How to Create A Homeschool Portfolio

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By Susan H Pardoe
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Create A Homeschool Portfolio

Create a homeschool portfolio for your child each year and you'll have a permanent record of everything they've accomplished through the year. It will also become a keepsake in years to come. The time it takes to create a homeschool portfolio is time well spent and one of the best ways to showcase your child's academic milestones for the year.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Binder that is 3 to 4 inches thick (invest in a sturdy one)
Dividers
Page protectors
Pictures of field trips

Step 1

Cover Art – Have your child create a cover for her portfolio. It could be a picture she draws or simply a coloring sheet that says "My Home School Portfolio". This gives your child a chance to personalize her portfolio. These are also easily created on your computer.
Step 2

Legal Papers –In this section, include a copy of your state's home school requirements, a copy of your letter of intent to the superintendent of the school district, and the letter you receive from him in response (including the envelope because it has the date stamped on it). Send your letter of intent by certified mail and attach a confirmation of delivery postcard as well. Include these receipts in the legal section, along with the superintendent's letter. A copy of the teachers' assessment is included in this section as well for quick reference.
Step 3

Title Page – A recent photograph of your child is perfect on this page. Include also your child's age (at the beginning of the year), grade level, and birth date.
Step 4

Learning Objectives – For each subject you'll be studying for the year, include a list of goals. Be specific and concise, so you'll have a way of measuring your success in meeting your goals.
Step 5

Resource List – This list includes any and all curriculum you intend to use for the school year. Include books, field trips, and any other materials you are intending to use. Arrange this list by subject. For your own reference, include the publisher and author of each resource, in addition to the title. Piano lessons, ballet lessons, gymnastic classes, and other outside activities can be listed here as well.
Step 6

Susan H. Pardoe

Reading List – Throughout the year, keep a running list of the books your child has read on her own or the ones you've read to your child. List the title, author, and type of book (nonfiction, poetry, cookbook, fiction, etc.). This is the section in which you'll present this compilation. You and your child may be really surprised at the number of books read for the year! If you participate in a summer reading program through your local library, you may want to include those titles as well.
Step 7

Evaluations – Some home school families keep records of grades, whereas others do not. For this part of your home school portfolio, include grades (if recorded), report cards, achievement test results, and any professional evaluations or letters of praise (if applicable).
Step 8

Awards – Include here any certificates of accomplishment and awards your child received throughout the year. Include pictures of trophies, ribbons, and other items that can't be physically placed into the portfolio.
Step 9

LANGUAGE ARTS – Include copies of worksheets and writing projects. Be sure to highlight examples of her work that demonstrate what she has learned in penmanship, spelling, vocabulary, composition, mechanics, and grammar. For each month of the school year, include two compositions she has completed. This will show her marked improvement through the year. Include any drawings she completed in relation to this subject.
Step 10

ARITHMETIC – Sample pages of her work sheets should be included. Did you engage in other arithmetic-related activities such as logic, consumer math (going to the grocery and learning what is the best deal), or other math games? Be sure to include examples of these in the Arithmetic section. Other examples to include might be Sudoku worksheets completed, speed drills, best test scores, and any drawings completed related to arithmetic. For a younger child, include work sheets that show how her handwriting of numbers improved over the year.
Step 11

Science fair project

SCIENCE – photos are the key here! Include pictures of science experiments or projects completed both at home and outside the home. Always pick up brochures of field trips taken, because they often have something to do with learning about science. If you belong to a home school cooperative and your child works on a group project with her class, get pictures and include them in this section.
Step 12

SOCIAL STUDIES/HISTORY – Include any field trips taken relating to history (a visit to the State Capitol, historic landmarks, etc.), illustrations or drawings your child completed relating to these subjects. Sample workbook pages and field trip brochures can also be included.
Step 13

TECHNOLOGY – Think multimedia here. Include such things as samples of work or projects your child completed. Did she take typing this year? Record her words-per-minute at the beginning, middle and end of the year to show improvement. Did she create anything on the computer, such as a spreadsheet or a Power Point presentation? Include photos and other items here to showcase her accomplishments.
Step 14

ART - There is so much that can be included here, such as examples of art, photographs of art projects (pottery, painting, crafting, quilts, etc.), and anything related to art history.
Step 15

MUSIC – Include photographs of your child participating in the church drama at Christmas, singing in the children's choir, taking piano (or other instrumental) lessons, etc. Include any awards or letters of praise in regards to her musical achievements.
Step 16

PHYSICAL EDUCATION/HEALTH – Include photographs of your child doing physical activities. Examples: bicycling, swimming, rock climbing, hiking, soccer, badminton, tennis, gymnastics, bowling, t-ball, softball, or ballet. Children are naturally physically active, so just capture it on film and include those pictures in this section.
Step 17

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES – Socialization is one of the biggest "buzz words" when people talk about home schooling. Include photographs of your child interacting with others in this section. Examples might be attending a friends' birthday party, talking with nursing home residents, helping a relative plant flowers, playing games or reading with her siblings, or cleaning up the neighborhood.

Comments

happymaker said

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on 6/13/2009 What a fabulously detailed article. I've been thinking about possibly homeschooling my little ones. This is great info! Thanks! 5* and a rec!

izzytellsall said

on 5/27/2009 Great tips on putting together a homeschool portfolio! You've built such a well-rounded, comprehensive how-to about the process here. Thank you!