Lesson Plan
Curating Your Growth Story
Students will compile a portfolio of their reflective writing pieces, showcasing their personal and academic growth over time. They will learn to select, organize, and present their work effectively, demonstrating an understanding of their evolving perspectives.
Reflective writing allows students to process their experiences, deepen their understanding of concepts, and recognize their own development. This portfolio provides a tangible record of their intellectual and emotional journey, fostering self-awareness and celebrating progress.
Audience
Middle School Students
Time
3-4 sessions (45-50 minutes each)
Approach
Through guided selection, organization, and presentation.
Materials
Whiteboard or Projector, Building Your Reflective Showcase Slide Deck, My Reflective Journey Portfolio Project Guide, Reflective Portfolio Assessment Rubric, Students' past reflective writing pieces, Folders or digital platforms for portfolios, Pens/Pencils, and Notebooks/Paper
Prep
Review and Organize
30 minutes
- Review the Curating Your Growth Story Lesson Plan, Building Your Reflective Showcase Slide Deck, My Reflective Journey Portfolio Project Guide, and Reflective Portfolio Assessment Rubric.
- Gather all necessary materials, including students' previously completed reflective writing pieces.
- Prepare digital platforms or physical folders for portfolio creation.
Step 1
Introduction to Reflective Portfolios (Session 1)
15 minutes
- Begin with a warm-up asking students to recall a time they learned something new about themselves.
- Introduce the concept of a reflective portfolio using the Building Your Reflective Showcase Slide Deck (Slides 1-3).
- Discuss the 'why' behind creating a reflective portfolio and its benefits for personal growth.
Step 2
Exploring Past Reflections (Session 1)
20 minutes
- Distribute students' past reflective writing pieces.
- Instruct students to briefly review their pieces, looking for themes, growth, or recurring ideas.
- Facilitate a short discussion: 'What patterns do you notice in your past reflections?'
Step 3
Introducing the Project Guide (Session 2)
15 minutes
- Present the My Reflective Journey Portfolio Project Guide using the Building Your Reflective Showcase Slide Deck (Slides 4-6).
- Explain the components of the portfolio: Introduction, Selected Pieces, Reflections on Growth, and Conclusion.
- Go over the Reflective Portfolio Assessment Rubric so students understand expectations.
Step 4
Selecting and Organizing Pieces (Session 2)
25 minutes
- Guide students through the process of selecting 3-5 reflective writing pieces for their portfolio based on criteria discussed.
- Have students begin organizing their selected pieces, either digitally or physically.
- Circulate to provide individual support and answer questions.
Step 5
Crafting New Reflections (Session 3)
30 minutes
- Focus on writing the 'Reflections on Growth' section as outlined in the My Reflective Journey Portfolio Project Guide.
- Provide prompts and examples of effective reflective commentary using the Building Your Reflective Showcase Slide Deck (Slides 7-8).
- Students work independently on drafting these new reflections.
Step 6
Portfolio Assembly and Review (Session 4)
30 minutes
- Students finalize their portfolio assembly, ensuring all components are present and organized.
- Provide time for peer review using a checklist based on the Reflective Portfolio Assessment Rubric.
- Encourage students to make any final edits based on peer feedback.
Step 7
Sharing and Conclusion (Session 4)
15 minutes
- Allow a few volunteers to share a piece from their portfolio or their overall learning.
- Conclude by reiterating the value of reflection and self-assessment.
- Assign portfolio submission as homework.
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Slide Deck
Welcome to 'Echoes of Self'!
Today, we're going on a journey of self-discovery through our writing!
Welcome students and begin with a quick warm-up. Ask students to think about a time they learned something new about themselves. Encourage a few to share. Transition to introducing the idea of a reflective portfolio.
What's a Reflective Portfolio?
- A collection of your best reflective writing.
- A showcase of your learning and growth.
- A journey through your evolving ideas.
Explain what a reflective portfolio is: a collection of your thoughtful writing that shows how you've grown. Emphasize that it's not just about grades, but about understanding themselves better.
Why Create One?
- See how much you've grown!
- Understand your own learning process.
- Celebrate your evolving thoughts and ideas.
- A personal record of your journey.
Discuss why creating this portfolio is valuable. Focus on themes of self-awareness, recognizing progress, and seeing how their thoughts and ideas have changed over time. Ask: 'Why is it important to look back at our learning?'
Your Portfolio: The Big Picture
- Introduction: Setting the stage.
- Selected Pieces: Your chosen reflections.
- Reflections on Growth: What you've learned from looking back.
- Conclusion: Summing up your journey.
Introduce the main sections of the portfolio project. Explain that the My Reflective Journey Portfolio Project Guide will provide all the details. Briefly touch on each section.
Choosing Your Best 'Echoes'
- Look for pieces that show:
- Growth: How your thinking changed.
- Insight: A new understanding.
- Effort: Work you're proud of.
- Aim for 3-5 pieces.
