The portfolio is often the subject of many phone calls and e-mails I receive. I hope that this page will provide helpful ideas and tips to make creating a portfolio less stressful and more meaningful for your family. I find that many families find new and exciting ways to create portfolios often. If you have an amazing idea that I can add to this resource please reach out and let me know.
Portfolio Requirements (according to state statutes):
Having a Florida certified teacher chosen by the parent/guardian evaluate the child’s progress based on the review of the portfolio and discussion with the student is just one of 5 options for satisfying the annual evaluation requirement, but it seems to be one of the most popular methods. Section 1002.41, F.S., defines a portfolio as “A log of educational activities which is made contemporaneously with the instruction and which designates by title any reading materials used and samples of any writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials used or developed by the student. The portfolio shall be preserved by the parent/guardian for two years and shall be made available for inspection by the superintendent, or the superintendent’s agent, upon a 15-day written notice. The superintendent, or the superintendent’s agent, is not required to inspect all portfolios.
The statutes do not state the way in which you present this portfolio - just that it includes the contents listed above. That is great news because that allows us as home educators to create our student portfolios in a way that works for us individually.
Below you will see some specific ways I have seen each section of the portfolio kept in my years as an evaluator. I hope you'll find some inspiration!
-Log of Educational Activities: This should be kept contemporaneously (daily, weekly, or monthly) and should include what is actually done by the student- not what is "planned" to be done. You may like to keep plans and then check mark or notate what is actually completed by the student afterwards.
-Samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials: These can be kept in multiple formats depending the style of learning or how the student shows progress. It's important to date materials so that you can easily go back and show progress from the beginning to end of year through samples.
The statutes do not state the way in which you present this portfolio - just that it includes the contents listed above. That is great news because that allows us as home educators to create our student portfolios in a way that works for us individually.
Below you will see some specific ways I have seen each section of the portfolio kept in my years as an evaluator. I hope you'll find some inspiration!
-Log of Educational Activities: This should be kept contemporaneously (daily, weekly, or monthly) and should include what is actually done by the student- not what is "planned" to be done. You may like to keep plans and then check mark or notate what is actually completed by the student afterwards.
- Here are some of the ways I have seen the log of activities kept:
- Monthly Calendar with activities noted simply on each day
- Teacher or Student Planner with activities noted
- Dated lists of field trips, assignments, projects, documentaries, and/or games, etc.
- Photos with captions and dates
- Copied Table of Contents and/or class syllabus with dates/check marks/notations to show what was completed
- Online Program log in/activity completion transcripts
-Samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials: These can be kept in multiple formats depending the style of learning or how the student shows progress. It's important to date materials so that you can easily go back and show progress from the beginning to end of year through samples.
Portfolio Examples:
The following examples are some of the ways I have seen portfolios organized. If the required portfolio contents are included, you can be as creative as you like with the ways in which you piece them together and keep them. I am always looking to add to this resource. Please contact me if you'd like to see another portfolio style listed here.
The Binder or File Box
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The binder/file box portfolio is probably the version I see the most. The way in which the binder/box is organized is often varied by family. Most will include the log of educational activities and list of reading materials in front/behind the tabs. Here are some ideas for ways you could organize the divided sections for work samples with tab dividers:
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The Textbooks/Workbooks/Online Programs
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Work samples may be kept inside of workbooks. Dates can be added to each page as it is completed or you could list a start and end date on the cover. The table of contents could be used as a log of activities as noted above. If you're using an online curriculum you may want to print samples and keep them in addition to the log in/grade information. |
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The Online Blog or Group Page
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A lot of families are turning to online portfolios. Here are the two ways I have seen this done most successfully:
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Photo Compilation
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Many families choose to show progress through photos. I've seen them printed, compiled in online albums, bound in photo books, etc. Here are some of the types of photos I have seen featured in these portfolios.
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