Homeschool Portfolios

Basically there are two distinctions to be kept in mind:  the law requires every county-registered homeschooler to keep a portfolio (as opposed to umbrella school homeschoolers or full time virtual school/public schoolers at home homeschoolers) regardless of the method of annual evaluation used and portfolios may be used as the annual evaluation of a home education program.  (Please see the Florida law for complete wording.)  

All portfolios must have:

1. A log of educational activities that is made contemporaneously with the instruction and that designates by title any reading materials used.

2. Samples of any writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials used or developed by the student.

This portfolio must be....

preserved by the parent for 2 years and shall be made available for inspection by the district school superintendent, or the district school superintendent’s agent, upon 15 days’ written notice. Nothing in this section shall require the district school superintendent to inspect the portfolio.

The portfolio for evaluation at a minimum must contain the above listed information.  Some evaluators may ask for additional documentation or add other requirements as a part of their evaluation.  It is always a good idea to identify your evaluator as early in the year as possible, so you can know exactly what documentation/requirements he or she has.

To download a PDF document that summarizes requirements and answers a few frequently asked questions, click here.

To see a listing of what you might include in a portfolio that will be used for evaluation, read on. 

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This information is written to those who might be interested in how I would suggest putting together a portfolio to use for an annual evaluation.

 
Read the entire Florida Statute 1002.41:

In accordance with this statute, you will need to include at a minimum the following things:

• A log of activities completed-for example a plan book, a journal record of learning, scope and sequence pages from a packaged curriculum dated according to when activities were completed and so on.  The format of this log is flexible as long as it shows what types of activities were completed and when.
• A reading log/list of reading materials used
• Work samples from your child

If you wish to use a portfolio as part of your child's annual evaluation you should be sure to include enough work samples to clearly show your child's progress over the course of the year. 

The following notes are my suggestions for what you might include in a portfolio.

To make it easy to view work samples, it is helpful to put them into a binder grouped according to subject with a general introduction section at the front of the binder. (Accordian files, a crate with folders, or any other system that comes easily for you would work too.)

It is not necessary to keep every piece of work your child completed during the year in the portfolio.  It is necessary to have enough samples from the year to clearly demonstrate the progress made by your child in each area.  Generally I advise others to include beginning of the year work samples, mid year samples and end of the year samples as a start (several per subject for each time of the year).  It is even more helpful if you are able to include several samples per month for subjects that you work on over the course of a year (i.e., reading, writing, math). Selecting a sample from each week is an easy way to remember to file it in the portfolio. 

The following list is a general structure for setting up your binder (or folders, crate, etc.)  Each heading would be a tabbed divider in the binder with work filed behind it in chronological order.  (Always remember to date everything.)

I am listing ideas of things that would go behind each tab.  According to your child's age or your educational plan for the year you may not have samples from each subject listed, and that is okay.  Just keep in mind that you want to show an overall picture of your child's year in all areas on which you focus.  

Take pictures of projects and events your child participates in throughout the year and include those behind the appropriate dividers as well. There is much learning in daily life, so don't forget to document that as well as book work.  Use technology to your advantage.  I've enjoyed watching DVD/slide shows that document special moments of some students I've evaluated. 

General Information Section

• Child's name, date of birth, grade level (if you use this designation)
• Names of parents, home address
• Learning Log/Plan book-General Record Keeping

Language Arts

• List of materials used
• Reading-Reading Log, samples of reading material (xerox of a few pages here and there), workbook pages if used, etc.  The reading log should include books read independently by the student, books read with the student, and books read to the student.
• Writing-Copywork, original student writing, writing exercises from texts and so on
• Grammar
• Spelling
• Speech/Oral Presentation

Math

• List of materials used
• Work samples

Science

• List of materials used
• Work samples
• Pictures of projects

History and Geography (these could be separated into 2 dividers or grouped under one "Social Studies" divider if desired)

• List of materials used
• Work samples
• Pictures of projects

Foreign Language

• List of materials used
• Work samples
• Recording of conversation/speech

Arts

• List of materials used
• Work samples or pictures of work samples

Bible or Other Subjects

• List of materials used
• Work samples

Field Trips

• List of trips
• Pictures
• Brochures
• Work completed on site or follow up work completed based on interests
• Written summary of the trip

Other Activities

• Pictures or work samples from other activities such as Church events, outside classes, community volunteer work, and so on

I am not currently evaluating others' portfolios, but if I were then the following would be my additional requirements, just to give an idea of what might be done.  (Legally the evaluator must hold a discussion with the student.  Some evaluators also give various assessments.)

After I have had a chance to look through your child's portfolio we will arrange a time to meet together.  I would like to listen to your child read and also talk with him/her briefly about his/her portfolio.  It is always fun to have students share with me what they have enjoyed from the year and also favorite pieces of work from the portfolio.  You can let your child decide what s/he would like to share before you give his/her portfolio to me so they are prepared, and then we can just casually talk together about his/her work when we meet.  This is usually brief and I try to take cues from the student depending on personality.  If s/he is reserved and quiet, I do not force a lot of conversation.  Letting a quiet child "practice" sharing his/her portfolio (s/he can pick two or three pieces to share---or one piece from each subject area) at home before meeting together is often very helpful.  Having your child share with another caring and interested in adult can be great fun for everyone!

Make the portfolio fit YOUR educational approach and your child's interests and learning.  Putting together a portfolio should not be stressful and I am always glad to help you as I am able.  Please do not hesitate to let me know if you have questions or concerns.  

The best advice I can give to help in assembling the portfolio is this:  start at the beginning of the year and add samples as you go along!    If you look over your child's work on a regular basis to select samples and keep good records throughout the year, your portfolio will essentially be ready to go at year's end! 






For general portfolio information, you can also visit these sites:

• A to Z Home's Cool Portfolio Page
• Oklahoma Homeschool Portfolio Page
• About.com's Record Keeping for Homeschool

 




Clipart from Discovery Education (Thank you!)