on-demand workshop

Six Traits of Writing

Organized into six stand-alone sessions, this workshop connects the Six Traits to the Science of Writing research base. Teach every student what good writing looks like — and how to get there. 
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WORKSHOP DETAILS

  • SESSION 1 
    What Is Good Writing? + The Trait of Ideas
    52 minutes

  • Learn what all good writing has in common, and see how the Six Traits are already woven into your standards and rubrics — not a new program to add on. Then dive into the Trait of Ideas: the specific skills that signal strong Ideas in K–8 writing, paired with mini lesson concepts you can teach right away.

  • Connect the Six Traits to persuasive/argumentative, informative, and narrative writing rather than teaching the traits in isolation.
  • Use the traits to make more intentional decisions about writing instruction, feedback, revision, editing, and assessment.
  • Teach the Trait of Ideas differently across genres—from claims and supporting reasons to big ideas and details to narrative problems and events.

  • SESSION 2 
    The Trait of Organization
    47 minutes

  • Break down the visible, teachable ingredients of strong organization, illustrated live with student writing across grade levels — paired with mini-lessons tied directly to Launching the Writer’s Workshop.

  • Teach the Trait of Organization beyond a generic beginning, middle, and end by identifying what belongs in each part for persuasive, informative, and narrative writing.
  • Distinguish between reasons and details so students can group related evidence into larger ideas that become the foundation for body paragraphs.
  • Organize informative writing according to its purpose and text structure, including sequence, categories, compare/contrast, cause/effect, and problem/solution.


  • SESSION 3     
    Voice and Word Choice
    49 minutes

  • Uncover the specific signals of strong voice and word choice in student writing, and leave with mini-lesson concepts for both.

  • Build students’ understanding of the Trait of Word Choice by showing how similar words carry different shades of meaning and connotation.
  • Expand students’ understanding of the Trait of Voice beyond humor and storytelling to include tone, perspective, and the way a writer sounds in every genre.
  • Approach revision in the right order—first strengthening ideas, details, evidence, and organization, and then refining Voice and Word Choice.


  • SESSION 4
    Sentence Fluency, Conventions & Presentation
    47 minutes

  • Learn the characteristics for all three traits and mini-lessons to match. Then see why their priority shifts as readability becomes the bigger risk at higher grade bands.

  • Evaluate the Traits of Sentence Fluency, Conventions, and Presentation through the lens of readability rather than expecting flawless first-draft writing.
  • Embed instruction in conventions and sentence fluency within persuasive, informative, and narrative writing rather than limiting these skills to isolated language instruction.
  • Teach conventions and fluency with purpose, including paragraphing to signal shifts in ideas, varying sentence structures, and using punctuation and repetition for impact.


  • SESSION 5     
    The Science of Writing
    46 minutes

  • Discover the five factors of the Science of Writing, and see exactly how the Six Traits already lives inside each one.

  • Recognize when struggles with reading responses stem from weak writing skills rather than weak reading comprehension.
  • Balance comprehension instruction with explicit writing instruction so students can first think deeply about a text and then communicate that thinking in writing.
  • Use writing standards and assessment rubrics to identify trait priorities, with particular emphasis on Ideas and Organization.


  • SESSION 6     
    Applying the Science: Building Your Writing Year
    50 minutes

  • See how systematic instruction unfolds when the same skill nuances across narrative, informative, and persuasive writing. Then learn the trophy traits and the priority pathway for moving students from struggling to strong writers.

  • Introduce the Six Traits through short, low-stakes mini-lessons that expose students to the language and characteristics of good writing.
  • Transition from beginning-of-year routines into teaching the three major purposes for writing—to persuade, inform, and entertain through narrative.
  • Use authentic writing examples, mentor texts, mini-posters, student samples, and other digital resources to support explicit writing instruction.

A visual cue for every trait

Each trait gets its own trigger — a simple icon paired with a physical object that will be revealed during the workshop. Once introduced, hold up the trigger any time you’re teaching a skill tied to that trait, and students instantly connect it to everything they’ve learned about it so far.

Who should enroll?

