Peer Editing for Beginners

Thank you https://ccrs4literacy.wordpress.com/ for this great activity! Go to their website to find more literacy level CCRS activities.

Material used in photo: What’s Next? Introductory Book 2 (New Readers Press)

Purpose:  Teacher guidance and support enable learners to provide peer editing corrections to level-appropriate writing (such as copying or fill-in-the-blank tasks) while developing their own critical eye for errors in spelling and mechanics.

Preparation Time:  None

Materials Needed:  set of colored pens

Procedure:

1. After students have finished a writing task (ie, spelling/dictation, copying), have students exchange papers.
2. Hand out ‘red’ pens (or any pen which is a different color which they can use to correct). Tell them they are now the teacher, and they will look for the mistakes.
3. Go through the answers (teacher can write answers on the board or on the overhead) and have students correct their peers paper. This will take some practice until they are at ease with what to look for.

4. The teacher can provide some guiding questions. For example, imagine a spelling list. For #1, ask them:

   Are there (number of) letters?

   Are the letters in the right order?

   Teacher can do the same with fill-in-the-blank activities, or full sentences:

   Are there (number of) words in the sentence?

   What word is missing?

   What word is misspelled?

   Is there a period?

5. Using their special pen, and beginning with #1, have students mark what is incorrect, and write in either the correct answer or what’s missing. Teacher will need to model how to correct at first.
6. Continue with the correcting per teacher’s model.
7. Have the students return papers to their owners. Answer any questions or settle any disputes!

This activity addresses College and Career Readiness Standard Writing Anchor 5, Levels A and B.