Student Portfolios

Dear Parents of Students of 8A,

This year in ELA class we will be working to implement growth portfolios.  A portfolio is a purposeful collection of a students work to demonstrate their learning over the course of a quarter, semester, and year.  The purpose of the growth portfolio is to give students the opportunity to set learning goals and reflect on their learning (growth) throughout the year. Below are some frequently asked questions about the process. 

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What will be included in my child’s portfolio?

Writing Examples:

·      Examples of the writing process-brainstorming, outlining, rough drafts, final drafts

·      Examples from writers’ journals (self-selected)

·      Self-assessment and teacher-assessed rubrics 

·      Classroom assessments

Reading:

·      District wide assessments including Star Reading and district benchmarking assessments

·      Reading goals (determined by the student with the help of the teacher)

·      Classroom assessments

Goal Setting and Reflections:

·      Graphs and charts that show progress in meeting goals

·      Self-Reflections

o   How am I meeting my goals? 

o    What steps do I need to complete to meet said goal?

o    What do I need to do different?

o   What am I going to work on next?

How will my child be graded on the portfolio?

Students will continue to receive grades on their work (final papers, classroom assessments, classroom work, homework, etc.).  The portfolio will be an additional grade in the gradebook in the investment category.  Portfolio grades will be determined by self-reflections, organization, and participation in the progress.

As a parent, will I be able to access my child’s portfolio?

Yes, you will be able to access your child’s portfolio through OneNote.  All students in the district have OneNote that can be accessed through their district iPads, or through Office 365 on a computer.  Students will use their district sign-in and password to access their information.  I encourage you to sit down periodically and review your student’s progress with them on a regular basis.  

The why?

As a parent of two children of my own, I always want to not to just know what they are doing in school, but whatthey are learning and how they are learning.   Additionally, the older the students get, the less and less assessed work is brought home for you to see progress, or what struggles your student might be experiencing in class.  My hope with the creation of the student portfolios, you will get see what your child is learning, and how they are learning.  

I also believe students learn more when they are active participants in their own learning.  Goal setting and self-reflections are ways for students to determine what they are doing well, and what they need to improve on.  These are important life skills for students to possess as they mature. 

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Please know that I am here to answer any questions or concerns that you might have about the process.  Please feel free to call or send an email with your questions or concerns.

Thank you for your support,

-Mrs. Oldham

Why I Do What I Do

What gets me out of bed in the morning

The simplest, and most cliché answer is the students.  First and foremost, the person and the relationship has to come before everything else.  I work hard to develop relationships with my kids.  I listen to them, laugh with them, cry with them, and hold them accountable.  I want them not to only be great readers and writers, but I want them to be the best human beings possible. They are so much more than a test score and data, and when I start to forget that, it is time for me to move on!

My biggest goal is to pass on the love of reading to my students. I believe there is a perfect book for everyone and it is my duty to help them find it. I want to hear them say, “We get to read today,” rather than, “I have to read today.”  If I can get them hooked on reading, then that is a big win for me and them.

I believe that no matter where students are skill wise, when they enter my class they can grow as readers and writers.  Whether that looks like moving from a first grade reading level to a third grade reading level or moving from and eighth grade writing level to a ninth grade writing level, all students have the right to grow to be the best readers, writers, and human beings they can possibly be!  

-Mrs. Oldham