do you hear what I hear?

This brief posting deals with audio files posted on Newfound websites. The first link is to the Riverday podcast, an audio file of media collected during and after Fourth Grade Riverday last fall. The purpose for posting this podcast is twofold: kids can listen to it throughout the year and be reminded of concepts introduced and parents and stakeholders can listen as well to get the flavor of the day and to help them understand the power of learning outside the classroom.

The second links come courtesy of BES's kindergarten class. Listen to their song, "Thankful," and a little poem for Christmas. Both sound files were recorded in the classroom at morning meeting. Both were posted on the classroom webpage so parents could listen and sing/recite with their children at home.

Is this a form of technology that you might be able to use? We'll be doing more podcasts and other recordings in the future. It's a great way to get the word out about the good work we do here at Newfound - and to do it in the voices of our students.

six traits

Conversations at grade level meetings this year indicate a growing interest in Six Traits Writing. Now our Reading Specialists are presenting us with information at our December early release session - thanks for your work, ladies! Here's a bit of what's online about Six Traits.

Six Traits of Writing from a public school in Minnesota. Includes definitions, example papers, and links for teachers, many from NWREL (the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory).

6-Traits Writing from Wiredinstructor has many of the same resources as other Six Traits sites, but it also including links to an online discussion group and graduate courses.

There are some dead links off this site - but what's there is informative. Six Trait Writing for Teachers, Parents, and Students

Using Picture Books to Teach Narrative and Six Trait Writing is a bibliography of picture books that can serve as models for several of the trais of writing. Also has a link at the bottom of the page to a webpage called Make Six Trait Writing Fun.

Here's a 6 Traits site for adult writers - with lots and lots of good examples you could use with kids.WritingFix and the 6 + 1 Traits This site is sort of hard to describe - there are interactive sections throughout (called Mini-Writer's Workshops) with instructions for the writer/student to help in the development of specific parts of the pieces. I really like Word games with Serendipity - and I bet kids would too! Hey, no wonder this site is so good! It's sponsored in part by The National Writing Project! Be sure to check this one out - it's really special!

But wait! There's more! Here's the same National Writing Project people as above - with a website just for kids! WritingFix for Kids says it's for kindergarten through third grades and has a lot of the same interactive features as their other site. "Come and choose a game to play/From our list of games today./If you have some paper near/We think you'll write while you are here." How cute is that!

Okay, so this site isn't about Six Traits - but it's about writing! Besides, you know how when you learn something new you want to share it with people? So go visit Poetic Sense: Sound & Imagery. The author talks about improving writing with specific types of words - words that sound good together, words that provoke an image. My favorite - zeugma, a "rare but beautiful type of comparison!"

Here's a bulletin board for folks using 6 Traits or those who have questions about it. By the looks of its postings, Teacher.net 6 Traits Chatboard seems to be pretty comprehensive. It also looks to be active - the last post was yesterday!

Here's a Six Traits Checklist for kids to use in judging their writing...borrowed from Cooper Elementary in California.

Another site from a school - Six Traits of Good Writing comes from elementary schools in Wyoming and is a good quick reference.

Of course, this is just a sampling of what's online. If you find any other good places, post them in the comment section so we can all use them!