Fall is here and so are school conferences. It’s that time of year where parents across the country meet with their child’s teachers and discuss setting goals, meeting standards, and celebrating achievements. From preschool drawings to research projects, your child has been working on learning ways to communicate through writing.
As a former teacher, I was amazed at the progress my students demonstrated during the course of one year. I always kept a portfolio for each child and shared writing examples at conference time. So, this year when I attended my first preschool parent-teacher conference for my little girl, I was extremely excited to see her work. My eyes lit up when I saw that little “cinnamon roll” person. She drew one circle with four little sticks pointing out and used dots for eyes. She is at the beginning stages of writing. She is learning to draw representations of her world. Over time, she will add more details and begin to write words, which will lead to stories.
There is no way that I can keep every drawing or project that she brings home; however, I can keep those pieces that move me. I intend to keep a “Writing Portfolio” for her at home, so I can see snapshots of her writing development. Learning to write is a journey that continues for a lifetime. There is no doubt that writing needs to be assessed and grades need to be given, but I encourage you to remember where your little one started and where they are now. There is no doubt that they have come a long way!
** To create a beautiful keepsake “Writing Portfolio”, see Magic Lantern’s Custom Publishing option: http://www.mymagiclantern.com/category-s/28.htm
