Portfolio Reflections

The end of the year is here! 

I can't believe that I have neglected this blog so much this year...then again I can.  It was a doozie of a year.  Working with 7th grade RtI, 8th grade RtI, a plethora of classes with students needing Regents prep for mixed Regents exams, Algebra A and Algebra I Common Core... along with Student Council and all sorts of things that come along with being new to a district.  I tried my best this year!  

One thing I tried was student portfolios.  I had students keep folders in the room and periodically throughout the year, we would add to the portfolio and keep a table of contents.  The idea was to get students to not just take a test or quiz and throw it out or move on.  Good idea, right? 

I have a lot to improve on for next year with this... but this year worked out as well as it could.  I kept the artifacts to just tests and quizzes, and they had to type a reflection that included some sentence starters I provided.

These are a few of my favorites:

Student example and my comments

Student example and my comments

Student example and my comments

Here is an example of the rubric I used:

This is the rubric I used to grade them, the portfolios were a 4th quarter test grade.  (double jeopardy, yes, but the reflection was the point.  I figured an easy grade that teaches self reflection)

If you're interested in my reflection and rubric, you can download them here:

Overall, I was proud of them.  Next year I was hoping to have them pick out artifacts they are proud of.  Perhaps include projects.  I will be incorporating more student goals along the way, too, per unit, so I can ask questions like "did you meet your goals?" and "what standards are did you master and how?" etc.

How do you incorporate student reflection/portfolios??

Including Students in Interim Assessments

Holy Cow!  This year is flying by.  It has already been since NOVEMBER that I have written a post.  I have things stored away in my notes that I want to post about, so I will make a list here and hopefully provide links as I "catch up":

• Pascal's Triangle/Sierpinski's Triangle Bulletin Board
• Math Blog Fail
• Hour of Code
• Hummingbird Kits
• Racecar Lab for Systems of Equations
• INB update
• Algebra A course structure update

Hopefully in my free time I can update these rather than sitting on my couch eating Honey Nut Cheerios and watching Netflix...  I was told it takes 28 days to form a habit.  

For now, I will keep today's entry short and sweet.  I have been racking my brain (wracking or racking?  I never know which one to use...) on how to integrate students in interim assessments.  I know it is for me to help track where they are, where they've been, and what they need in order to continue moving forward, but I also know how powerful it is for me to step back and guide them as they figure out what they need.

After one of our data meetings, someone suggested that I read chapter 8 of Tools for Thoughful Assessment.  In doing so, I found the goal cards to be a great idea.  I ended up combining the two suggestions there and have created them.  I have attached both versions so you can look at them, use them, compare them to what you do or don't do already.

What are some things you or other teachers you know do to include students in looking at data and goal setting?  Am I biting off more than I can chew like my glorious Blog attempt?  Or my ineffective, overambitious grading policy?