by Kay Davidson
The Simple 6 - a teacher-tested, student friendly simple analytic
rubric, usually taught in a nine-week session, that has proven to increase
student writing scores on standardized writing assessments- now has a companion
Becoming a Better Writer using the process learned - The Simple 6.
Once students have learned The Simple 6 they have
the skills to develop exemplary pieces of writing. They need opportunities
to write and to assess their writing using the writing rubric. Just as
students should read every day, so should they write every day. And they
should have the opportunity to see what exemplary writing looks like. As
they become more proficient in analyzing the writing of others, the skills they
have learned will naturally carry over into their own writing and revision.
Becoming a Better Writer offers needed prompts and
activities for practice writing in the classroom. Providing students with
prompts emphasizes structure, calls for students to use their imagination,
simulates standardized testing formats, and gives students practice in making
quick decisions and finishing a product in a given amount of time.
Students also learn to organize, analyze, discuss, reflect, and respond.
Prompts are given for narrative, expository, descriptive, and persuasive
writing.
The sample scored writing selections/anchor papers with
mini rubrics help both teacher and student recognize components of good writing.
The graphic organizers for 3-Question, What/Why, and Prompts
without Questions are excellent tools for students as they become better
writers.
