Encourage Editing with a Writing Conventions Checklist

Support your students in developing polished and organized compositions with this easy-to-use writing conventions checklist. Designed specifically for primary grades, this checklist helps young writers take ownership of their writing process by focusing on key conventions that make their work clear and readable.

The checklist guides students through reviewing their final draft by asking them to check for:

• Capital Letters – Are proper nouns and the start of sentences capitalized?
• Finger Spaces – Did I leave enough space between words?
• Punctuation – Are sentences correctly punctuated?
• Word Wall Spelling – Did I use the word wall to spell commonly used words correctly?
• Sounding Out Words – Did I try to spell new or tricky words by sounding them out?
• Neatest Handwriting – Is my handwriting as neat as I can make it?
• Rereading for Sense – Did I reread my work to make sure it makes sense?

Multiple Uses for This Checklist for Writing

This writing conventions checklist can be used in a variety of ways to fit your classroom needs:

1. Individual Checklists –  Give your students a writing conventions checklist each time you ask them to write a composition to ensure they follow the editing process step-by-step.
2. Reusable Class Set – Print the checklists on cardstock, laminate them or place them in dry erase pockets. Students can check off items using a dry erase marker, wipe them clean and reuse them.
3. Writing Center Tool – Include the writing conventions checklist at a writing center to remind students of the key elements they should review independently before submitting their work.

Download and Print These Writing Conventions Checklists

Use the Download button to access these printable PDF writing checklists.

Please be aware when photocopying this resource that there are 4 checklists per page.

This resource was created in conjunction with Kaitlyn Woods.

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