Thinking Ahead... Updating Portfolios!

8/7/2016

This time of year is crazy busy for me as a part time teacher and part time administrator... We have classrooms to move and unpack, welcome letters to send, professional development training to prepare, and the list goes on. But it hasn't stopped me from "thinking ahead" to ALL the things I need to get prepared for this school year.
Now that I have the website mostly updated I have decided to start working on updating some of the files I use in my classroom. One of my most favorite and I think important resources for gathering information about my students is the Portfolio!

I use a work-sample type of portfolio to gather students work to document their learning. I think it provides the most authentic picture of where children are at in their learning and development. Parents love seeing actual student work when we talk about the progress their child is making. It means so much more than a grade or mark!

Here is how it works in my classroom...

I ask parents to donate a three ring binder for their student.
I send home and All About Me page at the beginning of the year and ask parents to fill it out with their child. This becomes the first page of the portfolio when we send it home at the end of the year.
Throughout the year I collect sample of their work either through pictures, anecdotal notes, or actual documents I have saved of their work.
I also have short assessment activities I do with the children and record their results to document each child's learning.
All materials all arranged and stored in the three ring binder/portfolio to share with parents at conferences.

I have update the portfolio pages I use in my classroom, and the entire Portfolio Packet is available for purchase in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store!
Do you use portfolios in your early childhood program?