Teaching+Voice

Here is a synopsis of what the elementary school teachers brainstromed about ways to teach voice. They are not listed in any particular order.


 * Reading appropriate picture books
 * Rewriting a story from another character's point of view
 * Analyzing student models/range/rubrics
 * Poetry - metaphors and similes
 * Teacher modeling
 * Collaborative writing
 * Role playing
 * Taping (listening to one's own paper)/oral presentations
 * Writing a friendly letter- audience
 * Persuasive writing
 * Hooks
 * Reades" Theater
 * R.A.F.T.S
 * R = Role
 * A = Audience
 * F = Format
 * T = Topic
 * S = Strong verb
 * R.A.F.T.S really lends itself to writing in the content area (For example, a part of the body addressing its human host.) When using R.A.F.T.S the typical way is to have the entire class having the same role, audience, etc. However, you can vary it by assigning the same topic - but having a varieity of roles, audience, format. (For example, imagine a problem with the food in the cafeteria. Some students can be a student who got ill; others could be the mother of the student; others could be the principal - and so on.)