Here's what I've done in the past:
1. Students complete Wake Up Brain right after they unpack and write down their homework. I photocopy it as two sided each day. That means they edit two sentences, do a language exercise, complete a spelling / phonics activity, answer 1-2 geography questions, and do 2-3 math problems. It should take 5-10 minutes.
Depending on the grade I am teaching, I start with the one previous in September. We are on grade level after a few months and then we are above grade level by the last third of the year. It makes a huge difference! (That means in grade 3, we do the second grade, third grade, and fourth grade books.) The great thing is you can find them for grades 1-6.
2. Students proofread sentences using the week's grammar skills. Here are sentences from Harcourt Houghton Mifflin Journeys Grade 3.
3. Students read each other's written work out loud. If you pair them up and have them switch papers, they are more likely to notice mistakes they've made when they are listening to someone else read it! We use A Star and a Wish to give feedback. You can download it for free by clicking the picture or the link.
4. English for Everyone has posted free printables at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels. Perfect for differentiation! I have found that my kids can usually find mistakes in isolated sentences, but it becomes much more difficult when they have to do it in a paragraph. What makes it easier is these worksheets are multiple choice, so you shouldn't get any blank stares. They are good for assessment.
5. Finally, for those of you who have kids that need to practice that actual process of editing, SuperTeacherWorksheets has some cool printables. You may need a subscription to the website for some of them.
What do you do to help your kids proofread?
