PROCESS WRITING Using Middle School Performances as an Introduction to Peer Editing. For engaging middle school students in the writing process, make the lesson fun by asking them to perform a fairy tale that articulates the objectives of peer editing. Who says that middle school students lack the focus and cooperative social skills to be effective peer editors in the writing process? Try making the lesson fun by asking them to perform a fairy tale that articulates the objectives for the assignment. In this lesson plan, the ‘Three Little Pigs’ becomes the ‘Three Little Peers.’ ACTIVITIES: 1) Reminding the students that teamwork and cooperation are important skills to learn, hand out the ‘Three Little Peers’ detailed below, and ask each student to take a turn performing a segment, encouraging them to use as much vocal melodrama as possible. THREE LITTLE PEERS Once upon a time, there were three little peers, and the time came for them to leave school and seek their fortunes as reviewers. Before they left, their teacher told them, “Whatever you do, do it the best that you can because that's the way to get along in the world.” The first little peer took a full sheet of paper and divided it with horizontal lines into four equal sections because it was the easiest thing to do. The second little peer paper clipped the paper to top of the rough draft. This was a little bit better than just a full sheet of paper After reading the sheet of paper and the rough draft, the third little peer offered ideas to help the writer make a good essay One night the big bad principal, who dearly loved to flunk smart little peer editors, came along and saw the first little peer’s full sheet of paper. He said “Let me edit, Let me edit, little peer or I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll give you a zero!” “Not by the ink of my penny pen pen,” said the first little peer. The first little peer ran over to the second little peer for moral support while the big bad principal thought the first peer was very rude. Later, the big bad principal came along and saw the second little peer’s paper-clipped rough draft. He said “Let me edit, Let me edit, little peer or I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll give you a zero!” “Not by the ink of my penny pen pen,” said the second little peer. The first and second little peers ran over to the third little peer for moral support while the big bad principal thought the second peer was very rude as well. Later still, the big bad principal came along and saw the third little peer’s ideas to help the writer make a good essay. He said “Let me edit, Let me edit, little peer or I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll give you a zero!” Instead of answering alone, the all-star team of the first little peer, the second little peer, and the third little peer all responded in unison, “Not by the ink of our penny pen pens.” The big bad principal sighed, and said, “Rats! Maybe next time!” The next day the three little peers instant messaged their teacher, “You see, it is much better to work together.” And they all edited happily ever after! 2) For closure after the performances, ask the students to examine the story and to reflect on what the three little peers had learned. As the students recount each topic, write the three steps to peer editing on the board: use a full sheet of paper with horizontal lines, paper clip that paper to the top of the rough draft, and offer ideas to help the writer make a good essay. 3) Celebrate your successes!

PROCESS WRITING Using Middle School Performances PROCESS WRITING Using Middle School Performances as an Introduction to Peer Editing. For engaging middle school students in the writing process, make the lesson fun by asking them to perform a fairy tale that articulates the objectives of peer editing. Who says that middle school students lack the focus and cooperative social skills to be effective peer editors in the writing process? Try making the lesson fun by asking them to perform a fairy tale that articulates the objectives for the assignment. In this lesson plan, the ‘Three Little Pigs’ becomes the ‘Three Little Peers.’ ACTIVITIES: 1) Reminding the students that teamwork and cooperation are important skills to learn, hand out the ‘Three Little Peers’ detailed below, and ask each student to take a turn performing a segment, encouraging them to use as much vocal melodrama as possible. THREE LITTLE PEERS Once upon a time, there were three little peers, and the time came for them to leave school and seek their fortunes as reviewers. Before they left, their teacher told them, “Whatever you do, do it the best that you can because that's the way to get along in the world.” The first little peer took a full sheet of paper and divided it with horizontal lines into four equal sections because it was the easiest thing to do. The second little peer paper clipped the paper to top of the rough draft. This was a little bit better than just a full sheet of paper After reading the sheet of paper and the rough draft, the third little peer offered ideas to help the writer make a good essay One night the big bad principal, who dearly loved to flunk smart little peer editors, came along and saw the first little peer’s full sheet of paper. He said “Let me edit, Let me edit, little peer or I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll give you a zero!” “Not by the ink of my penny pen pen,” said the first little peer. The first little peer ran over to the second little peer for moral support while the big bad principal thought the first peer was very rude. Later, the big bad principal came along and saw the second little peer’s paper-clipped rough draft. He said “Let me edit, Let me edit, little peer or I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll give you a zero!” “Not by the ink of my penny pen pen,” said the second little peer. The first and second little peers ran over to the third little peer for moral support while the big bad principal thought the second peer was very rude as well. Later still, the big bad principal came along and saw the third little peer’s ideas to help the writer make a good essay. He said “Let me edit, Let me edit, little peer or I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll give you a zero!” Instead of answering alone, the all-star team of the first little peer, the second little peer, and the third little peer all responded in unison, “Not by the ink of our penny pen pens.” The big bad principal sighed, and said, “Rats! Maybe next time!” The next day the three little peers instant messaged their teacher, “You see, it is much better to work together.” And they all edited happily ever after! 2) For closure after the performances, ask the students to examine the story and to reflect on what the three little peers had learned. As the students recount each topic, write the three steps to peer editing on the board: use a full sheet of paper with horizontal lines, paper clip that paper to the top of the rough draft, and offer ideas to help the writer make a good essay. 3) Celebrate your successes!

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