Beyond "And Then": Assessing a Narrative and Planning the Next Step

 

Fresh off my deep dive into the 6+1 Traits, I had a chance to apply this diagnostic lens to a new piece of student writing: titled "The Day at the Beach." I love how assessing writing gives me a glimpse into how a child thinks and expresses themselves not just what they can do, but how they bring their ideas to life. This piece is a perfect example of a writer in the developing stage, full of potential and clear next steps. Assessing it confirmed that the Traits are not for grading, but for guiding.

Right away, I noticed the student’s voice and enthusiasm shining through. I can feel their excitement about going to the beach with their friend, taking the bus, unpacking, eating, and swimming. The story has a clear focus and a nice flow of ideas, which shows that the student has a strong sense of what they want to say. That confidence and ownership are so important, and it’s something I’d definitely want to encourage more of.

At the same time, I noticed areas that need support particularly sentence fluency, organization, and conventions. The frequent repetition of phrases like “and when” made the story sound a bit choppy, and spelling and grammar issues sometimes interrupted the flow. Still, I see these not as problems, but as opportunities for growth that can be addressed through targeted mini-lessons.

For a mini-lesson, I’d focus on using transition words and combining sentences to make the story flow more smoothly. We could revise a few lines together to show how small changes can make a big difference.

Gentle reminder to my future teacher self and my fellow teachers, remember to always look beyond the errors and see the writer’s effort and creativity. Every draft holds potential; our role is to nurture it. Keep building a classroom where feedback feels like encouragement and where every child believes they are a writer in progress.

Case Study: Supporting a Grade Three Student in Narrative Writing

 

I must start by saying how much I appreciate the practice Dr. Charles has been giving us in analyzing students’ writing. Prior to this experience, I struggled to come to grips with students' writing and was uncertain about my ability to analyze it effectively. Writing once felt like just a topic for students to respond to, without a clear focus on development. Now, I can see how I can support students in improving their writing by addressing specific issues through strategies like the writer’s workshop and targeted feedback. This practice has taught me how to read a student’s writing to identify strengths and weaknesses as well as areas for growth. I can focus on one issue at a time, knowing that I can build on the others later.

In this case, the student, a Grade Three learner, submitted a narrative titled “A Day at the Beach.” My groupmates and I identified from the outset that the student demonstrated a clear understanding of the topic and maintained a consistent primary tone throughout the piece. The purpose was evident: the student wanted to share a personal experience of visiting the beach, describing what they did before arriving and their activities during the visit. Their handwriting was legible, and their voice was confident, which showed both ownership and engagement. The ending, however, felt abrupt, which slightly reduced the impact of the narrative. For example, the student wrote, ‘ I won the swimming rac and when we go ont of the water…..

Upon closer examination, several areas required attention, including grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure, which were inconsistent. Many sentences were run-ons due to missing full stops, which affected the flow and readability. The lack of transitional words limited the cohesion between ideas. While the narrative conveyed the student’s experience, these issues interrupted the rhythm and made the story less fluent. Reflecting on this, I realized that conventions are not just mechanical rules. They help the reader to pause, breathe, and connect with the writer’s meaning.

To address these challenges, we created a one-on-one conferencing session rather than a traditional mini-lesson. During the conference, the student would be asked to reread his writing aloud, listening carefully for natural pauses. This strategy encourages self-monitoring and allows the student to identify areas where punctuation could improve sentence structure. I anticipated that as the student reread his sentences, he would begin to notice where long sentences needed to be divided and where punctuation was missing. I expected that hearing his sentences aloud would help him to recognize these issues and understand how full stops and proper punctuation improve clarity.

By the end of the conference, I predicted that the student would begin to pause naturally in their sentences, apply punctuation more consistently, and gradually develop the ability to self-monitor their writing. In a later draft, I expected that this approach would build the student’s confidence and independence, helping them become more intentional and thoughtful writers.

