THE PORTFOLIO

What is a portfolio? An ongoing collection of a

child’s work and documentation of learning

Includes a wide range of materials.

Portfolio pieces may include drawings and artwork, writing samples, photographs, notes from teachers and friends, assessments.

Includes classroom and studio work

What is the portfolio’s purpose? Demonstrating learning Communicating experiences and learning Capturing the learning process Demonstrating thinking and problem solving Assessment: paper/pencil and authentic Evidence of experiences of the child Expression Developing self awareness and self esteem Offering children, teachers, parents opportunity to

wonder Reflecting Demonstrating quality

Portfolio GuidelinesWhat goes into the portfolio?

Work the child is proud of and wants to include Work that shows uniqueness Demonstration of learning: success or a failure Could be an end product or process Always has intention, a reason for going in portfolio Include core curriculum areas Include real life experiences Include awards and performances Work showing a pattern of growth and improvement Benchmarks or milestones

How are portfolios organized?

Organized to exemplify who a child is and how a child learns

Two descriptions to choose from when filling out the “section” portfolio label. Who I am How I learn

Who I Am Evidence of a child’s…

Relating and connecting to the world Growing and changing (Physically, emotionally,

mentally) Building relationships and making friends Communicating and expressing Habits and traits Values Hopes and dreams A philosophy of life (how does a child approach life,

learning, relating to others)

How I LearnEvidence of a child’s …

Wondering Exploring Discovering Achieving (not standard grades, but how a child succeeds) Mastering a concept Theories Learning style Problem solving Facing challenges Using Languages (visual arts, speaking and writing) Metacognition (one’s perception of their own learning)

Teachers prepare environment with long white paper and 4 portfolios for review

Children and parents sort the portfolio work

Suggested Session Format 5 Minutes – Meet and share agenda 20 Minutes – Lay out or sort work from

portfolio onto white paper 20 Minutes – Walk around and reflect on

the learning of others; leave notes 15 Minutes – Children put away work

while parents write messages; snacks are served in the dining room for those who are interested.

Teachers set up a space for parents to write letters to their children.

Questions to Help Prepare Portfolios

Older children often have too much work to sort through. Should work ever be removed?

What guidelines can we create for removing work?

Our Thoughts on 3.31.11 Focus on the current year to keep fresh? K-1 has pressure to create body of work Children in older grades have too much work

to look through in the given time Plan to have children pick work ahead of time;

helps facilitate digging through too much work; Uphold criteria; have benchmark work

Writing, self portrait, who I am, how I learnWhat else?

Talk about sorting out work at plus/delta