How Do The 6+1 Traits Align To NAPLAN?

It’s fast approaching NAPLAN season here in Australia, so the mad rush of ‘test prep’, ‘NAPLAN sprints’ and *insert your school’s version of cramming here* has begun in earnest.

(Of course, the things students need to learn about crafting good writing are much more suited to a marathon than a sprint, but that’s a blog post for another day…)

When it comes to the question of how teaching students about the 6+1 traits can improve their NAPLAN writing data- and improve a school’s growth data in the meantime- it’s worth heading straight to the NAPLAN marking guide to consider the assessment criteria. 

• Click here to download the narrative marking guide.
• Click here to download the persuasive marking guide.

One thing I’m pleased to report about NAPLAN’s writing criteria is that it takes a balanced, big picture view of what it considers to be the key ingredients in strong writing. Unlike many marking guides and/or writing programs in schools, it doesn’t promote the secretarial elements (spelling, punctuation, handwriting) over the authorial elements of writing. Rather, it acknowledges the need for both. This means that elements such as clear and coherent ideas and strong writer’s voice are viewed as equally as important as a writer’s skill in using punctuation and grammar.

Amen to that!

Let’s take a look at exactly what the NAPLAN writing criteria values before we check how the 6+1 traits measure up.

What does the NAPLAN writing criteria measure?

Irrespective of whether students are asked to write in a narrative or persuasive format, the assessment criteria is almost the same.

The marking guide for both formats uses the following 9 headings:

The largest difference between the two formats is that where the persuasive assessment includes a ‘persuasive devices’ criteria (max 4 points), the narrative assessment has one for ‘character and setting’ (max 4 points) instead.

How do the 6+1 traits align to the NAPLAN marking criteria?

As I've explained in a previous post, the 6+1 traits were developed as a response to the question ‘what are the elements of good quality writing?’

I describe them as being the ‘labels that go on all the cogs that turn and work together to create an effective piece of writing.’

It’s no surprise then, that they stack up very well against a set of assessment criteria that values the broader elements of good writing, rather than narrowing in only on the secretarial ones.

Here’s my break down on how building knowledge in each of the 6+1 traits sets students up to address the NAPLAN marking criteria:

What’s the final verdict?

The 6+1 traits of writing are not a writing program- they’re simply a set of criteria for evaluating the quality of a piece of writing.

This means that if you use the traits to identify the strengths and areas for improvement in your students’ writing and then teach into your students’ areas for improvement, you’ll be building their knowledge of crafting good quality writing.

As we’ve seen in the NAPLAN marking guide criteria- this will only mean good things for their (and your) NAPLAN data.

Having said all of that, it’s important to remember that the point of teaching students about writing well isn’t to create NAPLAN writers. It’s to create lifelong writers who have the knowledge and skills to write what, when and how they want, in order to share their voices and do good things in our world.

Let’s never lose sight of that goal.

Related Blog Posts:

• Should You Teach Genre Or The 6+1 Traits?
• Why Less Is More In Genre Instruction
• 3 Misconceptions About The 6+1 Writing Traits

If you're keen to build your keen to build your knowledge on the 6+1 traits of writing, including learning to identify them in mentor texts and students writing, keep your eye out for the next intake of the Writing Traits Masterclass. This online, self-paced course opens twice a year, in January and in July.

Already completed the Traits Masterclass and want to learn more about implementing the traits in your primary classroom? The ADVANCED Traits Masterclass is now open. This course goes deepen on a number of the traits (including giving you practical teaching ideas) and includes interviews with Australian teachers who have been using the traits in their writing classrooms.