w. nikola-lisaauthor, educator, storyteller

www.nikolabooks.com

using six trait writing to become a better writer and reader

an author’s perspectivew. nikola-lisa

ira conventionchicago

what i’ve learned about writing after twenty years as a published author

eye of the reader

lens of a writer

see spot run

see spot somersault into the salty sea

an inevitable tension

the bridge

ruth culham’s

6+1 trait writing model

a “common language”

to talk about reading and writing

the traits

Culham Me

ideas

organization

voice

word choice

fluency

conventions

presentation

ideas

word choice

fluency

voice

organization

conventions

presentation

ideas

ideas are the heart of the messagethe content of the piece

the main theme...

where do ideas come from?

i read a lot...

i look around and see things...

i think about my childhood...

keeping track of the main theme

of a piece of writing is important...

readers writers

book markslearning log

reading journal

writer’s notebook

ralph fletcher reminds usthat a writer’s notebook...

gives you a place to live like a writer, not just in school during writing time,

but wherever you are,at any time of day.

like a lace skirt draped over the distant mountain rise

word choice

word choice is the use of rich,

colorful, precise language

that communicates not just in a functional way,

but in a way that moves and enlightens the reader.

1, 2, 3 thanksgiving

on thanksgiving day,

papa stuffs one fat turkey,

mama bakes two pumpkin pies,

little sister measures three cups of cranberries,

baby brother squishes five juicy raisins,

big sister slices six skinny squash...

1, 2, 3 thanksgiving

on thanksgiving day,

papa stuffs one fat turkey,

mama bakes two pumpkin pies,

little sister measures three cups of cranberries,

baby brother squishes five juicy raisins,

big sister slices six skinny squash...

1, 2, 3 thanksgiving

on thanksgiving day,

papa stuffs one fat turkey,

mama bakes two pumpkin pies,

little sister measures three cups of cranberries,

baby brother squishes five juicy raisins,

big sister slices six skinny squash...

1, 2, 3 thanksgiving

on thanksgiving day,

papa stuffs one fat turkey,

mama bakes two pumpkin pies,

little sister measures three cups of cranberries,

baby brother squishes five juicy raisins,

big sister slices six skinny squash...

word choice isn’t only about picking the right word

it’s also about...

p l a c e m e n t

one hole in the road

one hole in the road,two flagmen waving,three sturdy barricades warning passersby.four stoplights flashing,five sirens blaring,six worried engineers huddling nearby.seven hammers pounding,eight water pipes gushing,nine storefronts flooding, oh my!ten workers in a flurry, hurrying, scurrying, trying to fix one hole in the road.

one hole in the road

one hole in the road,two flagmen waving,three sturdy barricades warning passersby.

four stoplights flashing,five sirens blaring,six worried engineers huddling nearby.

seven hammers pounding,eight water pipes gushing,nine storefronts flooding, oh my!

ten workers in a flurry,hurrying, scurrying, trying to fix one hole in the road.

one hole in the road

one hole in the road,two flagmen waving,three sturdy barricades warning passersby.

four stoplights flashing,five sirens blaring,six worried engineers huddling nearby.

seven hammers pounding,eight water pipes gushing,nine storefronts flooding, oh my!

ten workers in a flurry,hurrying, scurrying, trying to fix one hole in the road.

one hole in the road

one hole in the road,two flagmen waving,three sturdy barricades warning passersby.

four stoplights flashing,five sirens blaring,six worried engineers huddling nearby.

seven hammers pounding,eight water pipes gushing,nine storefronts flooding, oh my!

ten workers in a flurry,hurrying, scurrying, trying to fix one hole in the road.

one hole in the road

one hole in the road,two flagmen waving,three sturdy barricades warning passersby.

four stoplights flashing,five sirens blaring,six worried engineers huddling nearby.

seven hammers pounding,eight water pipes gushing,nine storefronts flooding, oh my!

ten workers in a flurry,hurrying, scurrying, trying to fix one hole in the road.

one hole in the road

one hole in the road,two flagmen waving,three sturdy barricades warning passersby.

four stoplights flashing,five sirens blaring,six worried engineers huddling nearby.

seven hammers pounding,eight water pipes gushing,nine storefronts flooding, oh my!

ten workers in a flurry,hurrying, scurrying, trying to fix one hole in the road.

one hole in the road

one hole in the road,two flagmen waving,three sturdy barricades warning passersby.

four stoplights flashing,five sirens blaring,six worried engineers huddling nearby.

seven hammers pounding,eight water pipes gushing,nine storefronts flooding, oh my!

ten workers in a flurry,hurrying, scurrying, trying to fix one hole in the road.

one hole in the road

one hole in the road,two flagmen waving,three sturdy barricades warning passersby.

four stoplights flashing,five sirens blaring,six worried engineers huddling nearby.

seven hammers pounding,eight water pipes gushing,nine storefronts flooding, oh my!

ten workers in a flurry,hurrying, scurrying, trying to fix one hole in the road.

storm

on his porch the farmer chuckles to see

the hole grow bigger

and bigger

AND BIGGER

until it fills the sky again with blue,

and paints the fields with green,

and drenches the sun with yellow so bright

it almost hurts to see

the storm,

now just a lace skirt draped

over the distant mountain rise

...and quiet.

it almost hurts to see

the storm,

now just a lace skirt draped

over the distant mountain rise

...and quiet.

on his porch the farmer chuckles to see

the hole grow bigger

and bigger

AND BIGGER

until it fills the sky again with blue,

and paints the fields with green,

and drenches the sun with yellow so bright

it almost hurts to see

the storm,

now just a lace skirt draped

over the distant mountain rise

...and quiet.

sometimes word choiceis not always...

m y c h o i c e

night is coming

out in the meadow where grandpa’s corn bristles,you can see a scarecrow standing like a prophetwatching over his people.

out in the meadow where grandpa’s corn bristles,you can see a lonely scarecrow welcoming the night.

my teacher can teach...anyone!

my teacher is so good, she can teach...anyone!

she could teach an astronaut how to float in space.she could teach a ballerina how to land with grace.

she could teach a carpenter how to nail a roof.she could teach a dentist how to fill a tooth.

she could teach an engineer how to dig a hole.she could teach a fireman how to slide the pole.

she could teach a...

my teacher can teach...anyone!

my teacher is so good, she can teach...anyone!

she could teach an astronaut how to float in space.she could teach a ballerina how to land with grace.

she could teach a carpenter how to nail a roof.she could teach a dentist how to fill a tooth.

she could teach an engineer how to dig a hole.she could teach a fireman how to slide the pole.

she could teach a...

my teacher can teach...anyone!

my teacher is so good, she can teach...anyone!

she could teach an astronaut how to float in space.she could teach a ballet dancer how to land with grace.

she could teach a carpenter how to nail a roof.she could teach a dentist how to fill a tooth.

she could teach an engineer how to dig a hole.she could teach a firefighter how to slide the pole.

she could teach a...