Typing and Publishing With a Partner
A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on using a computer with a partner to produce and publish a short piece of writing.
Typing and Publishing With a Partner is a free 40-minute Grade 1 English lesson plan for Common Core standard W.1.6 — use a computer, with help, to write and share your work. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Grade 1
- Length:
- 40 minutes
- Standard:
- W.1.6
Grade 1 · Writing
W.1.6
With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.
Objective
Students will be able to type a short piece with a partner and publish it for a reader.
Students are successful when they can
- Types their own sentences.
- Takes turns at the keyboard.
- Says who the piece is for.
What you need
- One device per pair
- A handwritten draft each
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — find four keys
5 min- Find the space bar, the return key, the shift key and the full stop.
- Say what each one does before anybody types a word.
Teach — draft first, then type
13 min- Show that typing is not drafting. The draft is already on paper.
- Type the first two sentences, using shift for the capitals.
- Show the return key making a new line, not a new word.
- Say the turn rule: one sentence each, then swap seats.
- Say who will read it, and where it will go.
“Type what you already wrote. Thinking of new words while typing is two jobs at once.”
Guided practice — one sentence each
12 min- Pairs type their drafts, swapping every sentence.
- The partner not typing reads the next sentence aloud.
- Print or share when both drafts are in.
Independent practice
8 min- Students complete the publishing page.
- It can be done on paper if a device is not free.
Close
2 min- Ask who will read each piece. A published piece has a reader.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Composes at the keyboard and loses the sentence.
Why: Typing is slow enough at this age to overwrite what was being held in mind.
Fix: Draft on paper first. The rule exists for the working memory, not for the handwriting.
One partner types the whole thing.
Why: One is faster, and speed feels like the goal.
Fix: Swap every sentence, on a timer if needed. Both are learning to type, not just to finish.
Treats printing as publishing.
Why: Printing is the last visible step.
Fix: Name the reader. A piece nobody reads is printed, not published.
If they are not there yet
- Type one sentence rather than the whole piece.
- Pre-set the font size so the letters are large.
If they finish early
- Add a title in a different size.
- Insert a picture and a caption.
- Fix a typing mistake without deleting the whole line.
Exit ticket
Who is going to read your piece, and how will they get it?
What to look for: A named reader and a route. 'The teacher' every time means the audience question needs widening.
Printable practice for W.1.6
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Plan It, Then Type ItWrite on the lines. Use the checklist.
Questions about Typing and Publishing With a Partner
How long does the Typing and Publishing With a Partner lesson take?
40 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 13 min, guided practice 12 min, independent practice 8 min, close 2 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does Typing and Publishing With a Partner teach?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.6 — W.1.6, Writing for Grade 1: “With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.” In plain terms, use a computer, with help, to write and share your work.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
One device per pair, a handwritten draft each and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: composes at the keyboard and loses the sentence; one partner types the whole thing and treats printing as publishing. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “Who is going to read your piece, and how will they get it?.” A named reader and a route. 'The teacher' every time means the audience question needs widening. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with Typing and Publishing With a Partner?
Yes — 1 printable W.1.6 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is Typing and Publishing With a Partner free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 7 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-07. Aligned to W.1.6 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.