Explain the process of selecting pieces. It's not just about picking favorites, but about picking pieces that show growth, a specific learning moment, or an evolving perspective. Provide criteria for selection.
How Will It Be Graded?
We'll use the Reflective Portfolio Assessment Rubric to evaluate:
- Content: How well you reflect.
- Organization: How clearly it's presented.
- Presentation: Overall quality.
Go over the Reflective Portfolio Assessment Rubric to clarify expectations for quality. Highlight key areas like organization, depth of reflection, and presentation.
Connecting the Dots: Reflections on Growth
For each selected piece, ask yourself:
- What was I thinking/feeling when I wrote this?
- How has my perspective changed since then?
- What did I learn from this experience?
- How does this piece connect to my overall growth?
Focus on the 'Reflections on Growth' section. This is where students connect their past work to their current understanding. Provide prompts to help them write these new reflections.
Your Voice, Your Journey
- Be honest and thoughtful.
- Share your unique insights.
- This is your story of growth!
Encourage students to be honest and insightful in their reflections. Remind them that growth isn't always linear, and it's okay to show challenges as well as successes.
Project Guide
My Reflective Journey Portfolio Project Guide
Project Goal
To create a personal portfolio that showcases your growth as a reflective thinker and writer over time. This portfolio will demonstrate your evolving perspectives and insights based on previously completed reflective writing pieces.
Components of Your Portfolio
Your Reflective Journey Portfolio should include the following sections:
1. Introduction (1 paragraph)
- Purpose: Introduce your portfolio and the journey it represents. Briefly explain what reflection means to you and what the reader can expect to learn about your growth.
- Questions to consider: Why is reflection important? What do you hope to gain from looking back at your work? What themes or ideas might be present in your reflections?
2. Selected Reflective Pieces (3-5 pieces)
- Purpose: Choose 3 to 5 reflective writing pieces that you have completed throughout the year. These pieces should demonstrate different aspects of your growth, learning, or evolving perspectives.
- Selection Criteria:
- Show Growth: Pieces that highlight a shift in your understanding or perspective.
- Demonstrate Insight: Pieces where you made a profound connection or realization.
- Personal Significance: Pieces that hold personal meaning or represent a significant learning experience for you.
- Formatting: Each piece should be clearly titled and dated. If it was part of a larger assignment, you may include a brief note about the context.
3. Reflections on Growth (1 paragraph per selected piece)
- Purpose: For each selected piece, write a new, individual reflection (1 paragraph) that explains why you chose it and what it reveals about your growth.
- Questions to consider for each piece:
- What was your original thinking/feeling/understanding when you wrote this piece?
- What new insights or perspectives have you gained since then?
- How does this piece show your growth as a thinker, writer, or individual?
- What connections can you make between this piece and other learning experiences or personal developments?
4. Conclusion (1 paragraph)
- Purpose: Summarize your overall journey of growth as evidenced in your portfolio. Reflect on the process of creating the portfolio.
- Questions to consider: What was the most significant thing you learned about yourself through this process? What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them? How will you continue to use reflection in the future?
Presentation
Your portfolio can be presented digitally (e.g., Google Docs, a simple website/blog, or a presentation slide deck) or physically (e.g., a binder or folder). Ensure it is organized, easy to navigate, and visually appealing.
Submission
Refer to the Reflective Portfolio Assessment Rubric for grading criteria. Your portfolio is due on [Insert Due Date Here].
Good luck on your reflective journey!
Rubric
Reflective Portfolio Assessment Rubric
| Category | 4 - Exceeds Expectations | 3 - Meets Expectations | 2 - Developing | 1 - Beginning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Clearly and thoughtfully introduces the portfolio, reflection, and anticipated growth. | Introduces the portfolio and reflection effectively. | Attempts to introduce the portfolio, but lacks clarity or depth. | Missing or irrelevant introduction. |
| Selected Pieces | 5 high-quality pieces are thoughtfully selected, clearly demonstrating significant growth and insight. | 3-4 pieces are selected, demonstrating growth and insight. | 2 pieces are selected, with limited demonstration of growth or insight. | 1 or no pieces selected, or pieces do not demonstrate reflection or growth. |
| Reflections on Growth | Each reflection provides deep, insightful analysis of growth, making clear connections between past work and current understanding. | Each reflection provides clear analysis of growth, with evident connections between past and present. | Reflections are present but lack depth in analyzing growth or making clear connections. | Reflections are missing or superficial. |
| Conclusion | Provides a profound summary of the growth journey and thoughtful insights on future reflection. | Summarizes the growth journey and offers insights on future reflection. | Attempts to conclude, but summary or insights are limited. | Missing or irrelevant conclusion. |
| Organization & Presentation | Portfolio is exceptionally well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate, with flawless formatting. | Portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate. | Portfolio is somewhat organized and navigable, but has minor presentation issues. | Portfolio is disorganized, difficult to navigate, or poorly presented. |
| Grammar & Mechanics | Minimal to no errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure. | Few errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure. | Several errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure. | Frequent and distracting errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure. |