Using the Traits to Enhance
Preservice
Teachers' Teaching and Assessment of Writing
In K-8 Language Arts Methods, the
teacher education students study the "6+1 Writing Traits" as a
form of writing instruction, assessment, and evaluation. After
exploration and discussion of the traits, teacher education
students assess elementary level students' writing samples based
on the scoring rubrics for each trait. After determining which
traits scored the lowest, the teacher education students then
administer brief instructional activities addressing those
particular traits over the DDN system. Then, the writings are
re-evaluated to determine if any improvement occurred. The
elementary schools participating are from rural areas outside of
Aberdeen.
