Wintergirls+Group+1+Formative+Assessments

For this unit, we have developed a selection of formative assessments for students to take part in.

During the initial reading of the novel, students will often be asked to choose three quotes from the daily reading and analyze the importance and emotions surrounding the quotes, students will share these with their classmates on a volunteer basis. In addition to these "did you read" types of journals, students will be asked to journal the following: -Describe the tone and emotions of the poem "Phantom" (day 1)  -Describe Lia’s relationships with her mother, father, Jennifer, and Emma. How is Lia different with each of them? What do they each contribute to her situation? How do they each influence her? (Day 7)  -What is Lia using her thinness to communicate to her parents? What is her body saying that her voice cannot? (day 7)
 * Journals:**

Students will also take part in a series of take home writing assignments:

 -Students will be asked to explore their perceived importance of Emma as a character. Do they think Emma will be a positive, negative, or neutral influence on Lia and her story? (day 3)  -Students will be asked to choose one of Anderson’s repeated phrases, they should explore the significance of the quote to the novel as a whole. (day 5)

 -Write the scene where Emma finds Lia in the bathroom from Emma’s point of view. What are her thoughts and feelings? Be sure to give Emma an opinion on Lia’s behavior preceding the bathroom incident. (day 7)

 -For homework, have students write what they think is the meaning behind the quote: "Solitude is impracticable, and society fatal. We must keep our head in the one and our hands in the other. The conditions are met, if we keep our independence, yet do not lose our sympathy. These wonderful horses need to be driven by fine hands." (day 11)

 -For homework, have students answer this question in their journals: Define “wintergirl.” In what ways are Lia and Cassie frozen? Discuss the symbolism of winter and cold found throughout the story and the role it plays in building the main themes of the novel. (day 12)

Emphasize quality over quantity. One quotation, well-explained, will reveal what you want to know about your students. Given that these quotations already are required, the two-page assignments are a little overkill. These papers could be 150-200 words if they just answer the question without conventions of an essay. Formative assessments do no need to be essay-length.