This is the writing formula Shirley Smalling, a teacher at Spring Hill Middle School developed for her fifth grade students.
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.