  • Grades K-8 ELA teachers
  • School principals
  • District curriculum directors
  • Instructional coaches, curriculum coordinators, and instructional officers
  • SPED, ML, Title I, and intervention specialists

    • WHAT YOU GET

    On-Demand Videos

    Relevant & engaging presentations

    Launching the Writer's Workshop 

    Digital book (K-2 or 3-12 edition) — $24.99 value

    Downloadable Handout

    Full-color
    note-taking guide

    Secret Site

    Lifetime access to
    digital resources

    Completion Certificate

    4.5 hours of
    PD credit

    PRICING & GROUP RATES

    $169/person

    Group of 15 or more?

    Email us or call (888) 376-0448
    for custom pricing.

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    Meet the PRESENTER

    Kristina Smekens

    Nationally recognized literacy consultant, author, and founder of Smekens Education
    Kristina has spent more than 20 years helping K–8 teachers do one of the hardest things in education: teach writing well — and the Six Traits framework has been central to that work from the start.

    She works directly in classrooms — alongside students, modeling lessons, and coaching teachers through the same challenges you’re facing right now. That’s where her strategies come from. Not theory. Not a curriculum she’s selling. Real classrooms, real kids, real teachers figuring out what works.

    She’s the author of Launching the Writer’s Workshop (K-2 and 3-12 editions) and has led workshops and trainings for thousands of teachers across the country. Her approach is known for being practical, ready-to-implement, and respectful of how busy you already are.

    When you spend a day learning from Kristina, you’re not getting a program to follow. You’re getting a guide who’ll help you build the writing instruction your classroom needs.

    TOP QUESTIONS ABOUT ON-DEMAND WORKSHOPS

    What is included with my registration?

    • Access to the workshop video for one full year.
    • 4.5 hours of dynamic workshop content.
    • Digital copy of Launching the Writer’s Workshop (K-2 or 3-12 edition) — $24.99 value
    • A downloadable copy of the workshop handout.
    • Lifetime access to classroom-ready digital resources.
    • A completion certificate for 4.5 hours of continuing education credit.

    Once I register, when does my access start?

    When you register for this workshop, your access begins immediately!

    How long do I have access to the workshop?

    Once you enroll in the online workshop, you can access the videos for one full year. The self-paced format means you determine how fast or slow you move through the workshop.

    Your workshop registration also comes with lifetime access to exclusive digital resources in the “Secret Site” that accompanies this workshop. Here you’ll find classroom-ready worksheets and blackline masters, along with videos and articles to take your learning further. Teachers love the way the “Secret Site” helps them implement what they learn in the workshop.

    Can I share my workshop with colleagues?

    Online workshop sharing is not allowed. Our Terms of Use specify that one registration fee allows access for just one person. However, we are happy to offer group discounts. Give us a call at (888) 376-0448 to get the details.

    Can I get continuing education credits?

    Most likely! With prior approval from your school district, participants may receive credit for up to 4.5 hours of professional development for completing each of the workshop videos. A Certificate of Completion is provided to participants when they complete all aspects of the workshop. For possible Illinois-approved credit, please contact our office.

    Can I receive Illinois-approved credits?

    Smekens Education is a for-profit entity located outside of Illinois, and as such is not eligible to administer state-approved PD credit for webAcademy workshops. However, local school districts in Illinois may award credit when educators participate in professional development from Smekens and other for-profit, out-of-state entities. Please contact your district to determine if continuing education credit may be earned by participating in professional development events sponsored by Smekens Education.

    Can I earn graduate-level units for this workshop?

    Thanks to a partnership with the University of the Pacific, educators who complete each of the videos in a webAcademy workshop are eligible to pursue 1, 2, or 3 graduate-level units. (Graduate-level units cost is separate from registration fees. Units are $62 each.)

    Graduate-level units offered through the University of the Pacific are non-degree units which are designed for professional certification renewals and salary step increases. (These are post-baccalaureate professional development semester units of non-degree graduate level and are not applicable to a degree at University of the Pacific.) To learn more, contact us by email or call (888) 376-0448.

    What if I'm unhappy with the workshop?

    Every online workshop comes with a 100% money back guarantee. We are convinced the simple and effective strategies will transform the way you teach so we stand behind this workshop with full confidence. If you aren’t satisfied, contact me within the first ten days of your purchase, and I will give you a refund immediately. There are no additional forms to fill out, and there will be no delay. Just call (888) 376-0448 and ask for Brady or email me directly. We believe so strongly in this online workshop that we give you our personal promise of a speedy, hassle-free, no-questions-asked, total and complete refund.