Start Photocopying Student Work Before Its Published!

Sometimes I think we forget to preserve our students’ writing work as they’re going through the writing process. Too often, I’ve forgotten to photocopy a great timeline or a first draft in which the child goes back, using revision strategies, adding more or taking huge chunks away with scissors or a thick marker. So this morning, when I was thinking about my kids who are going to be revising their narratives this week, I reminded myself to photocopy their work so that I can show it to future students.

Keeping in-process work in binder will allow me to pull out smart work I’ve noticed kids doing so that I can share it with future students who might struggle with a part of the process. I typically share my own in-process work (e.g., timelines, story mountains, thinking entries) since I often forget to duplicate my students’ work before it gets to the published stage. So, this is a reminder to me, and for you, to do this right now in Writing Workshop and going-forward. Just be sure to obtain the child’s permission before duplicating his/her work. (I provide parents with a form in the early part of the year that allows me to duplicate their child’s work. Regardless, I ask a student before I duplicate something just to be sure that it’s okay with them even though their parent gave me permission to do so for the duration of the school year.

Think you’re going to forget? Send yourself a few e-reminders using Future Me, which is a free e-mail reminder service that allows you to send public or private e-mails to yourself so that you don’t forget the most important things you want to remember going-forward.