Writing Over Time

As I start to think about my incoming students, I like to have a document that will record their growth in writing over time.  Most years, I have students all over the spectrum in writing development; scribbles to phonetic spelling.  As a teacher, I need to praise all of this but I also want to show how much my students with little schema or tremendous amounts of writing experiences have grown.



For years, I have collected a monthly writing sample from my students.  At my previous school, this was based on the monthly writing prompts which we were required to give.  The prompts usually contained a sentence starter.  Over time, I have changed that to be more of "writing assignment" for lack of better words. Since I try to give this on the first day of the month if possible, students and I gather together and brainstorm about what the new month may have in store.  For example, September lends itself to thinking about school whereas in December children can only think about toys, toys, and more toys.  I make a year long writing journal.  Each month, I take it out and they write a new piece into this journal.  I like that it is all in one place and shows growth over time.




Happy Teaching and Learning!


14 comments

  1. Thank you for these! I do this too, but mine were more plain. I love your version better! Thank you! :)
    Cheryl
    Crayons and Curls

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  2. This is great-thanks. Did I miss that sheet that says this is my last day of first grade?

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  3. I love these! My kiddos already do a monthly "formal" writing as well, but I think your portfolio will encourage me to make sure my students are writing more. I LOVE the cover that you created...so much better than mine! Thanks so much for sharing! :)

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  4. The link has been corrected. Thanks for catching the mistake. Please download again.

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  5. How cute! Thank you!

    <>< Crystal
    http://kreativeinkinder.blogspot.com/

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  6. I love this so much I am printing it right now and doing September tomorrow with my class. What a wonderful way to show their growth over the course of the year. I'll bet the parents love this. I have have always had the hardest time remembering to keep writing samples from throughout the year, but binding it into a little book with a page for each month is perfect! Thanks for sharing!!
    ~Meredith

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  7. can't wait to use this, thank you!

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  8. I've been looking for an easy writing portfolio to show their growth over the year. Thank you so much, this is great!! :)

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  9. Such a cute and practically way to making a writing portfolio. Thank you for sharing!

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  10. What a great idea! I always do a monthly self-portrait book and now I think I can incorporate it into this monthly writing journal. Thanks

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  11. Thank you for this writing assessment, and also including a first grade page. This will be so helpful this year.

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