6-Traits Resources: Digital Magazine!

I invite all readers of this blog to also visit my new curated 6-Traits Digital Magazine.  This new effort casts a wider net over all aspects of writing, the writing process, 6-traits, Common Core Standards and more.  Just click an image below to see what I'm talking about! ~ Dennis

Video: Common Core for English: Read like a detective and write like a conscientious investigative reporter!

View this thought provoking video about Common Core Standards. 

Read like a detective and write like a consceintious investigative reporter!

This high end lecture presentation on the shifts required to meet the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts.  

Shifts promoted by the CC Standards

Major move toward reading informational texts at all levels is the main message.

Writing at the high school is dominated by personal opinion / narrative?   The shift is to writing that conveys an arguement that can be supported with facts.  Narrative is not eliminated, but takes second place to informative writing.

As a heart and soul writing teacher I've taught writing in the context of personal narrative. Using this mode remains the best way to teach fundamentals.  However I have to agree with the lectures statement that in general "People don't give a shit about your opinions."  His point being that writers should be able convey information and support their opinions with facts.

I don't worry about writing being sidelined. That's already happened after years of distorted emphasis delivered by NCLB.

I hope that the CC standards will help us shift our teaching to the point where critical thinking and being able to 'write like a conscientious investigative reporter' becomes a more common reality in classrooms across the country.

I wouldn't be a teacher if I didn't have an enormous capacity for hope. ~ Dennis

Digital Writing Workshop: The Writing Process Evolves

Troy Hicks, author of the Digital Writing Workshop (Heinemann, 2009), offers an overview of the five principles guiding writing instruction in the 21st century:http://www.heinemann.com/products/E02674.aspx



The digital writing workshop ning Troy mentions at the end of this broadcast is no longer online.  For a vibrant online community investigate Jim Burk's English Companion Ning.

Also this blog post from the Enhanced English Teacher will give you more information and ideas about Troy's Digital Writing Workshop