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November 19, 2016

4 Reasons to Use Writing Portfolios in Primary Classrooms

I have said before how teaching writing was never something I automatically loved.  In all honestly, I was asked to be in charge of writing plans during my second year of teaching and again during my third year. It grew me.  It stretched me.  I became a teacher who loved to teach writing.  One thing we did early on in the year was begin our writing portfolios.  I had very little experience with using portfolios, except what I learned in college.  I wasn’t sure how they would actually translate into my own classroom or if I would even like them.  I am here to tell you that I fell in love with them. We kept them each and every year. Does the thought of keeping a writing portfolio overwhelm you? Don't let them! Keeping writing portfolios in kindergarten and first grade are a great tool for both teachers and students!

  1. They are perfect for parent conferences. This ensured that I had authentic examples of writing on hand to pull for parent conferences.  I didn’t have to quickly throw something together during the week before conferences. There was always something there that was current.
  2. They were meaningful for students. In our class we always said, “Our best writing stays at school.” This meant that the writing that went through the writing process and that the writing that we did on special occasions would always stay at school.  At the end of each six weeks grading period, I would sit with kids in small groups and we would together make a list of what makes good writing.  Then we would pull out all of our writing and the kids would choose the piece that they felt was their very best!  They would rate it using a system that we had.  I liked to also use this time to have them pick their top three to stay at school and would then send home the rest.  This helped us make sure they weren’t too stuffy.  In one of my schools, the writing samples would be turned in for our reading specialists to look over. But even if not, I did this process with my students because it was so meaningful! Having students assess their own writing in writing portfolios is one of th most powerful things I have done! My kindergarten and first grade students grew and learned so much.
  3. Three words-Response to Intervention. There were countless times that our writing portfolios helped provide authentic writing samples when I was trying to get a little one some intervention help or qualify them for testing.  I was easily able to pull writing samples and show examples of concerns that I had.
  4. They were a keepsake for parents. Since all of our best writing stayed at school, at the end of the year these were a precious treat for parents and students to look at together. They would take them home at the end of the year in a portfolio pocket we would make together out of construction paper. They also enjoyed seeing how much their writing had grown from the beginning of the year to the end. It was truly a time of celebration!

Do you use writing portfolios already? I’d love to hear why you love them!

CLICK HERE to get a copy of the crate label.

Does the thought of keeping a writing portfolio overwhelm you? Don't let them! Keeping writing portfolios in kindergarten and first grade are a great tool for both teachers and students!

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Happy teaching! - Amanda

Comments

  1. Kimberly says

    July 4, 2017 at 10:49 am

    I love this idea! I would love a copy of your crate label! Is it available anywhere?

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      July 5, 2017 at 10:11 pm

      Hi Kimberly! Shoot me an email and I’ll share it! 🙂 amanda@mrsrichardsonsclass.com

      Reply
      • Belinda Vega says

        July 14, 2017 at 9:02 am

        can you send it to me too?

        Reply
        • Amanda says

          July 23, 2017 at 10:45 pm

          Sent!

          Reply
  2. Kaylen Bakke says

    July 28, 2017 at 7:44 am

    I would love a copy of your crate label too! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      August 1, 2017 at 11:35 am

      Hi Kaylen! What is your email address?

      Reply
  3. Tina windsor says

    August 4, 2017 at 11:38 pm

    Hello! I would love a copy too!

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      August 8, 2017 at 9:50 pm

      Hi Tina! You can get a copy in the blog post now. 🙂 http://www.mrsrichardsonsclass.com/4-reasons-to-use-writing-portfolios-in-primary-classrooms/

      Reply
  4. Jennifer Wilson says

    January 7, 2018 at 6:35 pm

    Hi,

    What kind of writing paper do you use beginning in January?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      January 17, 2018 at 11:07 am

      Hi Jennifer! For my kinder kids, I typically use paper with primary writing lines on 1/2 and a place for a picture on the top 1/2. 🙂

      Reply

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