Six Traits of Writing Narrative Writing Mini Lessons | Grades K–5

Looking for ready-to-teach narrative writing lessons that help students become stronger writers? This resource includes 18 differentiated Six Traits of Writing mini lessons designed to teach narrative writing through engaging mentor texts, explicit instruction, and teacher-led mini lessons.

Perfect for grades K–5, these 10–15 minute writing lessons teach the Six Traits of Writing: Ideas, Organization, Voice, Sentence Fluency, Word Choice, and Conventions, using mentor texts and instructional strategies that help students develop engaging narratives and become confident writers.

These lesson plans were developed to support teachers in teaching the Six Traits using mentor texts and lesson ideas inspired by The Writing Thief by Ruth Culham, a trait-based approach to teaching and assessing writing. All ideas and referenced language from The Writing Thief are clearly cited within the resource.

Why Teachers Love This Resource

✔ 18 differentiated narrative writing mini lessons

✔ Ready-to-teach 10–15 minute writing lessons

✔ Grades K–5 differentiation

✔ Six Traits of Writing instruction

✔ Mentor text integration

✔ Teacher scripts included

✔ Active student engagement

✔ Perfect for whole-group instruction, small groups, intervention, and enrichment

Differentiated for Grades K–5

Each of the Six Traits of Writing includes three differentiated mini lessons designed for:

• Grades K–1
• Grades 2–3
• Grades 4–5

Teach the on-grade-level lesson during whole-group instruction, use the above-grade-level lesson to enrich or accelerate learning, and use the below-grade-level lesson to support struggling readers and writers during small-group instruction.

What’s Included:

Mentor Text List

A complete list of mentor texts (read alouds) needed for every lesson is included. Most books can be borrowed from your school or public library. Some mini lessons require specific passages, which are included in the resource. See the preview for the complete mentor text list.

18 Narrative Writing Mini Lessons Ideas

• Grades K–1: Choosing a Topic
• Grades 2–3: Getting Focused
• Grades 4–5: Choosing a Topic

Organization

• Grades K–1: Using Sequence and Transition Words
• Grades 2–3: Developing the Body
• Grades 4–5: Providing a Sense of Closure

Voice

• Grades K–1: Connecting to Your Audience
• Grades 2–3: Taking Risks to Create Voice
• Grades 4–5: Conveying the Purpose

Sentence Fluency

• Grades K–1: Breaking the “Rules” to Create Fluency
• Grades 2–3: Crafting Well-Built Sentences
• Grades 4–5: Varying Sentence Patterns

Word Choice

• Grades K–1: Selecting Striking Words and Phrases
• Grades 2–3: Using Strong Verbs
• Grades 4–5: Using Specific & Accurate Words

Conventions

• Grades K–1: Checking Spelling
• Grades 2–3: Using Exclamation Marks Correctly
• Grades 4–5: Using Capitalization Correctly

Purchasing this product grants permission for use by one teacher in his or her own classroom. If you intend to share with others, please purchase an additional license for the desired product.

Product created by For The Love of Teachers Shop Copyright © 2017

This is a digital download (PDF).

Purchasing this product grants permission for use by one teacher in his or her own classroom. If you intend to share with others, please purchase an additional license for the desired product.