How do I Edit Sentences for Third Grade?

Writing is often a difficult task for third-grade children.

Writing can be a difficult skill to learn, especially for children. An important part of the writing process is editing the original manuscript to make it more sound and understandable. A third-grade student is not equipped to pay attention to every detail and create sentences that are perfect. They can, however, focus on the most important skills in writing. When editing sentences for third-grade students, you should focus on basic grammar and punctuation skills.

Things You'll Need

• Colored pen or pencil

Instructions

1. Underline any words that need to be capitalized. Pay attention to the word "I," the beginning of all sentences and proper nouns.

2. Check for basic punctuation. All sentences should have an ending punctuation that is in context. Add any missing punctuation with your colored pen or pencil. Focus on the proper use of commas, as they are the foundation of understandable sentences.

3. Mark the punctuation on quotations. Check that the dialogue is within both quotation marks and that the punctuation is also inside the clause correctly.

4. Circle any misspelled words with your colored pen or pencil. Place a star on those that show common usage mix-ups, such as "it's/its," "your/you're" and "there/they're/their."

5. Cross out misused conjunctions such as "and" and "then," especially when they are used to begin a sentence. Also, eliminate any conjunctions that create run-on sentences.

6. Check that each sentence has a subject and a verb and that all tenses match.

7. Suggest improvements to the sentences that have already been covered in class. This may include "dress-up" phrases, "-ly" words or substitutions for overused word choices.

Tips & Warnings

• You can increase your expectations when editing third-grade level sentences as the students' skills progress.

• Avoid teaching too many concepts at once to a third-grade student. It's more important that they have a good grasp on basic concepts.

References

• John F. Kennedy Elementary School: Editing Checklist
• Rccsd.org: Writer's Workshop