How would you use a portfolio?
Currently the I have two portfolios. One was required to graduate high school which is now stored in a box in the basement with other high school tokens. The other portfolio was required for my undergrad at the University of Toledo. Both are in 3 ring binders full of different achievements from my high school and college careers.While teaching I created a classroom portfolio/scrapbook to display at parent/teacher conferences. This portfolio would give the parents a chance to see different activities that took place during that trimester.
Once my digital portfolio is complete, I hope to use to get a teaching job. I think adding it to my resume might be a nice touch.
What would you include in your portfolio?
I think any achievements would be a great to include in a portfolio. I was nominated Charter School Teacher of the Year and I put that letter and award in my portfolio. For a portfolio that is going to be used to get a job or a new position, I think sample lessons plans, pictures of students working (with their parents permission), letters of recommendation, and any evaluations would be a great addition to a portfolio.A portfolio in my mind shows the best of you on paper or the web. You want to include items that show off your strengths as an educator.
How do your students use portfolios?
My first and second graders kept a portfolio of work to show their parents at conferences. I also added important pieces of work to their portfolios. The school I worked at required that we keep a running active portfolio for the year and then at the end of the year pass the portfolio on to the next teacher. Since my students were younger, I pick most of the work that was collected for the portfolio. I tried to show writing for every month of the school year, to show growth. I also tried to put something from different subject areas such as mathematics, social studies and science in their portfolio, not just writing.I know that the middle and high school art teacher was helping her art students create an art portfolio to display their finished works. These portfolios included both original artwork and pictures of different pieces that were too large to fit in the portfolio.
