How to Write a Portfolio Program for Early Childhood
Many teachers use a portfolio of student work as an assessment. In early childhood grades, the portfolio can include a wide range of objects such as samples of student writing, artwork and photographs of work produced in a cooperative group. The portfolio is an objective assessment of authentic work that can help teachers and parents gauge student achievement. Portfolios also provide the student with an opportunity to reflect on her own work.
Instructions
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Include established criteria for selecting student work samples and for observation records. The goal is to collect a variety of samples that indicate work done in real-life situations with authentic problem solving. For example, you may collect spelling practice every Friday and creative writing samples monthly.
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Allow for dating of the samples and the inclusion of a brief note explaining the context in which the work was done. For example, you could require classifying the material into individual endeavors, parts of group assignments, work involving a newly introduced concept or the reinforcement of ongoing lessons.
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Explain how the portfolio selection process will be used as a learning tool for students. This involves conferencing with the child to decide which samples she feels should be included in the portfolio, and why. This instructional activity guides students in evaluating their own work against a standard so that they learn to participate in their own learning process.
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Include a section for observations of students performing a variety of tasks in the portfolio.
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Explain the value of presenting the portfolio during parent-teacher conferences. Students may be present at these conferences to tell parents why each sample is included.
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Provide for continuity once the school year ends. In some schools, a few samples in the portfolios are passed along to the next teacher. Teachers, students and parents can have input about which items are passed along. Other schools send the portfolios home at the end of the school year for parents to keep.
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Outline how the the results of the portfolio assessment will be used. Results of the portfolio assessment can be compared with competency standards and research-based milestones for early childhood learners. Teachers can use portfolio assessment results to plan future lessons based on the child's progress.
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Tips & Warnings
Copy work that students feel they would like to include in the portfolio, but would also like to take home to show to their parents.
Label samples with dates.
Use colored folders within the portfolio to separate observations from student work.
Make sure you have enough shelf space for the portfolios because they grow in size as the school year goes on.
References
- Photo Credit Young girl working on the laptop image by Christopher Meder from Fotolia.com
