Standard: 4.W.5 – With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, and editing. (Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of Language standards 1-3 up to and including grade 4 here.)
Grade level: Grade 4
Subject: English Language Arts
Domain: Writing
Teacher Overview
This standard emphasizes the importance of developing and strengthening writing through planning, revising, and editing with the guidance of peers and adults. It is crucial for students to understand that writing is a process that involves multiple steps and that feedback is a valuable part of improving their work. Students should have a foundational understanding of basic writing conventions and grammar rules. They should also be comfortable writing simple paragraphs and short essays.
Students will develop the ability to independently plan, revise, and edit their writing. They will be able to apply these skills to more complex writing tasks and continue to refine their writing process in higher grades.
Common Misconception 1
Some students may believe that revising and editing are the same thing, leading them to focus solely on correcting grammar and punctuation without considering the overall content and organization of their writing.
Intervention 1
Introduce a mini-lesson that clearly distinguishes between revising and editing. Provide examples and practice opportunities for students to apply each process separately.
Common Misconception 2
Another common misconception is that the first draft of a piece of writing should be perfect. This can cause students to become discouraged when they receive feedback or need to make revisions.
Intervention 2
Foster a classroom culture that views writing as an iterative process. Share examples of professional writers who go through multiple drafts and revisions, and provide regular opportunities for students to receive and give constructive feedback.
Prerequisite Knowledge
Students should be familiar with basic writing conventions and grammar rules, including sentence structure, punctuation, and parts of speech. They should also have experience writing simple paragraphs and short essays.
Subsequent Knowledge
After mastering this standard, students will be able to independently plan, revise, and edit their writing. They will also develop a deeper understanding of the writing process and be able to apply these skills to more complex writing tasks in higher grades.
Instructional Activities
- Peer review sessions where students exchange drafts and provide feedback.
- Writing workshops that focus on different aspects of the writing process, such as brainstorming, drafting, and revising.
- Interactive editing exercises where students correct errors in sample texts.
- Group projects that require collaborative writing and editing.
- Individual writing conferences with the teacher to discuss specific areas for improvement.
