It is important for children take pride in their work. This adds to the meaning and purpose of tasks set and assignments completed. For children to be proud of their work is part of the completion and finishing of written product.

When children write, encouraging them to edit their work is important. Spelling, punctuation and grammar are elements that need to be checked. The level and degree to which this is done, depends on the age and academic level of students. Editing should be to the level of curriculum expectation for children in the class.

Peer editing can be adopted in some circumstances. Self editing is also an important habit to establish with children. When work is finished and before being passed up for marking, ask them to go through carefully and check for errors. This is a good way of establishing editing as a habit.

In fixing mistakes, encourage children to do fix the error neatly. Computer produced documents need to be edited in a way that is understood by students.

Running automated grammar fix and spellcheck programs can mean students fix mistakes without understanding why that fix was necessary. My suggestion would be that students print off text, effect manual correction, which is then inserted into work.

Corrected work should be appreciated and assessed by teachers. It is frustrating for children to do their very best, only to have their work briefly scrutinised or passed over by their teacher.

Editing and fixing are two important and sometimes overlooked work traits.