Place Middle School students are failing to meet state writing standards. Only 26% of 7th graders scored proficient on the writing portion of the state test. The school was identified as needing improvement due to low test scores. Multiple factors contribute to poor writing skills, including inconsistent instruction, student mobility, and lack of parent support. It is recommended that the school implement a new curriculum focused on the six traits of writing model, with daily lessons in grammar, organization, and other writing skills to improve test performance.

1. Final Presentation
IT 5110
University of Colorado at Denver
Mae Guerra

2. Learning Problem
The problem is that Place Middle School
7th grade students are failing to meet
the requirements of the Colorado Model
Content Standards in writing.
More Info

3. Gap Analysis
The ideal state at Place would be that
students would be proficient at writing
essays that demonstrated proper
sentence structure, correct punctuation,
and and capitalization. The actual state
at this school is that students do not
consistently demonstrate these skills
based on CSAP scores.
More Info

4. Multiple Causes
1. Students lack organizational skills in
writing
2. Basic grammar skills are below grade
level
3. Teachers are asked to teach at grade
level with curriculum that does not
support learner’s needs in grammar and
punctuation
More Info

5. Determined Need/Recommendation
The need is to improve student
achievement in the area of writing and
improve test scores. The recommended
action is to teach students the six traits
of writing model and how to use it in
their writing.
More Info

6. Learning Goals
To increase learner achievement in
writing by meeting Colorado Model
Content Standards and by scoring
proficient on the Denver Public School’s
Post-Benchmark Assessment.
Next

7. Learning Objectives
1. Given a PowerPoint lesson over the six
traits of writing, the learner will list all
six traits of quality writing.
2. Given a PowerPoint lesson over the six
traits of writing, the learner will
identify 3 qualities of good writing
from each of the six traits.
Next

8. Instructional Approach
A learner led interactive PowerPoint
lesson over the six traits of writing
intended to help students gain a broad
understanding of what is working well
and what needs to be improved in their
writing.
Next

9. Assessment of Activity
Learners will complete a quiz that
covers the learning objectives. When
completed the student will give the quiz
back to the instructor.
Next

10. Delivery System
The teacher will guide the class through
an interactive PowerPoint presentation
as the students interact with the slides.
Next

11. Media Needs
Students will need a computer with the
downloaded lesson over the six traits of
writing on their desktops.
Next

12. The Six Traits of Writing

13. The six traits include:
Conventions Voice Sentence
Fluency
Ideas and ContentOrganization Word Choice
Click on an area for a description of each trait
Take Quiz

14. • Ideas paint pictures in a
reader’s mind
• Informational text
becomes reader-
friendly
• Ideas demonstrate
clarity, focus, sense of
purpose

15. • Does it make sense?
• Is the writing easy
to follow?
• Are transitions
smooth and
appropriate?
• Is the conclusion
satisfying?

16. isualize
rganize
nterpret
raft
laborate

17. • Is there enthusiasm and
expressiveness?
• Are you knowledgeable about the
topic?
• Does the piece hold the reader’s
attention?
• Does the text just repeat common
knowledge?

18. • Use striking words
• Eliminate tired
words
• Words are specific
• Find the word that
is ‘just right’

19. • Sounds soothing to the ear
• A variety of sentence length and structure
• Smooth transitions support fluency
• Punctuate. Periods are a good thing!
• Sentences are constructed in a way that helps
make meaning clear

20. • Correct use of capitalization, punctuation and
spelling
• Maintain verb tense and subject verb
agreement throughout composition
• Use adverbs, appositives, clauses and phrases
correctly
• Use homophones and other vocabulary
correctly

21. Why is writing important?
“If people cannot write well, they
cannot think well, and if they cannot
think well, others will do their
thinking for them.”
George Orwell

22. Self Quiz Questions
1. List all six traits.
2. Identify 3 qualities of good writing from
each of the six traits.
Directions: On the last page found in your packet,
answer the above questions and turn into your teacher.
For more information over the six traits click the
buttons below:
More Info

23. Answers to Question #1
1. Conventions
2. Voice
3. Sentence Fluency
4. Ideas
5. Organization
6. Word Choice

24. Answers to Question #2
1. Conventions –correct use of capitalization, spelling and
verb tense
2. Voice – knowledgeable about the topic, holds readers
attention, contains enthusiasm
3. Sentence Fluency –variety of sentence length,
transitions support fluency, punctuate
4. Ideas –reader friendly, demonstrates focus and purpose
5. Organization – makes sense, easy to follow, conclusion is
satisfying
6. Word Choice – specific words are used, striking words
or phrases

25. Links to learn more about the six
traits:
1. http://senior.billings.k12.mt.us/6traits/
2. http://www.edina.k12.mn.us/concord/teach
erlinks/sixtraits/stlinksstudents.htm
3. http://www.geocities.com/ljacoby_2000/6
traits.html
Take Quiz

26. Learning Problem
Place Middle School students score below
grade level in the following writing
standards:
Standard 2: Students write and speak for a
variety of purposes and audiences.
Standard 3: Students write and speak using
conventional grammar, usage, sentence
structure, punctuation, capitalization, and
spelling.
(CO Dept. of Education, 2005-2006)

27. Gap Analysis and Local Data
In 2005-2006, Place Middle School was rated "Low"
by the Colorado Department of Education for the
middle school level. The Colorado Student
Assessment Program (CSAP) tests students' skills in
reading, writing and mathematics in grades 3
through 10 and in science in grades 5, 8 and 10. On
the CSAP 26% of 7th grade Place Middle School
students scored at or above proficient level on the
writing portion of the CSAP assessment. The Federal
No Child Left Behind states that Place Middle School
did not make adequate yearly progress in 2005-2006
and the state Department of Education identified
this school as "in need of improvement, Year 2" for
2006-2007. (CO Dept. of Education, 2005-2006)

28. Multiple Causes
Other factors that contribute to the
lack of student success on test scores
consist of the inconsistency of staff,
student mobility, students arriving late
to class, lack of parent support, large
class size and low staff morale.

29. Determined Need/Recommendation
Another recommendation is to design a
curriculum that addresses writing
deficiencies through the use of graphic
organizers, Daily Oral Language practice
sessions, grammar lessons, Pearson
Knowledge Technologies’ WriteToLearn
online instructional learning tool and the
use of the 6 traits of writing model.