Showcase Writing Portfolios: An Instructional Strategy for First Graders.

A study examined the effectiveness of showcase writing portfolios, a 9-week intervention strategy to improve 18 first-grade students' writing. Students (who were from Roseville, Michigan) selected most of the entries in their "showcase" portfolios. Subjects' writing was assessed on three measures: the quality of writing was assessed using modified holistic rubrics; the quantity of writing produced was assessed using a count of the total words written and the number of words per paper; and the frequency of visitation to the writing center was used as a measure of their motivation to write. Results indicated a significant increase on all three measures. Correlational analysis established a positive relationship among the three measures. Findings suggest that showcase writing portfolios are an effective strategy to be used in the classroom to improve writing. (Contains 70 references, 2 tables and 4 figures of data. Appendixes present data, scoring rubrics, student writing samples, an observation checklist, and three lesson plans.) (Author/RS)