The idea for this project grew out of my original Teacher Inquiry Project for this course.  In that project, I used three different assessment techniques to provide student feedback on a creative writing piece.  The results of the Inquiry Project convinced me that the role of effective feedback is critical in helping students develop as writers.  As well, it pointed to conferencing as the most effective method of providing that feedback.

In pursuing my final project, I began by looking at available research on creative writing assessment.  The research pointed to several key problems with assessing creative writing.  These included the generally subjective nature of feedback, the undue influence of an instructor's individual writing style on that of their students, and the fact that most assessment is based on dated literary criticism.

The research also pointed to some potential solutions for these problems.  These solutions included using analytical rubrics to help keep feedback consistent and objective, providing feedback from multiple perspectives in order to minimize the impact of subjectivity, and allowing the intent of the author to help guide assessment and feedback.

Based upon this research, I undertook a project that followed students through a two week unit on poetry.  Over the course of the unit, students created three key pieces of original creative writing based upon specific poetic forms.  Each of those pieces was assessed in draft stage through the use of a different form of assessment.  These forms included multi-peer conferencing, student-led teacher conferencing, and a teacher-created rubric.

Students were asked to provide feedback regarding the assessment methods, allowing me to determine which method had been most effective for the students.  

This wix site was created to capture my project.  It includes a review of the literature I read to inform my project, the context for my project, lesson plans (and the planning behind them), samples of student work, student feedback on the various assessment methods (postcards), and how this project will inform my future teaching. 

I chose to use a wix site to incorporate elements of digital writing.  I have made use of images, fonts, and backgrounds that strive to capture the sense that becoming an effective creative writer is a journey.  I want my students to learn to "take flight" as writers.   

I hope that my groundwork will help inspire flights for your students as well.

                                Sonia