3 - Revision

One of our overall goals for young writers is to teach them a process that they can apply to any writing, whether it is in school or in their personal lives.  Once writers get ideas on the page it is important that they go back and revise.  Revision is the “seeing again” or “re-seeing” the content of a piece of writing.  By revising a piece, an author can make changes in content and form to suit a writer’s purpose and intended audience.

This is a very tall order for second graders.  The focus of this unit is not on the quality of their revision work, but the fact that they develop a habit of revisiting work and thinking about how they can make it even better.  Therefore, an important goal of this unit is to create a language of writing terms to share with young writers.  As Barry Lane states, “Though each writer’s process is different, shared language helps writers and readers to gain control.”

Writing is similar to carpentry in that young writers are building stories.  They start with a framework to help create a solid structure.  Once the structure is in place, they can go back to add, delete or modify things.  Just as builders use tools, so do young writers.  Children will be more apt to revise if it is a physical and concrete process.  In this unit, students will be acquiring many tools to put in their “revision toolboxes. “  They will acquire tools that help them to physically make changes, as well as tools of what they could possibly revise or change.  They will work through the metaphor of wearing different revision lens each time they revise-- each lens provides them with a specific or focused purpose for reading their writing.  The unit culminates with children taking on the role of a writing teacher and sharing with others a revision strategy they learned.

While the information contained here is not related to Unit Level Standards, important information related to UDL is included for your reference.

What is Universal Design for Learning (UDL)?

UDL is a research-based framework that focuses on proactive design and delivery of curriculum, instruction and assessment. UDL provides opportunities for every student to learn and show what they know, with high expectations for all learners.

Each student learns in a unique manner so a one-size-fits-all approach is not effective. UDL principles create options for how instruction is presented, how students express their ideas, and how teachers can engage students in their learning. (NY DOE)

© CAST, 2013

UDL
Universal Design for Learning

1. How do writers develop an understanding of the purpose and mechanics of revision?
2. How do writers wear different lens when revising?
3. How do writers celebrate their learning by sharing with others?

Concept I Writers develop an understanding of the purpose and mechanics of revision.

Session 1 Writers revise to make changes to content, style and organization of a piece. Writers learn revision possibilities from studying other authors.

Session 2 Writers use tools to insert new text into their pieces.

Concept II Writers wear different revision lens when revising. *

(*Select lessons appropriate to your students’ needs. The order of lessons may be changed)

Session 3 Writers revise by describing character’s exact actions.

Session 4 Writers act out events to show, not tell their stories using drama.

Session 5 Writes revise the most important part of their stories by partnering for revision.

Session 6 Writers use temporal words to signal event order.

Session 7 Writers revise while writing.

Session 8 Writers select precise verbs to paint pictures in readers’ minds. (part 1 – recognition)

Session 9 Writers select precise verbs to paint pictures in readers’ minds. (part 2 – production, how to do it)

Session 10 Writers revise by adding character’s thoughts and feelings.

Concept III Writers celebrate their learning by sharing with others.

Session 11 Writers prepare for an Author’s Celebration by teaching others about revision.

Session 12 Writers conduct a dress rehearsal for their Revision Museum.

Session 13 Writers engage in an Author’s Celebration by hosting a Revision Museum.

Session 14 Unit Wrap-Up Day – Time for Student Reflection and Cleaning-out Folders