6 Trait Power Write
Implementing Research Based Practices

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Title I, II, and V Funding
NCLB Technology Enhancement Grants
Compliant

6 Trait Power Write™ was created to enable educators to consistently and effectively address the academic writing skill needs of all levels of learners in grades 4-12. This innovative online software implements and manages research based strategies for effective writing instruction across the curriculum. 6 Trait Power Write guides the educator through effectively assisting students in the application of critical thinking skills, specifically, brainstorming, planning, organizing, evaluating, synthesizing, revising, collaborating, and assessing their own writing every time they complete a writing project. Communication skills necessary for reading, writing, listening, and speaking are developed, fine-tuned, and mastered by students, thus providing a means for achieving goals in life. Internet access allows all students to access the research based strategies from any computer with internet access or print and work through the strategy in an offline environment.

Title I, Part A
Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged

From Sec. 1114:
(B) Schoolwide reform strategies that —
(i) provide opportunities for all children to meet the State's proficient and advanced levels of student academic achievement described in section 1111(b)(1)(D);

6 Trait Power Write breaks down the writing process into manageable tasks making it possible for all students to experience success. Because the software allows the teacher to monitor student progress at any time during the writing process, intervention and feedback can occur when the student needs it most, instead of waiting until the end of the project to determine that the student needed help. Students who benefit from acceleration can work ahead independently using the structured POWER WRITE process, thus freeing the teacher to work with students who need more assistance.

(ii) use effective methods and instructional strategies that are based on scientifically based research that —

(I) strengthen the core academic program in the school;

(II) increase the amount and quality of learning time, such as providing an extended school year and before- and after-school and summer programs and opportunities, and help provide an enriched and accelerated curriculum; and

(III) include strategies for meeting the educational needs of historically underserved populations;

Research says:
Three principles of an effective writing instruction program:

basic framework of planning, writing, and revision
specific genre and writing process instruction
feedback guided by the strategies explicitly taught (Gersten, Baker, Edwards, 1999)

6 Trait Power Write broadens the horizons for what research says must be in place for effective writing instruction. The easy-to-remember acronym for the POWER WRITE Process allows students to follow and master the steps of Prewrite, Organize, Write Sloppy Copy, Evaluate 6 Traits, Revise, Wait, Read Aloud, Input and Feedback, Tackle Final Flaws, and End with a Perfect Copy, using strategies that are specific to the genre of writing assigned. In 6 Trait Power Write, each type of writing guides students and teachers through genre specific instruction throughout the POWER WRITE Process. Because of the benefits of online instruction, teachers may provide feedback throughout the writing process as well as during assessment of the writing.

Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD):
Researchers Karen Harris and Steve Graham designed SRSD for students with learning disabilities, but all students have been found to benefit in SRSD the writing strategy instruction approach (Beckman, 2002). The three goals of the SRSD approach:

assist students in mastering the cognitive processes of planning, producing, revising, and editing written language
help students further develop the capability to monitor and manage their own writing
aid students in developing positive attitudes about writing and about themselves as writers (Graham, Harris, Troia, 2000)

Every strategy used in 6 Trait Power Write follows the SRSD model. Specifically, each form of writing has prewrite strategies that help students choose a topic, evaluate the topic, gather ideas and organize them or write from a teacher assigned prompt and then gather ideas and organize them. From there students are given genre specific questions to evaluate and revise their own writing. The strategy of a student reading their writing aloud allows the student to hear their writing and thus further develops the capability to monitor and manage their own writing. Seeing their completed works of writing in the POWER WRITE Portfolio helps students to develop positive attitudes about writing and about themselves as writers as they are able to share their writing anywhere there is an internet computer. Journals, learning logs, and reading logs also have strategies to help students develop the capability to monitor and manage their own writing.

For an indepth review of the research, visit: http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-1/helping.htm

(iii) (I) Activities to ensure that students who experience difficulty mastering the proficient or advanced levels of academic achievement standards required by section 1111(b)(1) shall be provided with effective, timely additional assistance which shall include measures to ensure that students' difficulties are identified on a timely basis and to provide sufficient information on which to base effective assistance.

State standards for communications present a daunting challenge for educators when faced with a spectrum of learning levels and high demands for excellence verified through the administration of national, state and local assessments. The standards expect students to work through the writing process for narrative, expository, persuasive, descriptive and technical writing as well as creative writing such as poetry. Keeping journals, learning logs, and reading logs are also required for most states. 6 Trait Power Write provides a systematic and uniform way for students to master the writing process for whatever writing task they have before them. Because the writing process does not change, educators can use the POWER WRITE software year after year to manage the task of monitoring student writing and providing research based strategies to help students accomplish success in communications standards for all assessments.

