Trainers
Shirley Poulton / Amy Miller / Kate Drake / Jennifer Kenny
SHIRLEY POULTON,
Author of Teach the Traits of Effective Writing
Certified trainer of 6+1 Traits of Writing
Shirley spent over 30 years in the classroom developing, modifying, expanding and applying writing concepts to enable all students to become successful writers. As her career wound through several school districts and five different grade levels, she observed and practiced a wide-range of teaching strategies and techniques. Her passion for writing was fueled by workshops with nationally-known author Linda Rief, 6 + 1 Traits for Writing author Ruth Culham, the 3rd Coast Writing project with Dr. Ellen Brinkley, and her relationship with Betty Hamilton's Power Writing. It became clear to her that not only could we teach all children to write, but that learning to write could be a fun-filled, positive experience for both teacher and students. Her efforts were rewarded by the response of her students and by recognition of her peers as the elementary designate for teach of the year and as secondary exemplary teacher.
The importance of a coordinated K-12 writing program is a focus of Shirley's approach. Beginning with the creeping, crawling stages of kindergarten and first grade writing, Shirley employs the six traits of effective writing. As a certified 6+1 trainer, she uses these traits to identify "what" to teach, then skillfully demonstrates "how" to teach these skills in the classroom. Shirley's effective and engaging K-12 sessions provide strategies for writing and reading. These strategies bring success to all ability levels, even the weakest students.
Shirley now shares her knowledge, her techniques, and her enthusiasm with other classroom teachers and administrators as she conducts workshops and in-services throughout the United States.
Remember your first teaching job and the sudden panic of knowing you were responsible for teaching kids to read and write? The reading part I could handle. I had those college classes and knew how to begin. On the other hand, teaching writing was much more of a challenge. I avoided it. Why do something that was painful for both the teacher and the student. Then there was this teaching partner. She seemed to teach kids how to write while not even breaking a sweat. Well, I figured she was on to something so I started copying everything she did. Eventually, the light clicked on. I began to feel like a real writing teacher. Kids felt successful too. The teacher was Shirley Poulton, and her tools were lessons designed to teach the traits of writing including an expanded version of power writing.
After learning from my struggles to teach writing successfully, I hope to help spread the word that teaching writing doesn't have to be painful or scary anymore. After 14 years of teaching both elementary and middle school, I am ready to share what I have learned through my writing experiences.
Ever since Kate Drake played school as a bossy, loud-mouthed six year old, she was destined to work in the educational realm. Now many years later, she's certainly not as bossy - or as loud - but she still wouldn't do anything other than teach.
With seven years under her belt, Kate has experience in first through third grades. Students have ranged from at-risk English language learners to high performers ready for the next step. She relishes sharing best practices with fellow educators.Graduate studies in curriculum, brain research, and educational differentiation has whetted Kate's appetite for knowledge. But her commitment to learn more about the "how" of teaching literacy brought her to Shirley Poulton. With Shirley's help, Kate has developed an understanding of how to implement 6+1 Traits in her classroom. Wholeheartedly throwing herself into student writing opportunities, exploring Power Writing as an organizational tool, and experimenting with parts of speech minilessons are some of the ways Kate has utilized what Shirley has taught her. Having high expectations, deliberating over thoughtful curriculum, asking critical questions, and creating a community climate are priorities and have positively enhanced her students' writing.
Kate continues to share Shirley's writing philosophy with sincerity and enthusiasm. She challenges teachers to think deeper about teaching writing, to collaborate with one another and to put students in the driver's seat.
When Jennifer Kenny first started teaching 1st grade in 1993, she was young, fresh out of college and overwhelmed. In the days before her first class of students would arrive, she was busy sifting through manuals and materials and wondering how she would teach them to read and write. It was amidst the chaos and clutter that Shirley Poulton walked into her classroom to introduce herself and provide resources for teaching writing, including the power writing book tucked under her arm. Shirley explained how to help kids to get their ideas and writing organized. If kids could start learning these traits at an early age, just imagine the writers they would develop into in 6th grade. At that moment, organization sounded great! And it still does today.
Jennifer's passion for language arts continued and she earned her masters degree in reading while staying at home to be with her two young daughters. She started teaching again in 2003 as a reading specialist in a K-5 building of over 550 students. In this role she works with small groups of students needing additional support on reading and writing. She shows students how to use writing traits as a reading strategy while reading non-fiction text. Additionally, she takes on the role of literacy coach in her building and provides support for classroom teachers K-5 by modeling reading strategies and writing lessons. Many of these writing lessons have been learned from her mentors: Shirley and fellow Teach the Traits consultants. She has also worked with them to develop MEAP preparation strategies for use in the first weeks of school and the rest of the year. She enjoys collaborating with her colleagues and is eager to share what she has learned with you.
Teach the Traits of Effective Writing will give you the tools you need to create and foster a successful writing environment and energize your teaching.
