RESPONSE

I love the idea of the highlighting! This gives us, as teachers, a window into what our students are thinking as well as a way to understand where they are in the writing process. The more tools we can use to help students understand that writing is just that...a process, the better.

A final thought on portfolios and the writing process:  When I first used portfolios, I designed a form that asked for student reflections on their writing in their "private" portfolios at the end of each quarter and then another form which they took home with their "public" portfolios at the end of each semester. This was an opportunity for parents to read what their students had been writing as well as see the progress they had been making. I asked parents to comment on a couple of things: What impressed you about your student's work? What was your favorite piece? What would you like your student to work on in the future? I tried to keep the questions positive. Students were required to have their parents sign the comment sheet and then bring the portfolio back.

Notice that I had "public" and "private" portfolios. Students kept all of their writing and drafts in a portfolio that remained in the room. When they took work home to show their parents at the end of each semester, they selected the work they wanted their parents to see. I mention this because I always felt that students should be allowed to write about anything that crossed their minds, but that it didn't always have to be turned in for a grade or seen by anyone else. Much of the writing we did during the week was ungraded. On occasion, pieces were selected for revision and final drafts.

Today, keeping portfolios is a much cleaner process, because it can be managed electronically. I still would encourage you to have students set up 2 portfolios. One can be finished work and be a public portfolio and the other, unfinished or work that is not to be made public. There are many free portfolio sites or perhaps your district has already set something up. In either case, I encourage you to think about getting parent feedback at least once or twice during the year. Students found this to be a very positive experience.

Please share your experiences and questions regarding portfolios. We would love to hear what's happening in your classroom.