So…let’s be honest. I LOVE to have my students write. I REALLY do! Especially when there’s a cross curricular connection and a craft. It’s the perfect afternoon activity because we can get lost in the creativity of it. You can see your students truly owning their learning and expressing it through their writing.
But that’s not at all what this post is about!
This post is actually about putting all these writing pieces together for your year end writing portfolio.
Come on over to my dining room and let’s cry over the amount reminisce over the year’s writing.
So…I used to be that neat and tidy teacher that had all her students create a monthly writing activity. At the year’s end I would have exactly one piece of writing per month in a perfectly bound book. I always had to keep track of students that were absent and missed that page in their end of year book. It would bring me to my knees when I was trying to make all my writing portfolios and a student would be missing a month. Because you can’t turn the page from October bats and find December Rudolph right? It’s a crime.
Maybe it’s my old age, but I realized that ordering these things is NOT NECESSARY. I also realized a long time ago, that writing needs to be inspired and exciting. One perfect prompt a month is not the most authentic writing. #guilty
So now I have TONS of writing by the end of the year and I love to hoard it until the bitter end.
Step One, create a pile {randomized} of each student’s writing for the year.
There’s no shortcut to this one. Just play favorite music and
pass out the writing pieces into 24 student piles. {insert a bit of brow sweat and back
pain} You can do it. I believe in you.
Step Two, take a cute posed picture of each student holding a pencil with writing paper. Try to put them off center because you are going to need some space on that picture.
Step three, make a label either on your computer or print and glue on top with the students name and whatever else info you want on there. Here’s what mine look like.
Step four, place a blank page of construction paper on top of your randomized pile-o-writing and then place your picture label on top. This is just printed on regular copy paper (black and white would be cute too!)
Step five, realize you have a ribbon hoarding problem and accept it.
Step six, wrap your writing piles and if you are not wiped out from exhaustion, you could also add a tender little poem about life is a gift, writing is a gift, or a teacher that makes a random pile of writing is a gift.
I joke because the end of the year is near and my sanity is shot, but honestly when your students make those connections and read it to you in their little voices….there’s the teacher jackpot right there. It really is a gift!
Step 7, continue wrapping piles of writing into gifts!
So there ya have it. This is the new and easier way to create authentic writing portfolios! I hope it helps you in some way! If nothing else, maybe you will get a writing idea to use with your kids!
I have a few writing themed packs that you can check out if you are interested in more writing for your class. Just click the picture below.
Young Author Portfolios and Celebration
Mailbox Station
Writing Mini-Lessons
Teaching Writing and Life Lessons
thinkclicklearn says
May 23, 2014 at 2:27 amI love that you saved it as a collection! Any parent would cherish that!
Cupcake says
May 23, 2014 at 3:13 amWhat a great idea! Step 5 is my fave!
❤Teri
A Cupcake for the Teacher
Springychick In First says
May 23, 2014 at 4:16 amReagan,
You know what I love about you? My teaching partner and I have been teaching FOREVER and we always learn something new from you! I too use to make the books that had to be in order. I finally gave them up when I moved from Kinder to First grade. Whew! I LOVE your idea for the random writing portfolio. I am going to start hoarding my ribbon now!
Kelli says
May 23, 2014 at 10:58 amHow precious! What a treasure for them to keep and look back on during their high school graduation! Thanks for sharing… on my to-dos for next year!
Kelli
Tales of a Teacher
Suzy K says
May 23, 2014 at 12:55 pmThese are so cute! I do something very similiar. We keep their writing in pizza boxes all school year. I get them from a local pizza shop, It is an easy way to hold large odd sized papers and keep them sorted throughout the year. I am going to decorate them with a similar picture, ribbon and tag this year…thanks for the idea!
Lynn says
May 24, 2014 at 1:28 amGreat idea and so purposeful. thank you.
Laura says
May 24, 2014 at 2:51 amI LOVE IT!!! Just love it!!
Laura
Peace, Love, and First Grade
Debra says
May 24, 2014 at 12:20 pmJust wondering where you store the writing throughout the year? I see someone above uses pizza boxes, but then I'd have to find a spot to store THEM! I just staple various writings on the wall. I'll take them down next month before the end of school. I like the idea of using a ribbon to secure them! Thanks
Kristen says
May 24, 2014 at 3:41 pmBrilliant and gorgeous!!! What a perfect keepsake for your families! Thanks for sharing Reagan 🙂
PS I love your new look!
Jodi says
May 24, 2014 at 11:06 pmSuch a PERFECT idea!!!! This is #1 on my list for next year 🙂
❀Jodi
Fun In First
Kara says
May 24, 2014 at 11:29 pmWOW awesome! I really like how it not the traditional "book." You are an amazing teacher, thank you for sharing your ideas and continuously inspiring me!!
Suzanne says
May 25, 2014 at 2:20 amI had to share your post with my husband just to show that I am not the only one with piles of student work on our dining room table. As for the ribbon hording, we had a local store go out of business. They donated boxes of ribbon to our school and we can't get rid of it. We use it for everything!!!
Jen R says
May 25, 2014 at 10:56 amI love this idea! i have SOOO many things to "organize in my head" about what I want to do next year!
Linda says
May 29, 2014 at 2:16 pmI did these with my kids and the parents love them! I love your cover idea though!
Linda
Down the Learning Road
Rachel Mullen says
June 1, 2014 at 10:36 pmHello! My name is Rachel, and I am brand new to the teacher blogging world! I just graduated from college, and am starting my first full time teaching position in a few days. If you have any tips or advice for a new blogger, please let me know. Also, feel free to check out my blog and let me know what you think! Thanks everyone!!!! 🙂
-Rachel
Teaching, Coffee, and Aloha
Tiffany LoConte says
June 4, 2014 at 6:01 pmHi, my name is Tiffany and I just started writing my own blog. I have been quietly watching yours for a little while and I have to say that I absolutely LOVE it! 🙂 This idea for student writing portfolios really spoke to me, though. My kids laugh at me for how much I enjoy their writing! I think that these portfolios are ADORABLE and a fantastic way to showcase all of their hard work! I cannot wait to try this with my own class!
– Tiffany
Shoe Laces & Sweet Faces
Christine says
June 30, 2014 at 1:03 amYou have really inspired me!!!
Liz Knight says
October 1, 2014 at 2:14 pmI love your style and have used many of your fabulous ideas!! Here's a tip that makes my end 'o year so much easier. Re: your "Step One" — have your students pass out aaalll of your work samples. I bring out my stack of (writing/assessments/Monart drawings…whatever I need sorted into portfolios) and pass out a stack to each student. They simply deliver to others desks and before you know it, items are all passed out. If I want, I can even walk the class through a quick sort and organize lesson. "Place your stack in this order" type thing before collecting these stacks back again. Saves me soooo much time and frustration (and living room floor space!) ha! Hope this helps!! 🙂
Jessica Nealious says
June 11, 2015 at 11:40 amLove this idea! I did a rough version this year. I put them together like Mrs. Liz. The kids reread their writing and filled out a reflection form. I was in awe of the comments that they made about how far their writing had come in a year. Great idea and thanks for sharing.
Jessica Nealious says
June 11, 2015 at 11:40 amLove this idea! I did a rough version this year. I put them together like Mrs. Liz. The kids reread their writing and filled out a reflection form. I was in awe of the comments that they made about how far their writing had come in a year. Great idea and thanks for sharing.