6 Trait Rubber Stamp

You asked for it, you got it! Due to popular request, the Culham Writing Company has developed a new 6 Trait Writing stamp. Simply stamp the student paper and write in the scores. See our Products section for ordering information.

Inside the Writing Traits Classroom: K-2 Lessons on DVD

Ruth will be a featured speaker at the Illinois Reading Council Conference this year, March 13-15, 2008 (Ruth's sessions will be March 13th). For information on this conference, please visit their web site at: www.illinoisreadingcouncil.org

Ruth will be a keynote speaker for MetaMetrics' 2008 Lexile Conference and Quantile Symposium, June 16-19, 2008 in San Antonio, Texas. (Ruth's keynote address is June 19). Go to Lexile.com for information and registration.

Children's Books

Greedy Apostrophe: A Cautionary Tale

By Jan Carr and illustrated by Ethan Long

Picture books about conventions are popping out all over. This new one by Carr and Long is a welcome addition to the collection since most students, regardless of age, have trouble with apostrophes. Emphasizing the use of apostrophes to show possessive not plural, readers will appreciate the humor that the author and illustrator bring to the reading. And at the end? A nice summary of rules for using apostrophes.

Coming in Spring 2008: Using Picture Books to Teach Writing With the Traits: K-2

Announcing our new overhead books! This product provides essential daily revision practice for the trait-based classroom: a collection of short, skill-boosting exercises plus teaching transparencies that target key skills for revision and editing.

Picture Book

Scaredy Squirrel

By Melanie Watt
This little find is a true treasure for teachers and students looking for inspiration on procedural writing. Scaredy Squirrel makes lists, creates charts, organizes an emergency kit, keeps a calendar and schedule and a variety of other writing tasks. It’s funny, smart, and even has a sequel: Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend. My thanks to the teacher in Toronto, who is as addicted to picture books as I am, and who scoured the exhibit hall floor to find this book and give it to me. So sweet – and so very much appreciated.

After many months of hard work - the Traits of Writing for the Primary Grades: A Professional Development Video Series on DVD is finally here! Watch as kindergarten through second-grade teachers demonstrate lessons and discuss critical issues in primary writing.