How to Make a Homeschool Portfolio

If you homeschool your children and your state offers portfolios as a form of assessment, here's how to plan a great portfolio. As a teacher who reviews them, I've seen hundreds. Here's what teachers like to see in a homeschool portfolio.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. You'll need a 3 ring binder. Divide into subjects with tabs labeling each of the required subjects for your state. This will vary, but the typical subjects are: math, science, social studies, language, and reading. You will now have a section for each subject.

2. Add work samples throughout the year to each subject. Be sure to date the work samples when you add them. It helps the reviewer if your samples are in order by date. The reviewer will be looking for progress in each subject throughout the year, so dating is essential.

3. Here are some good items to add to your portfolio:
   
   spelling tests, stories your child has written, tests from each subject, semester and unit tests, a list of books your child has read, list of field trips, pictures that show your child working on projects and artwork, pictures of finished projects, daily worksheets.

Tips & Warnings

• Add your child's best work toward the end of the portfolio, because this helps you to show progress.

[prism]

on 2/10/2009 Our state doesn't require an assessment portfolio but I think they are a great idea to help us stay on track. Great info on how best to put one together. Thanks!

[txwahm]

on 2/9/2009 Great idea. I definitely need to start one up for each of my girls. 5*

[WaterSprite]

on 2/3/2009 Really helpful. Thanks! 5*'s

[Upon-Request]

on 1/24/2009 Good tips for homeschooling!

[yourmamasaidwha]

on 1/24/2009 we're figuring out the whole homeschooling thing...this could be very useful to us! thanks for the great share!