[LIT] Teaching the Qualities of Writing?

[Maggie Dillier]

Hello all,
I wrote awhile back asking for resources to plan a writing curriculum.
(Thanks for all your help, by the way!) I stumbled upon Ralph
Fletcher's Teaching the Qualities of Writing
(http://www.teachingthequalitiesofwriting.com) and wondered if anyone
has any endorsements (or warnings!) for it. (It may be too young for
many of you middle school teachers. I teach fifth grade.)

I have used Fletcher's books in the past and I respect him quite a
bit, so this seemed perfect. I'm a little wary of a prescribed
curriculum, but I figure there is time to tweak it later; right now, I
just need someone to tell me what skills to teach and how! Ironically,
if you remember my post, I was confused about traits vs. genres, and
these lessons can be used either way. So I guess I still have to
decide.

I am also interested in his Lessons for the Writer's Notebook, since I
needed a little more guidance there, too. Anyone do anything really
cool with writer's notebooks??

Maggie

-- 
Maggie Dillier

"If you want to build a ship, don't herd people together to collect
wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to
long for the endless immensity of the sea." (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)