In reflection, I realized that guiding the student to discover his errors fostered engagement, self-confidence, and ownership over his work. It reminded me that even small, targeted interventions can create meaningful growth when combined with careful observation and reflection. Moving forward, I feel better equipped to analyze student writing, pinpoint areas for improvement, and provide support that strengthens both skills and creative voice due to the much-needed practice I have received.

Finding Their Voice: The Magic of Word Choice in the Classroom

Every day in my classroom, I listen to voices, some loud and confident, others shy and hesitant, and a few that whisper their thoughts only through their writing. What fascinates me most is how each child has something unique to say; they just need the right words to say it. That’s where voice and word choice come together like melody and rhythm in a song.

Voice gives writing its personality. It allows students to express who they are, their humour, their opinions, their emotions, and their imagination. When a student writes, “My puppy looks like a cloud that forgot to float,” I hear not just a sentence but a vivid spark of creativity. Their authentic voice turns an ordinary piece into something alive and personal.

Word choice, on the other hand, is the tool that shapes that voice. Choosing the perfect word can transform plain writing into something powerful. It’s the difference between “I was sad” and “My heart drooped like a wet leaf.” In my classroom, we explore synonyms, sensory words, and “sparkle” vocabulary, not just to sound fancy, but to make meaning deeper and clearer. 

Together, voice and word choice empower students to see writing as more than rules and grammar it becomes self-expression. When they realize their words can make someone laugh, imagine, or even think differently, they begin to write with purpose. As their teacher, my joy is watching them discover that their voice matters and that the words they choose can change how others see the world.

In the end, teaching voice and word choice is not just about better writing, it’s about nurturing confident communicators who believe their ideas are worth sharing.

The Diagnostic Lens: Using the 6+1 Traits to Nurture an Unfinished Story

 

Just when I thought my teaching toolkit was getting full, my learning deepened again. This week’s exploration of the Six + One Traits of Writing (V.I.P. C.O.W.S.): voice, ideas, organization, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, and presentation, deepened my understanding of what effective writing instruction looks like.

Building on our previous lessons about the Writing Workshop, I now see how these traits complement that model by providing clear, focused ways to guide and assess student writing. While the Writing Workshop emphasizes time, choice, and authentic practice, the Six + One Traits offer a structured framework to help both teachers and students talk about writing with purpose.

When I analyzed Jada’s unfinished story, I realized how these two approaches work hand in hand. The workshop environment encourages creativity and ownership, while the traits give students concrete language to describe their strengths and needs. Jada’s story, for example, demonstrated strong voice and ideas, showing her curiosity and storytelling ability; from the formal introduction, "Hello, my name is Jada Stapleton," to the casual dread of "I was fast curious," her personality shines through. We feel her curiosity and fear. However, she needed support with organization and conventions to make her story flow smoothly.

What stood out most to me was how this model shifts writing instruction from correction to growth and reflection. It allows me, as a teacher, to give targeted feedback, celebrating what students do well while guiding them toward improvement. The Traits are not a stick to beat writers with, but a compass to guide them so in my future classroom, I plan to integrate the Six + One Traits into daily Writing Workshops. Students will self-assess their work using the traits, engage in peer discussions, and revise with clear goals. Together, these approaches transform writing into a process of discovery, creativity, and confidence rather than pressure and correction.

Teaching with VIP COWS: Nurturing Voice, Ideas, and Confidence in Young Writers

 

This week’s class finally brought theory and practice together. As I engaged with a sample of student writing, I found myself pulled into the student’s ideas, imagination, effort, and their little spark of creativity. Still, I noticed how a few unclear parts made it harder to follow their story. That is when I realized that clarity is not just about writing neat sentences; it is also about making the reader feel what the writer means.

The mix of brilliant ideas and tangled sentences reminded me why revision is vital. When students have ample time to revise, they do not just polish their work. Students engage in critical thinking, questioning their choices and refining their message. For instance, guiding a student to rephrase a vague sentence during revision often sparks a moment of clarity, where they take ownership of their ideas and discover their unique voice.

