Movability is a strategy I have used for many years with my students, all levels and abilities, as they revise their sloppy copies/rough drafts. I introduce it by asking students what the word sounds like and they generally tell me it sounds like “move.” That opens the door to what it really is: moving ideas, words,  parts of  sentences,  whole sentences and even entire paragraphs.  The goal  for revision is to improve style, voice, and organization. Movability is one way to help meet that goal.

Before they are required to try this on their own papers, I give students practice papers, and we work together to revise using this strategy.  We then move to their own papers to select a place for them to try movability. Once I see they are “getting it,” they choose a section of their own to practice.  After students understand the purpose for this revision, they usually have little apprehension about trying it. I know many are wondering how long this takes.  Well, that depends on you and your students.

Students do not need to recopy a draft after each revision session. They continue to make changes by highlighting, drawing arrows, whatever works for your classroom.  Skipping lines in the rough draft helps if you worry about students’ papers getting too sloppy. That way they have the space for changes.  Also, if their rough draft is in pencil, making changes in ink works well.  Try until you find what works for your classroom of students.

Tip: Have students underline the first word in every sentence.  They will probably be shocked at how many begin the same way.  Give them an opportunity to have a couple of sentences start the same way and then reword the rest until they have more variety. Soon their own voice will begin to shine through their writing.

Expansion is next as we guide our students toward cleaning up the MESS . I hope you’ll join me as we continue down the road of revision, often rocky but so rewarding.