Title II, Part A
Preparing, Training, and Recruiting High Quality Teachers and Principals

From Section 2123:
(5) Carrying out programs and activities that are designed to improve the quality of the teacher force, such as--
(A) innovative professional development programs (which may be provided through partnerships including institutions of higher education), including programs that train teachers and principals to integrate technology into curricula and instruction to improve teaching, learning, and technology literacy, are consistent with the requirements of section 9101, and are coordinated with activities carried out under part D;

6 Trait Power Write imbeds writing process instruction within the software so teachers in both the communications classroom and the content area classroom can effectively implement research based writing instruction across the curriculum. Because 6 Trait Power Write is available anywhere there is an internet computer, teachers are able to easily integrate technology into the curriculum and instruction, thus improving teaching, learning, and technology literacy. Even if a teacher is not familiar with the 6 Trait model or the writing process model, the software guides them through to effective implementation in the classroom. The teacher is able to master the POWER WRITE Process and provide research based strategies in a managed virtual environment.

(B) development and use of proven, cost-effective strategies for the implementation of professional development activities, such as through the use of technology and distance learning;

For little more than the price of a workbook, teachers can implement 6 Trait Power Write and assess student skill growth year after year through the virtual POWER WRITE Portfolio that is built by each student. Substantial money is saved through the reduction of printing strategies necessary for effective writing instruction as all strategies are available for the students to type, save and reuse in their online 6 Trait Power Write account

Title V, Part A
Innovative Programs

From Section 5131, Subsection (a):
(a) (2) Technology activities related to the implementation of school-based reform efforts, including professional development to assist teachers and other school personnel (including school library media personnel) regarding how to use technology effectively in the classrooms and the school library media centers involved.

6 Trait Power Write assists teachers and school personnel in using technology effectively in both classrooms and school media centers in efforts to implement school-based reform efforts by offering a uniform framework of research based strategies that all personnel can easily access. All personnel can easily see where each student is in the writing process and tailor instruction to that student's needs. The program offers the highest level of school-based reform by allowing all educators to be consistent in their instruction and interventions

(a) (3) Programs for the development or acquisition and use of instructional and educational materials, including library services and materials (including media materials), academic assessments, reference materials, computer software and hardware for instructional use, and other curricular materials that are tied to high academic standards, that will be used to improve student achievement, and that are part of an overall education reform program.

6 Trait Power Write effectively integrates technology with what research shows is effective writing instruction in a managed online environment. Using this technology that is tied to high academic standards to improve student achievement, allows educators to provide individualized instruction across all content areas.

(a) (5) Programs to improve the academic achievement of educationally disadvantaged elementary school and secondary school students, including activities to prevent students from dropping out of school

Writing requires complex, critical thinking skills. For those students who are not able to find their way through the maze of thought processes involved in effective writing, 6 Trait Power Write breaks the process down into manageable tasks. When students reach high school and can no longer meet the requirements of core classes that expect students to already know how to write effectively, they meet failure and eventually drop out of school. 6 Trait Power Write provides the tools students need to succeed, thus improving their overall academic achievement.

(a) (7) Programs to provide for the educational needs of gifted and talented children.

6 Trait Power Write is an outstanding program for meeting the needs of gifted and talented children. The research based strategies are effective in allowing the gifted and talented student to move forward without being held back by the pace of the regular education students. Assignments may be structured for teacher assigned projects or student choice projects. Teachers may assign indiviual enrichment writing projects and the software provides the guidance the student needs to accomplish the task.

(a) (21) Initiatives to generate, maintain, and strengthen parental and community involvement.

Because 6 Trait Power Write may be accessed anywhere there is an internet computer, parents may view their student's progress online. Parents also have an opportunity to become involved in the POWER WRITE Process during the Evaluate 6 Traits and the Read Aloud/Input and Feedback strategies. Students and parents become enthusiastic about the student's skill growth, thus developing a key aspect of effective instruction, a positive attitude toward learning.

(a) (22) Programs and activities that expand learning opportunities through best-practice models designed to improve classroom learning and teaching.

Meta-analyses of best-practice models of effective writing instruction has shown that a process approach that implements genre specific instruction and feedback as well as helping student to monitor and manage their own writing is the most effective way to improve classroom learning and teaching of writing. 6 Trait Power Write virtually manages the steps that must be taken to insure consistent, effective instruction across grade levels and content areas.

REQUIREMENTS: The innovative assistance programs described in subsection (a) shall be —

tied to promoting challenging academic achievement standards;
used to improve student academic achievement; and
part of an overall education reform strategy.

In order to succeed on high stakes assessments, students must experience success in mastering challenging academic achievement standards. 6 Trait Power Write enables students to master the 6 Traits for effective writing as well as the writing process for a wide variety of writing tasks, thus improving performance on standards. Writing is the evidence of understanding. Content area teachers have the same tools the communications classroom teacher does and therefore, this software makes it the ideal strategy program for overal education reform in today's school. Less and less time is spent each year reviewing the traits and writing process, therefore more time can be spent on using writing as a format for mastering content, expressing views, and discovering concepts.