Why Are We Here Today?Why Are We Here Today?

To promote clarity and communication about the portfolio

process

Why is it important?Why is it important?

• We all need to be on the same page for ourselves and for the students.

• To strengthen the portfolio’s focus on education

• To coordinate and streamline our efforts on annual requirements, the sophomore project, and the senior project

PORTFOLIOSPORTFOLIOS

Putting the Pieces Together

WHATHOW

WHY

WHO

WHAT IS A PORTFOLIO?WHAT IS A PORTFOLIO?

• A student-driven collection of his/her work that creates a portrait of that student’s efforts, growth, achievements and strengths, both academic and personal.

WHY DO PORTFOLIOS?WHY DO PORTFOLIOS?

• They foster active student interest in the educational process.• They authentically represent classroom instruction.• They include long projects and in-depth work.• They can provide immediate feedback on instruction.• They value performance and process, not just knowledge.• They are locally adaptable.• They help develop a common vocabulary for students,

teachers, and parents., building relationships and promoting the importance of education.

• They provide continuity.• They can establish the context of student performance.• They link assessment with instruction.

Parent/School connection Through Portfolios

Parent/School connection Through Portfolios

• Parents can see growth throughout the year

• Tell more than just letter grades• Shows student’s strengths• Another way to assess student‘s

strengths and weaknesses

TYPES OF PORTFOLIOSTYPES OF PORTFOLIOS

• Working Portfolio

• Cumulative Portfolio

• Showcase portfolio

A portfolio must includeA portfolio must include

• Student participation in selection of portfolio content

• Criteria for selection

• Criteria for judging merit

• Evidence of student self-reflection

Five Guidelines for Starting a Portfolio Classroom

Five Guidelines for Starting a Portfolio Classroom

• Start Small - Begin a a level that is doable by both teacher and student.

• Model - Keep your own portfolio. Model everything from conferencing and assessment to selecting and reflecting.

• Give Ownership - The most impressive portfolios are the ones that are owned by the students.

• Reflect - Reflection is one of the central concepts of the portfolio. Have students reflect on a regular basis.

• Share - Students should be able to share their work and portfolios with each other (and parents) on a frequent basis.

4. Present Proudly

3. Reflect Continuously

1. Collect Often

2. Select Periodically

Steps in the Portfolio Process

• Lab reports• Journal writings• Projects• Videotaped

presentations• Audio tapes• Reading/learning logs• Charts/timelines• Artwork• Poems• Maps

• Photographs• Self-assessment sheets• Peer Evaluations• Interviews• Conference Notes• Computer Disks of

Student Work• Documentation of

competitions (Mock Trial, Model E.U.)

• PowerPoint presentations

POSSIBLE ENTRY IDEASPOSSIBLE ENTRY IDEAS

COLLECT OFTENCOLLECT OFTEN

• Teachers will provide students with a container in which to store their daily work. Possible storage items are manila folders, paper portfolios, pizza box, etc.

• Containers should be kept in the room in which students are doing the work.

• Containers must be easily accessible to the students.

• Student and/or teacher places all work in the container. Each entry must be dated.

SELECT PERIODICALLYSELECT PERIODICALLY

• Look over everything you have done in each class.• Select a piece of your work from each class which you would

categorize as “satisfying.” You must also select separate pieces to show your accomplishments in reading, writing, and oral communication. You may not use an entry for more than one purpose.

• Reflect on why you find it satisfying and have selected it for your portfolio, what you have learned from doing the piece, etc.

• Likewise, reflect on your portfolio entries from previous years, removing entries that no longer contribute to your overall portrait. Keep entries that show your strengths or specialized projects and those that show your growth (i.e. a freshman writing sample to compare to your current writing entry).

• Portfolio entries do not need to be graded assignments.

REFLECT CONTINUOUSLYREFLECT CONTINUOUSLY

• Reflections (entry slips) should be thoughtful and thorough, whether they are in question/answer form or written as paragraphs.

• All entries should be dated.

REFLECTION PROMPTSREFLECTION PROMPTS

• I learned…

• I know…

• I’m confused and need to work on…

• I think…

• I read…

• I need…

• Its special strengths are…

• I recognize…

• It will remind me…

• Its special qualities are…• If I were going to do this

again, I would…• I need to work on…• Changes I would make in

this piece are…• This is what I think…• I admire…• It shows me I can…• It shows evidence of my

benchmark because….

PRESENT PROUDLYPRESENT PROUDLY

• Your portfolio is a portrait of you.• Arrange your portfolio in some logical way to

showcase your strengths and illustrate growth.• Be sure that your entry slips explain and reflect on

your work. • Consider: What can one learn about you from

viewing your portfolio? What are your strengths?