How to Make a Cover for a Teacher Portfolio

Simplicity of the cover alone might not attract readers.

The cover of a teacher's portfolio is like a book jacket. If it makes readers curious about the contents, they are more likely to read the portfolio. A teaching portfolio defines you as a teacher; it highlights your experiences, strengths and growth. The portfolio provides prospective employers with evidence of your scholarly achievements. Creating an effective portfolio is both a forward- and backward-looking process. The trick to designing the cover for your portfolio lies in being creative, clear and simple.

Instructions

1. Think about book covers that have attracted your attention. Consider the fonts, colors and images used. Decide what appealed to you and implement it into your cover design.

2. Design your cover sheet. Include basic information such as the title: "Teaching Portfolio for" followed by your name. List your academic credentials, identifying the institution and the year of achievement. Use a large font of at least 40 points for your name to draw the attention of the reader. Center the information in the middle of the page vertically and horizontally.

3. Choose a color scheme for your cover. Make sure the colors work together. Experiment by trying out different color combinations for the background and fonts in your cover document. Make sure to use dark fonts on light background colors and lighter fonts on dark background colors so the text really pops. Black fonts on white backgrounds are a safe, though somewhat boring, choice.

4. Choose an interesting graphic for your cover. Including too many graphics can be overwhelming so try to keep it simple. Think about whether or not there is an image that represents the content of your portfolio. For example, if the highlight of your portfolio is your transition into online teaching, choose an image of a person seated at a computer. You can watermark the graphic behind the text but that might make it difficult to read. Experiment with what looks best; the bottom right corner and top left corner are usually safe choices.

References

• Washington University in St. Louis-The Teaching Center: Creating a Teaching Portfolio
• Texas A & M University: How to Create a Portfolio
• University of New Hampshire: A Guide to the Teaching Portfolio
• Galludet University: Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center: Portfolios for Student Growth