Do your students particpate in peer reflections? Peer reflection is a step in writing process after revising and editing a rough draft and before the final copy. It is one more way to give writers encouragement and advice to better their stories. This writing mini lesson is part of a series of lessons designed for instructional scaffolding in writer’s workshop. Read on for ideas to implement in your classroom.

What is peer reflection?

Peer reflection is when a student reads another student’s writing and provides constructive criticism. They reflect on each other’s writing.

When do students conduct a peer reflection?

Students should exchange rough drafts with a classmate who is on the same writing process step. It is best to ask students to exchange papers after they revised and edited their rough drafts.

Do your students particpate in peer reflections? Peer reflection is a step in writing process after revising and editing a rough draft and before the final copy. It is one more way to give writers encouragement and advice to better their stories. This writing mini lesson is part of a series of lessons designed for instructional scaffolding in writer’s workshop. Read on for ideas to implement in your classroom.

Where should students write their reflections?

When commenting, only comment on sticky notes and/or a reflection form. You must find postive things to say too! You can use something like two positives and a wish.

What should students look for in their peer’s writing?

  1. Is the writing checklist completed? Review it. Ask the writer questions.
  2. Look for indents in paragraphs.
  3. If it is a 5 paragraph paper, count to see if there are 5 paragraphs.
  4. Count the sentences in each paragraph. There should be 3 or more in the introduction and conclusion. There should be 5 or more in the body paragraphs.
  5. Read the introduction. Is it creative? Does it grab your attention?
  6. Read the body. Look for transition words.
  7. Look for million dollar words (good word choice). Does it create an image in your mind?
  8. Look for figurative language.
  9. Does each paragraph have a topic sentence and relevant details?
  10. Read the conclusion. Does it repeat the prompt and wrap up the central ideas? Is it creative? Does it make you think about what happened or what may happen next?
  11. Make any final comments and make sure to add postive ones!

Where should student put the sticky note?

Below is an example of peer reflections. Notice the sticky note is attached at the bottom. This helps the writer look at the suggestions while making a final revision.

Do your students particpate in peer reflections? Peer reflection is a step in writing process after revising and editing a rough draft and before the final copy. It is one more way to give writers encouragement and advice to better their stories. This writing mini lesson is part of a series of lessons designed for instructional scaffolding in writer’s workshop. Read on for ideas to implement in your classroom.

 

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This lesson is also included in the STEP-BY-STEP WRITING® Program with mini-lessons designed to scaffold through the writing process. Writing units included are sentence structure, paragraph writing, narrative writing, opinion writing, and informative writing. See what is included in the image below and click on it to learn more about them! You will turn your reluctant writers into ROCKSTAR WRITERS™! 

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