Two Things All Students & Teachers Need
"Did you want to read my book?" A student had completed a research project about becoming a teacher. I was walking through the 5th grade classroom on a regular visit. Last year, she had started this personal inquiry but failed to see it through to publication until now. "Sure," I responded. I sat down next to her desk as she opened up her Chromebook. Her project was on Book Creator. At thirty pages, she had interviewed many students and teachers about the education profession. I already knew that she might want to be a teacher herself, remembering this work from last year, yet I read each page with her again, sharing kind comments ("That's an interesting response.") and asking questions ("So who did you write this for?"). The student shrugged to that question about audience. I followed up. "I ask because I am curious about why you finished this project now." She paused, then responded, "Our teacher gave us time to go back and reread some of our writing." I then realized what the students were doing when I walked in: they were adding selected literacy work to their Google Site portfolios. Some writings extended back years, saved in their Google Drive accounts. It wasn't the students' digital portfolios that prompted this student to revisit their work, finish it, and find it worthy to present to me and online. Their teacher gave them the time and her attention. Digital portfolios by themselves were just a repository for their work. It was the dedicated space within the schedule along with the opportunity to revisit their work that motivated the students to take it more seriously. This intentional act conveyed the importance that their learning was worth it. I didn't get a chance to follow up with the teacher in person, to check in on how the portfolio assessment process was going during her literacy block. Certainly it would be easy for me to deem this visit "done" and let my handwritten notes I left on her desk be the only form of feedback about the visit. But what would I be communicating? My time and attention is invaluable and it needs to be devoted to what matters most to others.
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