For the past few weeks, students have been writing 5 minute reading
prompts in
their readers notebooks as we work on standard 3; analyzing story
elements. This means students can pick their prompt from the ones
suggested or create their own to show their deep thinking about the
text. Things they can discuss are any of the sign posts (Aha moment,
words of the wiser, tough questions, again and again, or contract &
contradictions), theme, conflict/solution, character development, author
intentionality, or anything else that will show their abstract thinking
skills.
Today, I pulled all of their readers notebooks for an
initial
assessment, or baseline, of where they are at in their thoughts. Most
students are currently at a "1" or a "2' which means we will be
discussing how to furhter their skills. I will be checking their
readers notebooks every two weeks, measuring their growth to reach a
final summative score. Students cannot take home their readers
notebooks, unless they ask, since I do not want them to become damaged
or lost.
Their work in their readers notebooks will be the only work they need to do to get a score for standard 3, which means that their final formative score will be turned into their summative score.