Leading students to Reflection

Leading Students to Reflection and Independence.

This is a great insight from Kittle that “writers need feedback, not evaluation”. Indeed many student are found struggling with writing because of the fear of obtainning low grade. I equally agree with Kittle that we do not stop grading altogether but rather not make it our emphasis while teaching  writing. Considering the ideas that she suggested for good assessment of writers, I look forward to the implementation of the same in my subsequent teachings.

She suggest:

1. Teaching the content and craft distinctions in assessment: kittle suggest the we read for craft and content seperately. She appreciate and encourage, listen, and respond personally to the content. While for the craft she compares it to the qualities writing well in that genre. It will be a good idea and also be of great help to students if they can identify the difference between content  and craft.
2. Feedback on draft: while writing feedbacks as a teacher, don’t try to fix everything. If you do, your students are not likely to appreciate your effort. This was vividly portrayed by kittle with her experience with the writing teacher Ellen. We are to make room for revision on the part of the students because many kids may not show any indication that they saw what you corrected.
3. Feedback in conference: one on one teaching still holds the key to great achievement in teaching students particularly in writing.
4. End notes and students self-evaluation: students writing details of their writing process so that teacher can understand the writing moves made by students. Applying this process gives one the insight to what a student has gone through in the process of writing. It will also help students know how much they know.
5. Ongoing revision - the opportunity to improve: all writing teachers needed to come out with a way to get their student to practice writing continuosly. Writng does not stop with grade. I love the way kittle put it to her students that they what you submitted is not your last draft but that the final grade for a unit will be on your beat draft. Even if it comes in months after our initial deadlines.
6. Final portfolios: Evalution comes up at the end of collation of all work.