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Portfolio Piece Selection

Writing Portfolio Development

Day 166of 180
Week 34of 36
30Minutes
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Learning Objectives

1

Evaluate personal writing from the year

2

Select diverse writing samples demonstrating growth

3

Practice critical self-assessment skills

Proverbs 24:3-4

Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established. By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Proverbs 24:3-4 (WEB)

Just as wisdom helps build a strong house, careful selection and reflection help build strong writing skills

📦 Materials Needed

  • Writing folder/binder
  • All writing assignments from the year
  • Selection criteria worksheet
  • Colored sticky notes
  • Highlighters

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students and explain the goal of creating a meaningful writing portfolio that showcases growth and learning

💭 Review Question: What makes a piece of writing special or important?
2Teaching (10 min)

Demonstrate portfolio selection process, explaining how to choose pieces that show different writing styles, improvement, and personal significance

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Variety of writing genres
  • Evidence of skill improvement
  • Personal significance
  • Technical quality
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What makes a writing sample stand out?
  • How can we show our writing journey?
3Activity: Writing Portfolio Discovery (10 min)
hands-on

Students review entire year's writing, marking potential portfolio pieces

📝 Instructions:
  1. Spread out all writing assignments
  2. Use sticky notes to mark potential portfolio pieces
  3. Categorize by genre: narrative, informative, descriptive
  4. Select 3-5 pieces showing different strengths
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Teacher provides guided selection criteria

Challenge: Students create personal selection rubric

4Closing (5 min)

Discuss initial selections and prepare for tomorrow's revision process

📝 Review Questions:
  • What pieces are you most proud of?
  • Why did you choose these specific writings?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for helping us grow and learn. Guide us as we reflect on our writing journey.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll start refining our selected portfolio pieces

Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men,

Colossians 3:23 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Have students repeat verse while sorting writing samples

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Portfolio development helps students reflect on their learning and growth

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage positive self-reflection
  • Celebrate improvement over perfection
  • Help child see writing as a journey
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might be overly critical or not critical enough of their work

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Thoughtful selection process, ability to explain writing choices

Extension Activities

  • Create a digital portfolio version
  • Share selected pieces with family members
  • Compare writing from beginning and end of year

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

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