| |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Didax "Class Ideas" Newsletter Archive |
|
|
|
I hope your school year is off to a great start! Here at Didax, we?ve had a hiatus from our newsletter, but now we?re back. First, it's a pleasure to introduce myself as the new editor of Class Ideas. Our former editor, Anna Mullen, will be a tough act to follow, but I promise to continue the Didax tradition of giving you informative articles, downloadable pages to use in your classroom, Internet links to related topics and activities, and?of course?a subscriber-only special.
This issue of Class Ideas focuses on editing?helping students get familiar with punctuation, spelling, and grammar so that their writing really sparkles. The article provides some insights on the role of editing in the writing process as well as some valuable tips for incorporating it into your classroom writing instruction.
As your new editor, I welcome your comments on this newsletter and your ideas for future ones, so don't hesitate to email me. I'd love to hear from you. And best wishes for a fun and productive school year!
Cindy O?Neill, Editor |
| |
| Editing: Punctuation, Spelling and Grammar Count! |
|
 In the first rush of getting our ideas on paper, we might not want to worry about punctuation, spelling, and grammar, but when it comes time for others to read our work, these basic elements of writing matter. Whether we?re writing a ghost story, a report on lions, or an essay arguing for a longer summer vacation, a misspelled word or incorrect grammar can disrupt a reader?s appreciation of our writing. As Lynne Truss?s book, Eats, Shoots, and Leaves, points out in its humorous take on the importance of punctuation, even a misplaced comma can confuse what we?re trying to say. Are we talking about a panda?s diet (shoots and leaves) or what the panda does after he eats (shoots, and leaves)? By paying attention to the basic mechanics of writing, writers of all ages can help readers understand their message and make the experience of reading their work that much more enjoyable.
Language arts experts agree that editing is an integral part of the writing process. The IRA/NCTE Standards for the English Language Arts recognizes the importance of editing in Standard 6: ?Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions (e.g., spelling and punctuation), media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and nonprint texts.?
In its 1998 national writing assessment of 4th-, 8th-, and 12th-grade students, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) found that students who wrote multiple drafts of a paper and saved their writing in folders or portfolios had higher achievement levels in writing than students who didn?t. The students? writing success was measured in part on their ability to ?generate, draft, revise, and edit ideas and forms of expression in their writing? and ?use appropriate conventions of written English.?
Given the importance placed on editing, how can teachers support the acquisition of editing skills in their students? Here are some tips and associated links.
1. Grammar, punctuation, and spelling skills are best learned within the context of writing that is meaningful to the student. Research shows that traditional methods of instruction in punctuation and grammar don?t really work, at least in part because these traditional methods rely on abstract rules and examples. According to the NCTE, ?Language skills conventions [grammar, punctuation, spelling] are most successfully learned with a combination of carefully targeted lessons applied within the context of meaningful writing.? When students explore the use of these writing mechanics in their own work, for example, experiencing ?the thoughtful choice of the semicolon to create rhetorical effect,? they develop a greater understanding of and enthusiasm for the editing process.
2. Keep the editing process separate from the writing/revising process. Ralph Fletcher, co-author of Lessons for the Writer?s Notebook, believes that ?good writers separate composing from transcription.? He points out that revising a written piece (changing a story lead, adding or cutting a section, and so on) is part of composing the piece, while editing (spelling, punctuation, making paragraphs, appropriate use of capital letters) is a transcription task.
3. Try peer editing to make the editing experience fun. Recognizing that ?reading and editing are essential parts of the writing process? and that ?students should be familiar with and able to easily navigate the revising and editing process,? the International Reading Association sees peer editing as a ?very effective way for students to improve their writing process? by making the chore of editing more enjoyable. Peer editing is a three-step editing process consisting of compliments, suggestions, and corrections that can be used in a whole-group, small-group, or one-on-one setting.
By learning to be effective editors, students can discover that they not only have something interesting to say but that they have the confidence and skill to say it in a way that makes others really listen.
Learn more about writing and editing: |
| |
|
|
| |
| Downloadable Editing Activity Pages |
|
 This month's downloadable activity pages come from the new World Teachers Press series, Editing. Use these pages to practice punctuation, grammar, and spelling skills in four different writing formats (a descriptive poem, an explanation, a procedure, and a recount). The activities range from grades 2 to 8, so there's something for just about everyone! |
| |
|
|
| |
| Editing Internet Links |
|
 Learning to be a skillful editor doesn't have to be a chore. It can actually be fun! Here are a few of the many Internet pages you can use to get your students started. Ralph Fletcher, TeachersFirst.com, and NCTE weigh in with articles that can help your students gain confidence as writers and editors, while ReadWriteThink.org provides a rubric for learning punctuation and grammar as your students play with words. |
| |
|
|
| |
| November Newsletter Theme: The Language of Math |
|
 November brings the publication of Didax's Visual Math Dictionary. Students need both visual and language skills to understand math, and Didax's new math dictionary is one resource they can use to connect mathematical terms and images. We'll have an article by Dr. Paul Swan (an author of the dictionary), not to mention downloadable worksheets, Internet links and, of course, an email-only special. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
