I just finished reading an responding to the first round of published writing pieces for my class that was prompt based. Wow, what a tough job. It’s amazing how I can sit and read each piece, knowing where the child has come from in terms of their writing ability and feel so proud of what they are doing with their words. Then, I look at the state rubric, or I ask a fellow colleague and it never fails that I find more weaknesses in their writing than strengths. I suppose it’s simply a product of our current culture of assessment that we can’t celebrate tiny steps forward, but instead we expect all of the children to write at the same level for the state test. So instead of praising the compositional risks taken in an attempt to be more creative, I am reminding my children to “stay focussed and address the prompt”. YUCK! I understand that we have to “prove” that the children are learning, I understand that we have to hold teachers accountable, I understand that we have to test every child in the state the exact same way in order to have valid results. What I don’t understand is how we can take something as subjective as writing, especially writing from 9 and 10 year olds and “grade” it as of all of the children come from a level playing field. Beauty (or in this case skill) is most certainly in the eye of the beholder. I don’t care to read, certain authors, and if I had to score them on the rubric I would certainly give them a low grade. Does that mean they are bad samples of writing? NO! It only means that in my eyes they aren’t high quality. But who is to say that my “eyes” are right or wrong? Other people may find the writing fascinating and inspiring.
I don’t mind the assessing of the skills so much, I just wish there was more objective way to go about doing it.
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January 23rd, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Kudos! That’s one way of saying it. I have said that the scoring is subjective. It depends on the reader and what triggers a response from them. I also have a couple of students who have definitely come a long way. But, I am the one who can read their writing. I am the one that knows how they struggle. I am the one that hears them say, “Wow, I really like writing! I am doing so much better! The tutoring helps. Thank you, Ms. Beaulieu.” Unfortunately, the state would probably not see the effort I see. It breaks my heart to see how hard our students try, and yet it never seems like it’s quite enough.
We do expect all students to write at the same level (or close to it) - how unfair.
As far as my students go, we will celebrate those tiny steps. I will have my students feel proud of their writing and feel that they have truly accomplished something.
As far as rating current authors, you are absolutely correct. There are authors out there I wouldn’t even begin to read. Like you state, does that make them bad writers, No! It just means I don’t care for their style of writing.
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January 24th, 2008 at 8:39 am
I had a discussion with my class the other day about their scores on the rubric. I explained to them that I was grading them hard, not because they weren’t good writers…but because they WERE! However, it is really hard to make a 9/10 year old understand that they are really good at something, however it still may not be enough so I am going to push you even farther. I feel so torn between what I know I “need” to do to get the scores that the kids are deserving of vs. what I “should” do to develop a love of writing. Sadly (and having seen it in my own daughter last year) the two goals are on opposite sides of the spectrum. If we push for the “scores”, many of these kids are going to leave 4th grade hating writing, while on the other hand, if we push for the love we may not see the results on paper that everyone is hoping for. It’s truly a Catch 22!
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May 5th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
So your saying that grading papers is a pain in the you know what?From my point of view I think it’s kinda cool to be reading and grading them giving pros and cons about there story,but thats what I say luckly I don’t have to grade 22 papers.
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May 5th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Mrs.Hulburt their is nothing rong in your own passage.I got a question! HOW DO YOU DO THAT?
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May 5th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Well, Jesse, I have to disagree with you here. No writing sample is ever perfect-even the teacher’s! Surely there are areas I need to improve to give my piece more power! That being said, however, I appreciate you’re saying that my entry is good. It comes from practice…I have been writing for a long time. Another thing I can tell you that helps my writing get better each time is that I truly listen to what people say in my comments and response groups. If my readers tell me that I need to add more vivid language so that they can “see” my story, then the next time I post an entry I try very hard to paint a picture with my words. If my reader tells me that my ending feels rushed, then I make a special effort to slow down the ending in my next piece so that the reader feels like the ending is smooth and brings closure to the piece.
It’s all about listening to your reader…they will tell you what needs to be done to improve your writing…all you to do as a writer is be willing to listen!
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