| It's not recent news that great teachers help | | | | scoring. Because the descriptors for each of the |
| create great students. A well informed and | | | | traits are easy to understand, scoring a student's |
| inspired teacher is sure to influence a student's | | | | writing is a much simpler task for the teacher. |
| achievement. Therefore, it is critical for school | | | | Best of all, the Six Trait's can be used across the |
| districts to pay close attention to how they train | | | | curriculum. The model works well in all subject |
| and support both new and seasoned teachers. In | | | | areas and writing assignments. Students will find |
| an ever changing world as we have today, staff | | | | the Six Traits are not just something applied in |
| development is the key. | | | | English class, but in all areas. Finally, the Six Traits |
| Even those educators with years of experience | | | | are a wonderful tool for ESL students. Teachers |
| tend to fall into a rut. It's natural human instinct to | | | | who have ESL students will find that their |
| stagnate. A refresher course or learning | | | | students writing will grow more rapidly when they |
| something new can benefit all teachers, whether | | | | apply the Six Traits, and teaching will become a |
| their focus is the refinement of content area | | | | lot less problematic. |
| teaching skills or moving into a new area of study. | | | | Finally, Special Education staff development |
| Three of the most beneficial staff development | | | | workshops are some of the best classes an |
| offerings are Literacy Workshops, Six Traits of | | | | educator can take, whether they have special |
| Writing and Special Education workshops. Literacy | | | | education students in their classroom or not. As |
| workshops are an essential component of 21st | | | | schools become more inclusive, it is crucial that |
| century success. The future of a child depends | | | | both special education teachers and general |
| highly on learning to read and write. Lacking these | | | | education teachers work together to adapt |
| skills will put a burden on our future as a society | | | | curriculum materials and teaching techniques to |
| when these individuals remain unemployed, | | | | meet the needs of students with disabilities. An |
| homeless, and/or unable to contribute to society. | | | | inservice focusing on Special Education will train |
| Literacy is not just an issue in our country, it | | | | educators to work cooperatively and maintain |
| exists worldwide. Literacy workshops provide | | | | joint responsibility for specified educational |
| teachers with effective strategies to monitor | | | | instruction. The general education teacher and the |
| children's progress with information and tools for | | | | special education teacher will learn that they can |
| quick and meaningful assessment of a student's | | | | collaboratively bring their skills, training, and |
| knowledge and abilities. Additionally, literacy | | | | perspectives together to strengthen teaching and |
| workshops increase teacher knowledge of | | | | learning opportunities. Collaboratively, their goal will |
| balanced literacy activities as well as create | | | | be to provide appropriate classroom and |
| techniques designed to accelerate student | | | | homework assignments so that each student is |
| acquisition of reading and writing skills. | | | | learning, being challenged and participating. The |
| Another staff development "must" is The Six | | | | ultimate goal of Special Education staff |
| Trait Writing Workshop. Unlike any other model | | | | development is to achieve a balanced classroom. |
| out there, the Six Traits are a wonderful way to | | | | Additionally, general education teachers will learn |
| objectively score student writing in any subject. | | | | more about specific learning and behavioral |
| The Six Traits provide a common language and | | | | disabilities and will use this knowledge to perfect |
| greatly help with revisions and editing. Moreover, | | | | their current responses to intervention (RTI). |
| the rubrics are guidelines for quality writing and | | | | |