Learn In Addition To Spotter Google Docs + Kaizena = Digital Writer’S Notebook

March 21, 2015

Guest shipping service by: Gerard Dawson

When it comes to teaching writing teachers ordinarily either pass hours responding to private papers yesteryear paw or respect mutual errors as well as address those through mini-lessons. Both options work, simply brand sacrifices.  The initiative of all quondam sacrifices fourth dimension as well as energy, the latter sacrifices private attention.


Lately a tertiary choice has worked best to amend my students’ writing. I telephone telephone it “the digital writer’s notebook.”

It’s a two-tool system:
  • Students write several drafts of similar writing inwards a Google Doc 
  • The instructor uses Kaizena to laissez passer curt feedback until students eventually attain a concluding draft
In my freshmen degree students run across weekly give-and-take count goals inwards a specific genre (expository, persuasive, descriptive etc.). They write several dissimilar drafts inwards the same genre of writing, or consummate parts of i larger piece, step-by-step.

Again, all of the writing for the unit of measurement goes inwards i Google Doc. This way, the pupil tin forcefulness out  easily purpose yesteryear feedback for the upcoming writing.  Doug Fischer as well as Nancy Frey possess got referred to this purpose of formative assessment for futurity learning every bit “feed forward.”  Using these procedure students prepare stamina as well as confidence, as well as I tin forcefulness out render them feedback, simply all the same acquire out them inwards command of their ain improvements.

The Fine Print

For total disclosure, hither are the issues that may arise using this approach:

1. Students autumn behind chop-chop if they don’t run across their give-and-take count goals.  The cumulative number of receiving as well as using feedback is lost if students don’t render anything for the instructor to laissez passer feedback on.
2. There is a learning bend amongst Kaizena, the Google Doc add-on used to render feedback. It takes a few demonstrations earlier students acquire it.
3. Some students ignore for certain drafts, knowing that they’ll exclusively direct on to revise.

Start amongst “easy wins”

In the commencement of the year, the writing requirements were smal: students were asked to write 250 words per calendar week inwards their Google Doc, as well as they could include anything that they’d written inwards their newspaper writer’s notebooks.  This made coming together the 250 give-and-take destination easy.

By starting amongst “easy wins,” students developed confidence.  As the give-and-take count requirements gradually increase, the students ascension to the challenge because they’re used to coming together the requirements.

Why Word Counts?

Establishing give-and-take count goals has been crucial for scaffolding growth inwards pupil writing. Word counts eliminate whatsoever “gaming” possible amongst writing assignments.  No finagling font sizes, no altering margins, as well as no changing the periods to a larger font size (the lastly technique is clever, simply all the same dishonest).

Word counts acquire students elaborating on their ideas fifty-fifty when it’s difficult.  At 450 words simply shooting for 500?  Figure out how to fully explicate that stance from paragraph three. First drafts are nearly addition, minute drafts are nearly subtraction.

Following this maxim, students are provided amongst give-and-take counts for the initiative of all drafts, simply on concluding drafts I acquire out amongst them amongst the words of Kelly Gallagher’s rhetorical inquiry that he asks students when they enquire him, “how long should this assay be?”

It goes something like, 

KG: “How long is a slice of string?”
Student: “As long every bit yous attain upwards one's hear to cutting it?”
KG: “Exactly.”

So, give-and-take counts house a form of maturity as well as authenticity to the students writing assignments.

Support along the Way

As students write, I purpose Kaizena to laissez passer focused, actionable feedback.

The resources characteristic of Kaizena acts every bit a forcefulness multiplier of my fourth dimension as well as pupil learning. I am tin forcefulness out portion a website or video amongst students that they cheque out as well as apply independently.  When this plant well, students gain command of their ain learning instead of relying on me to brand revisions.

Overall, this do allows me to:
  • Identify trends to address inwards mini-lessons without relying on it every bit the exclusively way of instruction
  • Hand over the revision procedure for students to possess got accuse of
  • Make revision manageable for students, as well as brand providing feedback manageable for me
The digital writer’s notebook is a paperless way to possess got students prepare writing stamina, have lots of feedback, as well as acquire self-directed learners.

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