https://padlet.com/mmbottex/a963bajc0tyk en-us 2019-01-29 18:52:53 UTC 2026-02-12 06:40:20 UTC hello@padlet.com mmbottex https://padlet.com/mmbottex/a963bajc0tyk/wish/325556751 Defined:  In this initial step of the writing process, students choose a topic to write about.  Sometimes students can pick a topic of their own choice, which seems to motivate them.  Sometimes, it is necessary for the teacher to chose, in order to expose students to new things and help them expand their comfort zone.  Once a topic has been chosen,  students brainstorm, gather and organize their ideas.  Next, they determine who their audience is and which writing mode is best suited to deliver their message.

Personal: I have to admit that I was never big on this stage.  I would do this briefly in my head, unless it was writing that required research,  and then jump into a rough draft.  When writing required research, I would jot down notes, summarizing what I had read and use the notes to move right into a draft.

Observation: I have seen my children using Venn diagrams and graphic organizers of different sorts to help them prepare their rough draft.]]> 2019-01-29 18:55:25 UTC https://padlet.com/mmbottex/a963bajc0tyk/wish/325556751 mmbottex https://padlet.com/mmbottex/a963bajc0tyk/wish/325560577 In this step, the words hit the paper (or screen).  The emphasis here is content not convention.  Students should allow space in between lines so that they will have a place to make changes later.

Personal:  My drafts were usually well loved pieces of work, probably because I didn't spend a lot of time in the previous stage. Skipping lines in between sentences probably would have been a good idea.

Observation: Students' rough drafts are usually just that, very rough. It's easy to see what an important stage revising once you've seen most rough drafts.  ]]> 2019-01-29 19:03:36 UTC https://padlet.com/mmbottex/a963bajc0tyk/wish/325560577 mmbottex https://padlet.com/mmbottex/a963bajc0tyk/wish/325569175 After the writer has finished the rough draft, it is ready to be shared and revised.  Sometimes this can happen independently, where the student rereads the piece and makes changes independently.  Other times, this process will happen with the teacher and/or with a group of peers.  Writers share their rough draft and receive constructive suggestions and may ask questions.  Revisions may take place in the form of additions, deletions, substitutions, moving text, or even going back to gather more information.   Teachers may use small or whole - group settings to deliver mini lessons to teach students some conventions to improve writing skills. Students may go through this stage many times before they are ready to move on to the next step.

Personal:  This is probably the stage where I spent/spend most of my time.  

Observation: The "givers of feedback and suggestion" need to recognize the importance of giving constructive feedback in supportive manner and also to be careful not to impose their writing style on students' work.]]> 2019-01-29 19:19:03 UTC https://padlet.com/mmbottex/a963bajc0tyk/wish/325569175 mmbottex https://padlet.com/mmbottex/a963bajc0tyk/wish/325574494 Once the writer has made final revisions, the piece can be proofread for errors.  If possible, it is best to take a break from the writing for a day or two, so the writer can look at the writing with a fresh set of eyes.  This is the best stage to look for spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors, making sure that the piece is ready (and comprehensible) for its intended audience. 

Personal:  I find it helpful to take a break from the writing before editing because otherwise its easy to skip over mistakes.  I know in my head what it should say and my mistakes may not be as obvious to me, as they would be to someone else who is reading my work.  Creating a little distance over time helps me to forget just enough so that when I see my piece again, mistakes are more likely to jump out at me.  

Observation:  I believe that it's important to correct the most obvious mistakes or ones that cause confusion, not to change someone's work.   ]]> 2019-01-29 19:28:50 UTC https://padlet.com/mmbottex/a963bajc0tyk/wish/325574494 mmbottex https://padlet.com/mmbottex/a963bajc0tyk/wish/325583631 This is the final stage of writing, where the writer shares his/her piece with an audience.  This can be done in a variety of ways, such as in a class read-aloud, posting it to a class website or newsletter, sharing with with parents/school, etc. 

Personal: What a great feeling to see the final product of your hard work, especially when it was an involved and time-consuming project.

Observations:  Students have such a sense of accomplishment when they finally finish a writing piece.  It's important to celebrate their successes and show off their hard work, whether it's by hanging up their work for their peers to see or publishing their piece somewhere that parents can see.]]> 2019-01-29 19:46:43 UTC https://padlet.com/mmbottex/a963bajc0tyk/wish/325583631