SMS Connections

Portfolio: A collection of a student's work specifically selected to tell a particular story about the student

A portfolio is not the pile of student work that accumulates over a semester or year. Rather, a portfolio contains a purposefully selected subset of student work. "Purposefully" selecting student work means deciding what type of story you want the portfolio to tell.

1. Growth Portfolios a. to show growth or change over time b. to help develop process skills such as self-evaluation and goal-setting c. to identify strengths and weaknesses d. to track the development of one more products/performances 2. Showcase Portfolios a. to showcase end-of-year/semester accomplishments b. to prepare a sample of best work for employment or college admission c. to showcase student perceptions of favorite, best or most important work d. to communicate a student's current aptitudes to future teachers 3. Evaluation Portfolios a. to document achievement for grading purposes b. to document progress towards standards c. to place students appropriately