After children complete a story or piece, they are required to edit their own work. International proofreading marks are introduced and used at age appropriate levels. Primary grades learn how to circle words for spelling help, place three lines under letters needing capitalization, and how to add a period or punctuation at the end of each sentence. By sixth grade students use basically all the international proofreading marks in their manuscripts. Students are also encouraged to revise and improve their writing beyond simple proofreading corrections.
Students use green pens to edit.
Teachers can easily identify whether or not editing has taken place by the visible presence of green marks. Many students say that they looked and couldn't find any mistakes. I use those moments as windows of learning. All the writers published in this journal used this step carefully before submitting their work. No writer would dream of sending work to a publisher without first proofreading.