As I thought about ways to guide the student, I turned to the VIP COWS traits for direction. Voice, ideas, presentations, conventions, organization, word choice, and sentence fluency each serve as powerful tools for guiding young writers. I imagined a mini-lesson on Ideas, where students could brainstorm freely without limits, or one on Organization, using graphic organizers to bring order to their thoughts. The more I explored each trait, the more I realized how they depended on each other to bring writing fully to life.

Reflecting on the VIP COWS traits discussion, I realized how deeply intertwined they are in shaping a student’s writing. For example, a student with vivid ideas might struggle to convey them without a clear organizational structure. Similarly, a strong voice, infused with the student’s unique tone and personality, makes the writing resonate with the audience. This insight has inspired me to design lessons that incorporate these traits together, such as pairing brainstorming sessions with storyboarding to help students see how ideas and organization fuel each other.  I can already imagine how empowering it will be for students to see their thoughts take shape and to express their ideas with growing confidence.

Moving forward, I feel more confident about helping my students discover their writer’s voice. This writing experience keeps reminding me that writing is not a straight path; it is an exploration for both students and teachers. Reflection is what keeps us growing. And genuinely, there is nothing more fulfilling than witnessing a young writer’s joy when their words finally say exactly what they mean.

 

VI.P. C.O.W.S. : The Secret Writing Club

One sunny morning, I told my students a secret, there was a special writing club called VI.P. C.O.W.S. They gasped. “What does it stand for?” they asked eagerly. I smiled. “It’s not just any club. It’s the club that makes writing amazing! Each letter is one of the 6 + 1 Traits of Writing."

I began to tell them the story.

Once upon a time, in a school much like ours, seven friends formed a team to help students become great writers. V stood for Voice, the trait that gave each story its own personality, funny, serious, or mysterious. I was for Ideas, the heart of the message that made readers care. P meant Presentation, because even the best stories deserve to look neat and inviting.

Then came the clever cows: C.O.W.S. 

C was for Conventions, who loved spelling and punctuation and kept everything in order. O was for Organization, who arranged ideas neatly like puzzle pieces that fit just right. W stood for Word Choice, who sprinkled exciting words like “whisper,” “giggle,” and “roar” to bring writing to life. Finally, S represented Sentence Fluency, who made every line flow smoothly like a song.

Together, the VI.P. C.O.W.S. transformed plain writing into masterpieces that made readers smile, think, and imagine.

In my classroom, we invite the VI.P. C.O.W.S. to join every writing lesson. During story time, we talk about which “member” helped make a book interesting. When we write, students pick a trait to focus on, maybe “Voice” for a personal letter or “Organization” for a report. We even have posters for each trait with friendly cow characters cheering us on.

By the end of the term, my students don’t just write, they moo-ve mountains with their words!

A Letter to My Younger Self: You Know Better, So Do Better

 

Dear Younger Ms. Ettienne,

Right now, you’re probably standing in front of your class, worrying about the lesson plan. You’re focused on the objectives, the standards, and the correct way to form a paragraph. I need you to take a deep breath and listen closely. I want to give you the key to everything you're searching for: the Writing Workshop.

You will meet a boy named Jonathan, who writes a letter to his dog filled with inventive spellings like “lowniwhale.” Your old training will scream to correct the errors. But the Writing Workshop will teach you a better way. It’s not just a teaching method; it’s a philosophy that duplicates how real writers work, from conception to publication. It’s the structure that makes true differentiation not just possible, but natural.

In this workshop, children have the regular, uninterrupted time they need to think and create. They have the freedom to choose their own topics, which is why Jonathan writes with such heart about Kayla. They learn mechanics in the context of their own powerful stories, not from a disconnected worksheet. This is how you help Jonathan grow without crushing his spirit through focused mini-lessons and one-on-one conferences that meet him in his "developing" stage.

