Revising and Editing made easy

Writing conferences take time and effort to maintain.

As teachers we work so hard to improve our kids writing pieces and the outcomes they achieve.

I don't know about you but I have worked for a long time to try to get this right.

I think I have found a way that is easy - trackable and helps set goals.

I have been able to have a much bigger impact on getting my conference time more streamlined and manageable for us all.

Here is what I do....

I have created what we call our Monster Editor. My students color in certain parts of him as they move through the editing and revising cycle.

At the Teacher Conference I can see straight away which parts of the process they think they need my help with - it is the part not colored in!

To add a real conversation I can also ask questions like - I see you have colored the ears - show me where you have upgraded the punctuation or the vocabulary?

Our Monster Editor is displayed in our room as a large visual reminder of each step.

We attach a small Monster to each piece of writing. This then drives our goal setting.

Writing conferences and setting new goals can be so time consuming! This Editing and Conferencing Lapbook has been a life changer in our Writing sessions. We always know what stage, goal and level our students are working on.

This Editing and Conferencing Monster Lapbook is to be used every time your student’s are writing.

The LapBook can stand up and be a useful resource during writing sessions.

It is instrumental in the conference phase with you as the teacher. It helps guide the conversations, goals and steps for improved writing outcomes.

The students can use a paper clip to show which part of the writing cycle they are up to. The paper clip can be moved from –plan –draft- revise – buddy edit- teacher conference – publish.

There are extensive photos to guide you through the setting up and use of the Editing and Conferencing Lapbook.

This work is available in our TpT store by clicking here

Butterfly Life Cycle

Life Cycle - Butterfly 

Click here to see it in our TpT store 

68 pages 

 This Life Cycle - Butterfly pack explores the life cycle of butterflies through increasing vocabulary using reading and writing about butterflies. 

This pack is also in the Animal Life Cycle Bundle which contains – 

Bee Life Cycle Pack 

Butterfly Life Cycle Pack 

Chicken Life Cycle Pack 

Frog Life Cycle Pack 

Ladybug Life Cycle Pack 

Spider Life Cycle Pack 

Recording Book 

• This is a record of learning as you move through the information. 

• Put the book together – instructions are included. 

• Complete the first page before you start the unit. 

• As you progress through the unit complete the pages in order. 

• The students may go back and add information as they learn new things. 

Posters 

• Print and go! 

 • These posters will enable your students to have access to facts and diagrams. 

 • They will assist in correct spelling when displayed. 

 • There are two sets – the second set has detailed information. 

 • The third set has the life cycle.  

A Reader 

• Print and go! 

 • This will give you two books – copy and staple together and then cut in half. 

 • Re read and place in your class library. 

Jigsaw task 

• Print and laminate for long term use. 

 • These jigsaws (break up cards) will assist in matching words to pictures to a statement.  

Print and Go 

• The following pages will consolidate and extend knowledge for all students about butterflies. Please make choices about which task are suitable for each student in your grade. 

• Label parts of a butterfly 

• Butterflies can/have/are 

• Chrysalis can/have/are 

• Pupa can/is/are 

• Venn Diagram – butterfly/chrysalis 

Information Report 

• These pages will assist in writing a report. 

• Spinner  • Color copy and laminate. 

 • Add a split pin to attach the arrow. 

 • Spin the arrow. When it stops – the student must orally give some facts about that part of the frog cycle.  

• What I know about butterflies 

• Butterflies planner – with and without lines  

• Information Report Planner

Elmer - writing and craft activties

Elmer Writing and Craft Activities

16 pages

Click here to see this pack in our store

Elmer is a much loved elephant and the series of books of read over and over again. These writing tasks and craft activity will support increasing vocabulary and writing skills. 

Tasks include - 

• Alphabet Key – write down words or phrases to describe Elmer or the books you read

• Record words to describe Elmer – inside or outside traits

• Label parts of an elephant

• Create a summary – read a book and complete the task

• Recount of the story – choose a text to recount 

• Plus, minus and interesting facts – for any book

• Concept map – can be used to describe characters or texts

• Three facts, two opinions and one question you have about Elmer

• I see, I think, I wonder statements about Elmer

• Elmer can, is, has

• Elmer Fact Chart

• Make a paper weave Elmer 

Pets - our kids love them!

Click here to see more in our TpT store

I have been adding to this pack as we go and have spent about an hour on it today and it is done - polished and published.

Click here to check it out

Six Traits Writing Goals

After working on this for what seems like forever - like all last year!

I'm finally ready to share.

Each child had a folder with too many goals and it become hard to manage for me, but my kids as well.

I am such a fan of Six Traits plus 1 and the impact that it has on writing is clear. 

To focus on a part of writing and give a chid or group the instruction they need is supported by the 7 areas that need to be explicitly taught. 

You can see how each student works, improves and where to go next. 

But I needed to streamline what I was trying to do.

So - here is what I have worked on to improve the process for my students and I while still be very focused on what needs to happen. 

My Writing Conferencing folder - I have all my goals in here ready to go.

I have checklists for each section and an assessment page for each child. 

There are tags for each component that are attached to work and this way I can track goals and assist in setting new ones. 

This pack will support you to have simple goals of brainstorming writing ideas to more complex goals of using figurative language.

By attaching the tags this is a visual reminder. You can go back and check what you need to work on. 

 Here is the link to my work - click here 

In this pack you find the posters, prompts, bookmarks and interactive notebook pages.

Our Goals can be found here

Click here to see it in our TpT store

Happy goal setting