Portfolios: Encouraging Revision and Reflection in the Era of the Common Core

“Experience plus reflection equals growth.” ~ John Dewey, 1933

Opening Journal

What does “portfolio” mean to you? What associations, experiences, questions, or other thoughts come to mind?

Various PortfoliosElementary, Middle, High schoolProcess Portfolios /

Contained in English

Quarterly Portfolios including all key classwork in English: 3 polished essays, 2 revised essays, 48 journal entries 5 books/3 reading

presentations Quarterly reflection

(Kent)

Showcase Portfolios / Across

Disciplines Senior Multi-genre

Portfolios, with 14 elements including writing from Science and technology Second language Mathematics Literature History Etc, including pieces

related to a research focus (Graham)

Wherefore Portfolios

Engage students in the writing process

Encourage revision

Promote reflection

Promote ownership of learning and writing

Enable assessment of growth over time

Align teacher standards

Prompt writing across the disciplines

Elevate writing in the life of the school

Read around of excerpts from recent literature on

portfolio assessment

Portfoliosand the

Common Core

Tips:

Integrate language of Common Core (in categories, rubrics, conversations with students)

Collaborate if you can

Literacy across the curriculum

Range of writing (argument,

explanatory/informational

Audience awareness

Writing process and revision

Presentation of knowledge

Digital media

Command of conventions

How language function

Collaboration

Data collection

Local Portfolios

New Canaan

9th grade:1. Writer’s narrative,

2. literature-based essay

3. response to literature

4. creative/personal piece

11th grade1. Writer’s narrative

2. ??

3. ??

4. ??

Joel Barlow

11th Grade1. Table of Contents

2. A Reflective Letter

3. A Formal Analysis

4. A Personal Essay or Creative Piece

5. Writer’s Choice

6. Timed Writing

Darien Pilot

Challenges

What challenges would you anticipate if you were to try to bring portfolios into your classroom, your department, or your whole school?

What materials and resources would you anticipate needing?

Middle School Appropriate

CWP Summer Portfolios

Four pieces in submitted electronically:

Personal

Literary/creative

Real-world/expository/transactional

Reflective (any form)

Beginning the final piece: flip back through your writers notebook and identify two or three things that best capture what CWP has been about for you, then begin writing about them…..

References Newkirk, T. & Kent, R. (Eds.). (2007). Teaching the neglected "R": Rethinking writing instruction in secondary classrooms. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. Graham, S., MacArthur, C., & Fitzgerald, J. (Eds.). (2013) Best practices in writing instruction. (2nd ed.). New York: The Guilford Press. Joel Barlow Writing Center website: http://www.joelbarlowps.org/pages/jbhs/Curriculum/Writing_Center Applebee, A. & Langer, J. (2013) Writing instruction that works: Proven methods for middle and high school classrooms. New York: Teachers College Press. Kent, R. (1997) Room 109: The promise of a portfolio classroom. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. Martin-Kriep, G. & Picone-Zocchia. (2009). Changing the way you teach, Improving the way students learn. Alexandria, VA: ASCD. Gallagher, K. (2011) Write like this: Teaching real world writing through modeling and mentor texts. Portland, ME: Stenhouse. Gallagher, K. (2006) Teaching adolescent writers. Portland, ME: Stenhouse. Martin-Kriep, G. & Picone-Zocchia (2000). Becoming a better teacher: Eight innovations that work.. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Urquhart, V. (2005). Improving writing: What principals can do. Principal Leadership, v5 n6 p44-48 Feb.

Manning M. (2000). Writing portfolios: How you can help kids keep track of their growth as writers. Teaching K-8 Magazine, March 2000.

“Assessment – Portfolio Assessment.” Education.stateuniversity.com. Web, Accessed 7/16/14)