Portfolios are a popular way to present students' work over time so
that progress is evident. Many assessments can be part of a writing
portfolio. The goal is to guide the process carefully so portfolios
don't become unwieldy and time-consuming collections of "stuff" that no
one examines or uses to inform teaching.
Portfolios are a popular way to present students' work over time so
that progress is evident. Many assessments can be part of a writing
portfolio. The goal is to guide the process carefully so portfolios
don't become unwieldy and time-consuming collections of "stuff" that no
one examines or uses to inform teaching.
You will collect reading data and writing projects
throughout the year. Many teachers keep all products for the year, selecting
materials for the “pass on” portfolio in the spring. Others identify particular
times when the portfolio is examined in conjunction with the child; some pieces
are sent home and others remain in the portfolio. Some general considerations
for the type of the information to include in the portfolio follow:
- Include a list of the books the student read and the writing
projects he completed. - Feature “best work” or a range of writing projects and
poetry (e.g. several pieces that you and the student have selected for a
particular reason). - Document the level of texts the student read during the
year as well as the range of the genres he attempted. - Illustrate the student’s
growth and progress through a thoughtful selection of writing samples. - Include
writing projects of investigations that demonstrate the student’s ability to
use knowledge in content areas. - Encourage self-reflection by asking the student
to write rationales for his portfolio selections: Why he chose to include
writing samples, how he chose books to read, and his reflections on his growth
as a writer and reader. - Feature writing samples from all the genres the student
studied and explored in his own writing. - Weave in written evaluations by the
student about his growth as a reader, writer, and learner.
From Guiding Readers & Writers by
Irene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell. Copyright (c) 2001 by Irene C. Fountas and
Gay Su Pinnell. Published by Heinemann.