Prepare the Writing for Sharing
Writing has to be typed before it can be shared with other learners. Handwriting is too difficult to read, and typing improves the look immensely.
I have used various systems for getting the writing typed. Sometimes I type it myself. It is usually quick to do, and because I am not spending any time on marking or making comments on the writing, I have those few minutes to spend on typing. It also gives me an opportunity to think about what I will comment on when it is read in the writing group. Occasionally I have had a volunteer or a secretary available to type up everyone’s writing.
If there are computers available to learners, they do the typing themselves. Many learners like to skip the handwriting stage and go directly to writing on a keyboard; others like to write by hand, then type it into a computer or other device, which gives them the opportunity to do a little revision as they go. They save it to a folder I have access to, as well as to their personal folder.
Then I gather the writings into a single file, putting two or three on a page if they fit, and make a copy for each learner. Alternatively, I can show the writing on a screen, one piece at a time. If it’s within your scope, there are opportunities for teaching computer skills here, including saving and retrieving files, using the spellchecker, using different fonts, and inserting a graphic to go with the story.
