Student Learning
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I asked my students to describe to me what work in their school lives had been the most meaningful and memorable for them. Their answers surprised me. The projects that stood out to them weren't those that received the highest grades necessarily, but those that fulfilled more personal levels of achievement. One student talked about a straw structure he had built that was the tallest in the class. Another student talked about artwork she created in the style of a famous artist. Other students mentioned accomplishments in sports, music, and dancing.
Several patterns emerged for me. First and foremost, students were proud of accomplishments into which they felt they had put great effort. "I worked really hard on it," was something that was repeated often.
Secondly, they were proud of work that received positive recognition from others, especially teachers. A few students shared they were proud when a teacher asked to keep their project as an example for future students or decided to hang something in the classroom.
Very few students had been given the opportunity to share these accomplishments with others besides their teachers or parents. As I continue to develop my understanding of portfolios, I see great value in giving students the opportunity to showcase their work to a broader and more authentic audience. Displaying student work through a portfolio or even a classroom showcase can give a snapshot of student learning and engagement. It also allows others a window into a classroom and can provide inspiration for students and teachers elsewhere.
My plan for this area of my portfolio is to provide a window into my teaching practices and to display the products created by my students. In addition, I am creating a companion area on my class website that will be more accessible for my students and parents. That area will focus less on the teaching methods and be more of a showcase for student work. I anticipate both areas to overlap and diverge but see them becoming valuable displays of teaching and learning.
Several patterns emerged for me. First and foremost, students were proud of accomplishments into which they felt they had put great effort. "I worked really hard on it," was something that was repeated often.
Secondly, they were proud of work that received positive recognition from others, especially teachers. A few students shared they were proud when a teacher asked to keep their project as an example for future students or decided to hang something in the classroom.
Very few students had been given the opportunity to share these accomplishments with others besides their teachers or parents. As I continue to develop my understanding of portfolios, I see great value in giving students the opportunity to showcase their work to a broader and more authentic audience. Displaying student work through a portfolio or even a classroom showcase can give a snapshot of student learning and engagement. It also allows others a window into a classroom and can provide inspiration for students and teachers elsewhere.
My plan for this area of my portfolio is to provide a window into my teaching practices and to display the products created by my students. In addition, I am creating a companion area on my class website that will be more accessible for my students and parents. That area will focus less on the teaching methods and be more of a showcase for student work. I anticipate both areas to overlap and diverge but see them becoming valuable displays of teaching and learning.