For+Readers



Dear Parents/Outside Readers,

The electronic portfolio you are about to read should show you what its creator is capable of doing as a reader, writer and thinker. Portfolios and their feedback nurture the self-reflective habits that are central to life-long learning. They help people own their work and demonstrate their skills and achievements in an interesting way. Students in AP Literature work very hard for their learning; the wikifolio is a chance to demonstrate and celebrate that hard work.

The portfolio is a place where students store and evaluate their best work or work that shows growth throughout the semester. This semester, the portfolio consists of eight pieces of work and a reflective cover letter. The first five pieces are either the student’s “best” work or a sample ranging from “best” to “worst.” Brief reflections on each piece are located in the discussion tab at the top of each page. The three extra pieces are what I call “superlatives.” Each student chose a piece of which he or she is most proud, a piece which represents the most difficult task of the semester, and the piece that they would like to burn. (Or, for the literalists among us, “delete.”) These have brief reflections as well.

Thank you for taking time to read through this portfolio. Please include your comments on the discussion tab at the top of this page. If you have questions for me, feel free to add them or email me at josietf@gorhamschools.org.

With respect,

Josie Tierney-Fife

Student should complete this section:

Dear________Mom or Dad_________________________,

This is what I think is most important for you to notice in this portfolio:

I want you to notice how I have gone from weak to strong in my essay writing. At first, the clarity of my writing is shaky, but as I progress, I have more text evidence and my ideas are beginning to come together. Also, I think it is important you notice how I analyze the texts I write about and see how I explain my analysis. Thanks! =)

Reader response: Please read through the portfolio’s contents. What do you notice the student is able to do well? I noticed that your writing grew stronger as it progressed in your portfolio. In the first and second essays it seemed you were reaching, at times, to make a point and rambled a bit making it more difficult to understand the points you wanted to get across. In the Helena essay I felt you were much more organized and beginning to make your points much clearer. I felt you were a bit too hard on yourself in your reflection. Seasons of the year really suited your style of writing and emphasized the things you do well. The format of short snapshots of information allows your voice to be heard without it being clouded by your reaching for unnecessary detail. The fifth essay about Middlemarch really showed an enormous amount of growth from the earlier ones. Your use of quotations was effective and and it did not feel like you were reaching or rambling. I think your strengths are your organization and increasing clarity of your analysis.

What growth or change do you see in the student that this portfolio doesn’t tell us?

I’ve seen a growth in maturity level and confidence. I loved the new self assurance that came from the Poetry Outloud experience, and especially the reflection piece she did on that experience. I think that same confidence comes through in her writing development and other aspects of her life.

Other comments: I loved having the opportunity to look at these writings as a collection and see the growth progression. I also noticed that their were connections between some of the pieces and I look forward to Katie having the opportunity, through other assignments to maybe make those connections that I saw. For example, in the EM Forrester essay, about how we live being influences by our location, I thought she could have linked it to the points made in the African Sister essay and the Reunion essay about prior experience. So, I saw that common thread and in another format I would love to see how she might be able to weave them all together. (I know these essays had to be specific to one topic.)

Thank you for the opportunity to read and reflect on your fine work! I hope I get to see more as the year goes on.

Please sign this letter and return it with the portfolio.

Heather A. Flanders 1-19-12 ______________________________ _______________________ Parent/reader signature Date