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!
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ReplyDeleteI am curious, do students ever create their own characters or stories inspired by the V.I.P. C.O.W.S.? It feels like such a natural extension, letting them write adventures where the traits solve writing dilemmas. That could be a fun way to reinforce the traits while encouraging creativity. The idea of choosing a trait to focus on per writing task is so empowering. It gives students agency and clarity. Have you noticed certain traits becoming favorites or ones that students struggle with more? I would love to hear how you support those moments when a trait does not come naturally. This whole approach feels like a celebration of writing. It is joyful, purposeful, and rooted in community. Thanks for sharing it, Ms. Logan. I am totally moo-ved! lol
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