it by editing a piece of their writing from this week.
2
• Mode Lesson: Structure and Features • MIF Teaching Guide, pages 8–11 • Mentor Text: The Very Impatient Caterpillar* • Mode Lesson: Clarity and Focus • MIF Teaching Guide, pages 12–15 • Mentor Text: The Very Impatient Caterpillar* • Trait Lesson: Using Details (Ideas) • TCP Teaching Guide, pages 10–11 • Mentor Text: The Swing
3
4
UNIT 6: OPINION WRITING Week Days 1 and 2
Days 3 and 4
Day 5
1
• Mode Lesson: Claim/Opinion • MIF Teaching Guide, pages 4–7 • Mentor Text: Eat Your Rocks, Croc!
• Trait Lesson: Ending With a Sense of Resolution (Organization) • TCP Teaching Guide, pages 10–11 • Mentor Text: Train • Trait Lesson: Taking Risks to Create Voice (Voice) • TCP Teaching Guide, pages 10–11 • Mentor Text: The Pet Shop Revolution • Trait Lesson: Choosing Words That Deepen Meaning (Word Choice) • TCP Teaching Guide, pages 10–11 • Mentor Text: Lizards Invite students to choose a favorite piece of writing from the unit and share it with the class.
Conventions: Teach a grade-level standard for conventions and have students apply it by editing a piece of their writing from this week.
2
• Mode Lesson: Evidence • MIF Teaching Guide, pages 8–11 • Mentor Text: Eat Your Rocks, Croc!
3
• Mode Lesson: Logic • MIF Teaching Guide, pages 12–15 • Mentor Text: Eat Your Rocks, Croc!
4
• Trait Lesson: Breaking the “Rules” to Create Fluency (Sentence Fluency) • TCP Teaching Guide, pages 10–11 • Mentor Text: Too Many Toys
*Hybrid text. See page 2 for an explanation.
How to Combine Your Crates and Sequence the Lessons, Grade 3 • 19
Assessing Student Writing for Modes and Traits
To assess your students’ writing and, by doing so, get valuable information on their progress and to inform your teaching, start by downloading the Teacher-Friendly Scoring Guides for Modes and Traits from “Assessment Tools” at scholastic.com/modesresources. • You’ll need either the narrative, informational, or opinion scoring guide, depending on the mode in which your students are writing. Each mode is scored from 1 (Rudimentary) to 6 (Exceptional).
• You’ll need all six traits scoring guides to assess the piece, regardless of the mode in which the piece is written, because the traits apply to all modes. Each trait is scored from 1 to 6 as well.
For clear, step-by-step directions on how to assess writing, using the scoring guides, go to pages 32–33 of Teach Writing Well , the professional book in your Modes in Focus crate. And go to pages 34–51 for hands-on practice. Your assessments will give you seven scores for each finished piece (i.e., one mode score and six trait scores) that can be captured on this record-keeping form on the next page and analyzed for instructional planning.
28 • Modes & Traits: Writing Lessons Across the Year
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