Grade: Grade 1 Subject: English Language Arts Unit: Phonics Patterns Lesson: 5 of 6 SAT: StandardEnglishConventions ACT: English

Editing Workshop

Learn

Good writers are also good editors! An editor looks at writing and fixes mistakes. In this lesson, you will learn to find and fix spelling errors using your phonics skills.

What Is Editing?

Editing means looking at your writing to find and fix mistakes. When you edit, you check for:

  • Spelling errors
  • Missing capital letters
  • Missing periods or question marks
  • Words that do not look right

How to Edit for Spelling

Use these steps to check your spelling:

  1. Read your writing slowly, one word at a time
  2. Point to each word as you read it
  3. Does the word look right? If not, try sounding it out
  4. Check for phonics patterns: Does it have the right blend? The right digraph?
  5. Fix any mistakes you find

Common Spelling Mistakes to Look For

Blend Mistakes

Sometimes we forget to write both letters in a blend:

  • Wrong: sop → Right: stop (missing the "t" in the st blend)
  • Wrong: fog → Right: frog (missing the "r" in the fr blend)
  • Wrong: bak → Right: black (missing the "l" in the bl blend)

Digraph Mistakes

Sometimes we use the wrong letters for a digraph:

  • Wrong: sip → Right: ship (needs "sh" not just "s")
  • Wrong: cip → Right: chip (needs "ch" not just "c")
  • Wrong: te → Right: the (needs "th" not just "t")
  • Wrong: bak → Right: back (needs "ck" not just "k")

Vowel Mistakes

Sometimes we write the wrong vowel:

  • Wrong: cet → Right: cat (wrong vowel)
  • Wrong: hep → Right: hop (wrong vowel)

Editing Marks

Editors use special marks to show what needs to be fixed:

  • Circle a misspelled word
  • Cross out extra letters
  • Add a caret (^) to show where letters are missing

Examples

Example 1: Finding a Blend Mistake

Sentence: The fog jumped.

Problem: "fog" should be "frog" - the "r" is missing from the blend!

Fixed: The frog jumped.

Example 2: Finding a Digraph Mistake

Sentence: I have a pet fis.

Problem: "fis" should be "fish" - the digraph "sh" is missing the "h"!

Fixed: I have a pet fish.

Example 3: Finding Multiple Mistakes

Sentence: te cat sat on te mat

Problems:

  • "te" should be "the" (both times) - missing the "h" in the digraph
  • No capital letter at the start
  • No period at the end

Fixed: The cat sat on the mat.

Example 4: Editing a Short Story

Original: i see a sip on te water. it is big and bak. I wis I cud ride on it.

Mistakes found:

  • "i" should be "I" (capital letter)
  • "sip" should be "ship" (sh digraph)
  • "te" should be "the" (th digraph)
  • "bak" should be "black" (bl blend and ck digraph)
  • "wis" should be "wish" (sh digraph)
  • "cud" should be "could" (tricky word!)

Fixed: I see a ship on the water. It is big and black. I wish I could ride on it.

Practice

Find and fix the spelling mistakes in these sentences. Use your phonics skills!

1. Find the mistake: "The dog can sop."

Answer: "sop" should be "stop" (st blend)

2. Find the mistake: "I see a cip on the table."

Answer: "cip" should be "chip" (ch digraph)

3. Find the mistake: "She has a brus in her bag."

Answer: "brus" should be "brush" (sh digraph)

4. Find the mistake: "We went to te park."

Answer: "te" should be "the" (th digraph)

5. Find the mistake: "The fog is on the log."

Answer: "fog" should be "frog" (fr blend)

6. Find the mistake: "I can swin in the pool."

Answer: "swin" should be "swim" (sw blend, but also "m" not "n")

7. Find the mistake: "The duc is in the pond."

Answer: "duc" should be "duck" (ck digraph)

8. Find the mistake: "Wen will we go?"

Answer: "Wen" should be "When" (wh digraph)

9. Fix all the mistakes in this sentence: "te cat ran up te tree"

Answer: "The cat ran up the tree." (capital T, "th" digraphs, period)

10. Fix all the mistakes in this short story: "i have a pet fis. It is bak and red. I fed my fis every day."

Answer: "I have a pet fish. It is black and red. I feed my fish every day." (capital I, "sh" digraph in fish, "bl" blend and "ck" digraph in black, "ee" in feed)

11. Edit your own writing! Write 2 sentences, then check them for mistakes.

Look for: capital letters, periods, blends, and digraphs.

12. Be the teacher! Make up a sentence with ONE spelling mistake. Trade with a partner and find each other's mistakes.

Check Your Understanding

Answer these questions to see what you have learned.

  1. What does "editing" mean?
  2. What are two things you look for when you edit?
  3. If you see the word "sop" when it should be "stop," what is wrong?
  4. If you see the word "fis" when it should be "fish," what is wrong?
  5. Why is it important to read your writing slowly when you edit?

Next Steps

  • Always edit your writing before you say you are done
  • Read your work out loud to catch mistakes
  • Ask a friend or grown-up to help you edit
  • Move on to the next lesson: Unit Checkpoint