English/Language Arts
Explore procedural writing
Before your students read this Minute, ask them to write out the steps they use to revise their work. They may look surprised, but please reassure them that all authors revise their work, and most do it multiple times! Give them some time and space to think about the question, chat with their peers, and then write out some instructions. Then read the Minute. Who came close? Are they buying Author Collard’s advice? Play it out and have them revise a paragraph using their own set of rules and then using the Collard method. Which yields the best results? This activity should yield some thoughtful discussion and intentional practice with the art of revision!
Explore revision
This entire Minute is all about teaching - even though it’s aimed directly at your students. While a close read of this Minute really tells students everything they need to try, step into your role as facilitator and give students the place and space to try out these revision strategies. Dig into their writing notebooks and pull out a paragraph that needs some work. Or start with a single topic and write a class paragraph and then walk through the revision process together before you send them out to try one on their own.
Some of the tips offered here should become staples in your writing classroom. If students are hesitant to have someone else read their work to them, try constructing a pvc “phonics” phone out of two elbows and a straight pipe so students can read their pieces aloud to themselves. Try creating writing partners to swap papers and ask questions about what they think their partner is trying to say.
Explore procedural writing
Before your students read this Minute, ask them to write out the steps they use to revise their work. They may look surprised, but please reassure them that all authors revise their work, and most do it multiple times! Give them some time and space to think about the question, chat with their peers, and then write out some instructions. Then read the Minute. Who came close? Are they buying Author Collard’s advice? Play it out and have them revise a paragraph using their own set of rules and then using the Collard method. Which yields the best results? This activity should yield some thoughtful discussion and intentional practice with the art of revision!
Explore revision
This entire Minute is all about teaching - even though it’s aimed directly at your students. While a close read of this Minute really tells students everything they need to try, step into your role as facilitator and give students the place and space to try out these revision strategies. Dig into their writing notebooks and pull out a paragraph that needs some work. Or start with a single topic and write a class paragraph and then walk through the revision process together before you send them out to try one on their own.
Some of the tips offered here should become staples in your writing classroom. If students are hesitant to have someone else read their work to them, try constructing a pvc “phonics” phone out of two elbows and a straight pipe so students can read their pieces aloud to themselves. Try creating writing partners to swap papers and ask questions about what they think their partner is trying to say.
© Karen Sterling, 2018 - May be used for educational purposes without written permission