Students write autobiographical paragraphs, each beginning with a different letter of the alphabet. Mrs. Smalling says grading a paragraph is a time efficient way for a teacher to learn a great deal about an individual student s strengths and weaknesses as a writer. It has also allowed her to get to know the children who rotate through her classes every week. She has used this exercise to teach a complete 8 step writing process to her students. The steps include prewriting, first draft, proof reading, peer editing, conferencing, revision, final draft and publishing.
Every paragraph includes an opening and a closing statement.
No papers are accepted unless a peer editor signs them. Mrs. Smalling says students editing skills have improved to the point where many papers turned in to her, have no errors. Students keep track of their progress on this long-term assignment on a writing ladder that is posted on the wall. All students have a folder containing their paragraphs. The final activity of the project will be to go to the lab to type their complete autobiography for publication in book format.