Students and Portfolios

       I have been thinking more lately about the incorporation of portfolios into the classroom because I am taking an assessment class, and we have been discussing the various types of assessments.  I reflected back to a previous fieldwork placement in which I interacted with the students during their Writer's Workshop time.  I was able to view so much more about the students through their work and by helping them work through and edit assignments while they were creating their portfolios. I remember one student in particular who had seemed very quiet and somewhat withdrawn, but when she asked for my feedback on her writing I learned so much more about her.  She was incredibly creative, and her work showed intelligence and humor.  I would ask her questions which she would honestly answer, and she accepted my criticism with a very good nature.  This was a very interesting classroom to be in because I came into contact with some great writing pieces and the writers behind them.  The portfolios were helpful because it gave others a view of the student's variety in their writing pieces.