As we approach spring (OK, technically it’s here, but really?), it’s a good time to start thinking about how our students will reflect on their writing progress since the beginning of the school year.
Assuming you have used a consistent rubric all year, such as the one shown in this TLC blog, students will have ample feedback on what they’ve written from month to month.
Now—or soon—it’s time to give them time to look over their major writing assignments, make notes on the feedback, and set goals for next year. If your school does not already use some form of writing portfolios, I recommend giving every student a manila file folder in ELA class, where they can store these major writing assignments (with accumulated drafts and the rubrics stapled on top, of course), then the ELA teacher can pass the folders up to the teacher(s) in the next grade.
Following is a simple template that students can use to record their reflections (The boxes are small, just for illustration; click on End-of-year Writing Reflections Sheet to download the Word version):
DIRECTIONS: Look at the writing in your folder and list your strengths and areas in need of improvement from EARLY and LATER in the year. Then set your writing goals for next year.
| My writing STRENGTHS: | My writing AREAS IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT: | |
| EARLY (Sept/Oct) | ||
| LATER (May/June) |
Here are my WRITING GOALS FOR NEXT YEAR:
For more information on writing rubrics, check out the TLC “Writing Rubrics” page.
The Literacy Cookbook blog 