Writing Portfolios

I was so excited to see Courtney at

hosting a writing linky party! Writing is my favorite subject to teach!!! I love loVe LovE to see my students progress in writing, especially at the end of the year! I am get so excited and so proud of them!!! I've even been known to "faint" during our writing block because they blow my socks off with what they can do! I love it!


At the end of the year, I send home a writing portfolio with all of their original writing samples. This includes about one writing sample per month. Of course, we do a lot more writing throughout the year, but these are the pieces we've taken from prewrite, to draft, to post write. It's our very best stuff...


Here is the cover:
Writing Portfolio Cover

I put a picture of them working on their writing with their "very best thinking" faces on there too! :-) And laminate it!

I always put their first writing sample from the very first day of school in their portfolio with this note:

Where You Started

Then I put their final writing sample from second grade right next to the first one with this note:

You'Ve Grown

It truly is incredible to see their progress!

Then, all the rest of their writing samples are behind those.

I put this note at the back of the portfolio and sign it.

Note End of Writing Portfolio

I bind them together using the book binder. It's not too fancy, but it gets the job done. 


I am also very very very fortunate to have a class set of iPod Touches. So after every post write is complete, I have them record themselves reading their writing using Voice Memos. When I sync the iPods to my computer, their recordings appear on their own personal Smart Playlist. At the end of the year, I burn them a copy of their playlist (with them reading all of their writing) onto a CD and they take that with their writing portfolio. This is always a hit with both the kids and the parents. 


The recording could also be done using a single device, iPhone, or computer with a program like Garage Band. 


I can't wait to read about what others do for their kiddo's end of the year writing!


:)