| Many school districts now require homeschoolers | | | | subject, and punching holes in them to place them |
| to present portfolios showing their student's | | | | in your binder. Always have at least a throw |
| progress in an organized fashion. This is actually a | | | | away camera at hand so that you can take |
| very convenient method of recording whenever it | | | | pictures of anything that you'd like that your child |
| is done properly. Here are some ideas on how to | | | | does (ie reading, playing, dancing). You'll also want |
| create, maintain, and present your homeschool | | | | to take pictures at field trips as well as pictures |
| portfolio for a successful assessment, evaluation | | | | of your child's projects and creations. These |
| and review. | | | | pictures can either be placed in a photo album or |
| First of all, it is important to have a firm grasp on | | | | if you're feeling really craftsy you could organize |
| precisely what a homeschool portfolio is. Basically, | | | | them into a scrapbook. You'll also want to make |
| a homeschool portfolio is a collection of materials | | | | sure to hold onto any brochures or other paper |
| that are used in order to showcase what your | | | | items that you collect while on an educational |
| child has learned over the course of the "school | | | | outing. These can be easily placed in clear |
| year." This is important because numerous states | | | | see-through sheet protectors. This is also a good |
| require an annual assessment of homeschooled | | | | time to begin accumulating a list of books that are |
| students either via testing or the presentation of | | | | being read. |
| a portfolio. While it may seem that keeping a | | | | Once you have put together the beginnings of |
| portfolio is only good in so far as you need to | | | | your portfolio, don't stop there. Regular |
| comply with the law. This is not the case | | | | maintenance (I suggest weekly as it will help you |
| however. Portfolios can also help parents and their | | | | to write your lesson plans for the following week) |
| children to record their progress and | | | | should include regular journal entries and an |
| achievements. This becomes even more | | | | ongoing collection of work samples, photos and |
| important once a child has reached high school and | | | | whatever else you wish to include. Some school |
| needs a diploma. | | | | districts will require a quarterly assessment |
| Now that we understand the importance of a | | | | throughout your homeschool year. This is a time |
| portfolio, it is also important to understand that | | | | for parents and children to reflect upon their |
| there is no right or wrong way in which to create | | | | progress and accomplishments from the previous |
| a portfolio. It is up to the parent and/or child what | | | | months. Yet, even if your school district doesn't |
| materials the portfolio will contain. However, it is a | | | | require a quarterly review, you won't want to |
| good idea to choose a variety of material in order | | | | wait until the end of the year to scramble and |
| to reflect what the child has learned, experienced | | | | race to put together a portfolio that your school |
| and accomplished throughout the year. Some | | | | district will approve of. Neither you nor your child |
| items that should be included in your portfolio are: | | | | deserve having to go through the unneeded |
| Suggested items to include are: | | | | stress of having to sort through all of the material |
| (1.) A journal which contains notes about activities | | | | that has been collected throughout the year. |
| and the progress that has been made. | | | | When it is time for review you may choose to |
| (2.) A list of resources (ie books, computer | | | | remove some of the materials from your |
| software, games, toys and outside classes). | | | | portfolio. You will find that some of these things |
| (3.) Samples of the child's work (ie samples of | | | | simply do not properly reflect what you've |
| creative writing and drawings, text book or | | | | accomplished throughout the year. If/when you |
| workbook pages, and if possible you may include | | | | decide to weed through your portfolio, you need |
| audio or video tapes of your child singing, playing a | | | | to remember that the purpose of the review is |
| musical instrument, reading aloud, or taking part in | | | | to provide a general overview of the homeschool |
| a a dramatic performance - pictures will also | | | | year, demonstrate that the child is engaged in |
| sometimes work well in place of audio or video | | | | homeschooling and that progress is being made. |
| tapes). | | | | The portfolio review can be exciting since it |
| (4.) Photos of field trips, artwork, projects and | | | | provides both parents and children with a time to |
| family life. | | | | talk about what they've been doing at home. |
| (5.) Brochures and booklets from field trips and | | | | When discussing this with your child, you may find |
| other activities. | | | | it helpful to write down a summary of the items |
| (6.) A list of books that the child has read including | | | | that you wish to highlight during your year before |
| both the title and the author. | | | | the review. For instance, if your child learned to |
| (7.) A list of your goals for the year. | | | | read or master a skill you may wish to point this |
| While this may seem quite overwhelming, you'd | | | | out to the reviewer. Of course, you should never |
| honestly be surprised at how easily you can | | | | view your portfolio review as a time for you to |
| accomplish this when you start preparing your | | | | be judged or ridiculed. It is a time to listen, learn |
| portfolio at the beginning of the year. Simply use | | | | and support from your reviewer. Your child does |
| a three ring binder and add paper for your | | | | not need to be present during this time. However, |
| journaling. Start off by listing a few of your goals | | | | if your child wants a chance to "brag" about their |
| for the year and what resources you'll be using to | | | | accomplishments and progress to other |
| achieve those goals (these can be modified | | | | homeschoolers, then this review is a perfect |
| throughout the year as needed). Then begin | | | | opportunity for them to do so. |
| collecting samples of work, organizing them by | | | | |