What are some effective strategies for teaching revision and editing?

1 Model the process

One of the best ways to teach revision and editing is to model the process for your students. You can use examples of your own or other writers' work, and show how you would revise and edit them for different purposes, audiences, and genres. You can also use think-alouds, annotations, or rubrics to explain your choices and criteria. By modeling the process, you can demonstrate how revision and editing are not just about fixing errors, but about making meaningful changes and improvements to the content, structure, and style of the writing.

2 Provide clear expectations

Another important strategy for teaching revision and editing is to provide clear expectations for your students. You can use learning objectives, checklists, or guidelines to help your students understand what you expect from their revision and editing tasks. You can also align your expectations with the standards and outcomes of your curriculum, and use them as a basis for your assessment and feedback. By providing clear expectations, you can help your students focus on the most relevant and important aspects of their writing, and avoid confusion or frustration.

3 Scaffold the skills

A third effective strategy for teaching revision and editing is to scaffold the skills for your students. You can use different types of scaffolding, such as prompts, questions, examples, or templates, to help your students revise and edit their work at different levels and stages. You can also differentiate your scaffolding according to the needs and abilities of your students, and gradually withdraw it as they become more independent and proficient. By scaffolding the skills, you can help your students develop their metacognition, self-regulation, and critical thinking abilities.

4 Encourage collaboration

A fourth effective strategy for teaching revision and editing is to encourage collaboration among your students. You can use peer review, group work, or online platforms to help your students revise and edit their work with their classmates. You can also provide training, feedback, and norms for effective collaboration, and monitor and support your students' interactions. By encouraging collaboration, you can help your students learn from each other, develop their communication and social skills, and create a positive and supportive writing community.

6 Celebrate success

A sixth effective strategy for teaching revision and editing is to celebrate success with your students. You can use praise, rewards, recognition, or showcases to acknowledge and appreciate your students' efforts and achievements in revising and editing their work. You can also use reflection, portfolios, or self-assessment to help your students evaluate and celebrate their own growth and learning. By celebrating success, you can help your students develop a positive attitude, motivation, and confidence in their writing abilities.