When working with young writers, keep your ideas simple and easy to remember. One of the best is making a chart and using their fingers to count off the steps in writing: rough draft, revision, write out or type, share, evaluation.
- Rough Draft: Encourage them to draw 8 simple pictures to show how their idea moves along from beginning to the middle to the end. Next, ask them to use those drawings as the outline for their story.
- Revision: Once a student has read his/her story over, it’s time to revise it. Have the students work in pairs to read each others work and offer suggestions to make the story more interesting or more complete. The writer then decides if any changes will be made and makes them. If possible add another layer of revision: have an adult read with the writer and help make changes in writing conventions, adding details to make the story more complete, etc.
- Write out or Type: The revised story should be written out with clear penmanship or entered onto a computer so it can be printed out in a final format. If possible use a computer program that allows the story to be formatted in a book layout with space on each page for the writer to add illustrations with colored pencils (thy won’t bleed through the paper the way markers will or cross-over colors like waxy crayons will.
- Share: After a story is written, it is important for writers to share their work aloud for others to hear and make positive comments about the content.
- Evaluation: It’s always important to evaluate projects. Writers should read through and judge each written story for content, thoroughness, grammar, writing conventions, etc.