Your role will completely transform. You will stop being the gatekeeper of grammar and become a mentor who cultivates processes. The principles of the Workshop time, choice, response, and authentic context are the answer to the question you don't even know to ask yet: "How can I possibly reach every single writer?"

So, let go of the fear of messiness. The controlled chaos of the Writing Workshop is where the deepest learning happens. It is the engine that will carry every Jonathan from his first scribbles to fluent, powerful expression.

Your role is not to correct products, but to cultivate writers. The Workshop is how you do it. It is the most important tool you will ever use.

Your Wiser, Future Self

A. Ettienne

Letter To My Younger Self: Growth

                                                                                                                                                                        

Belvidere,

Carriacou,

Grenada, W.I.

 

12/10/2025

Dear Younger Me,

You are entering your first Language Arts class, holding your lesson plans and hoping your love for the subject will suffice. You feel nervous, excited, and determined to make a difference. I would like to sit next to you and share what I have learned about writing. You will soon learn that teaching writing is not just about correcting grammar and every misspelled word. Writing is another option for students to communicate their ideas and emotions. The Writer's Workshop will serve as your guide. Your weaknesses will turn into your strengths. You will write alongside your students and share your own rough drafts and uncertainties with them. 

You will learn to celebrate small wins, like the student who finally writes more than one sentence. The student who bravely shared their story and listens will grow. You will be a more patient teacher, and letting go of control will not be a challenge for you. You will learn that your task is to empower the writer, not to identify all its flaws.

 The writer’s workshop guides you to see writing as a process of discovery, where each draft teaches you more about your style, purpose, and growth as a writer.  This process involves key components: the mini-lesson, independent writing, conferencing, and sharing. The mini-lesson introduces new strategies that help you reflect on your ideas, independent writing allows you to experiment and refine your voice, conferencing provides feedback that guides thoughtful revision, and sharing connects you with your audience, helping you see the impact of your words. Together, these stages turn writing into an ongoing process of learning, improving, and expressing yourself confidently.  Students are both writers and thinkers. These steps will remind you that writing serves purposes beyond school; it is also personal, emotional, and life-changing

Therefore, my younger self, be patient. You will not accomplish everything in one session, but you will become better. Learn how to teach with love, write with bravery, and lead with compassion. Then one day, you will look back and feel proud of your progress.

Keep on writing. Keep thinking. Keep getting bigger.

Your older self, with love, thanks.

 

___________________________

J. Stafford

 

 

 

Letter to My Younger Teacher Self: Learning to Let Students Grow

 

Dear Younger Me,

I still remember you standing in front of your first classroom, red pen in hand, determined to turn every paper into perfection. You believed that correcting every mistake meant you were doing your job well. But you did not realize yet that writing is not about perfection, it is about growth.

There was that story a student wrote about his dog, full of heart, but tangled with errors. You stayed up late fixing every one. The next day, his smile faded when he saw all the red marks. That was when the lesson began, not for him, but for you.

Years later, you would meet two small but mighty tools: ARMS and CUPS. They would teach you that revision is not about what is wrong, it is about what can become stronger.

Through ARMS Add, Remove, Move, Substitute, you learned to guide students in shaping their ideas before polishing them. You will teach them that real writers do not fear change; they embrace it.

Then CUPS Capitalization, Usage, Punctuation, Spelling, reminded you that editing comes after the ideas have bloomed. It is the stage where students take pride in the details that make their work shine.

Over time, you would put away the red pen and pick up a conversation instead. You will sit beside your students, ask questions, and celebrate revisions. You will see confidence where there once was hesitation.

If I could whisper one thing to you, dear younger teacher, it would be this:

“Let them grow. Writing, like teaching, is never finished, only revised, refined, and rediscovered.”

With gratitude and grace,
Your Older Self

Understanding the Writing Process at Different Stages

 

The Hidden Art of Scribbles: Unlocking the Writer in Every Child

The Writing Process: A Journey Worth Taking