Journey of Discovery: Building a Classroom Community Through Diagnostic-Reflective Portfolios

This is the story of a "journey of discovery" that took place for more than 5 years in a second-grade classroom. The authors' research study revealed how classroom literacy practices affect students' literacy development & how particular assessment practices can guide students to important reflections about their success as readers & writers. In Journey of Discovery, authors Courtney & Abodeeb advocate for both students & teachers to think constructively about classroom literacy practices through the use of diagnostic-reflective portfolios-the result of a process of collection & reflection in which teachers & students collaborate to demonstrate a learner's growth over time. The authors share Y their definition of diagnostic-reflective portfolios & why they are valuable tools for literacy assessment; Y how to diagnose students with an array of assessment tools, with an emphasis on goal-setting as an integral part of constructing diagnostic-reflective portfolios;Y the process of reflection, how to engage students in the process, and how it shapes a reader-writer's development;Y examples of students' reflections & development; &Y sample forms that can be used in students' diagnostic-reflective portfolios. Embark on your own journey of discovery & turn your classroom into a reflective community of readers & writers who are engaged in defining & refining their own literacy development. Ann M. Courtney is Professor & Director of Reading and Early Childhood Education at American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. Theresa L. Abodeeb is Elementary Reading Specialist at East Street Elementary School, Ludlow Public Schools, Ludlow, Massachusetts, USA.Ann M. Courtney is the author of 'Journey of Discovery: Building a Classroom Community Through Diagnostic-Reflective Portfolios' with ISBN 9780872072916 and ISBN 0872072916.