Portfolio Organization: Part 2

So to continue on from my post about a month ago..... What do I keep in this top-secret portfolio of mine? What do you keep in yours? And why is it such a secret? Why can't I find pictures and examples of such a thing on the internet? Everything is on the internet... I demand portfolio examples to be included! Okay... no one is probably listening to my demands... so here is what is in mine.

Section 1: Resume
I call this the "resume section" but it is actually the introduction to my portfolio. The "title page" for this section is a professional picture of me with my name underneath. Behind that is my resume. Nothing to exciting in here. I just have the tab to make it easy to find. I also have 3 copies of my resume stuffed in here. That way if someone wants a copy I can simply pull it from here. Plus since it is in the page protector it is guaranteed to stay clean and wrinkle free.

Section 2: Philosophy
The "title page" of this section is actually a table of contents (I use this same format for all the tabs going forward). This has my philosophy of education and educational goals list. Again, a very small section, the tab is just there to make it easy to locate. Since there is not much to include on the title page, some pictures showing your philosophy in action would be a great addition! A friend of mine recommended creating a list of your favorite techniques/professional resources.

Section 3: Classroom Management
Title Page/Table of Contents (again!). This has a picture of the classroom behavior management used (ie clip charts, cards, sticks, hearts, what ever it is that you use) and an explanation of how it is used in class. A picture of rewards associated with it and how they are used. Include sample behavior journal or other reflections for misbehavior. List of classroom rules or classroom ABCs - whichever you are using. A copy of the letter of expectations sent out to parents at the beginning of the year. A copy of a letter inviting parents to volunter and participate in their child's education.

Section 4: Classroom Design
Title Page/Table of Contents (again!). Include pictures of classroom with explanation of areas in the room. Show organization of classroom with explanations. Pictures of bulletin boards you are most proud of and explanations.

Section 5: Lesson Plans
Title Page/Table of Contents (again!). Include at 1-2 examples per subject. Include pictures of students at work, worksheets, and student work samples. Make sure you blur out students faces and get permission to use their work samples and photographs. You may want to use card stock to separate the subjects in this area. I am seriously contemplating this idea. You also need to include a copy of lesson plans: your weekly overview of lesson plans, detailed  (if you use them!), and assessments. Information on how you keep all of this information organized would be helpful to include as well.

Section 6: Parent Communication:
Title Page/Table of Contents (again!). Your introduction letter should appear here. This will include a brief backgroud of you for your parents and students to get to know you. Include a printout of PowerPoint slides from Open House. Newsletters. Homework Help you provide. Positive communication sample and a request for assistance with a misbehaving student.

Section 7: Certification & Education:
Title Page/Table of Contents (again!). National Teacher Cert. State Teacher Cert. Sub Cert. Endorsements. Master Transcripts. Bachelors Transcripts. I have official copies of both in mine. Fingerprint Clearance. CPR/First Aid Cert. Then I have completed a template for each one of my classes. I will add to this if I take any other classes in the future (Workshops are under professional development, this is for only activities earning me college credits, certs, or endorsements).

Section 8: Evaluations
Title Page/Table of Contents (again!). I would keep the last 2-3 years of evaluations as well as any awards earned in this section. Pictures of you receiving an award would be great! The rest of my evaluations, I would keep in another binder specifically for that purpose.

Section 9: References
Title Page/Table of Contents (again!).  You will need lots of different types of references. Start collecting them early. Collect them from your professors and mentor teachers. Ask friends and family to write you personal references. Include references from parents and students. Include thank you notes for a job well done. Pick the best of your references and store them in this section. The rest of my references I keep in a binder sorted by year (future blog post).

Section 10: Professional Development
Title Page/Table of Contents (again!). In this section I list all the volunteer work I have done in my children's classrooms. Field trips attended, bullentin boards created, parties I helped with, etc. I have my membership information for Professional Associations here. A list of professional reading that I have completed that was not part of a course I took and of course any professional development classes I took for work, workshops attended, and the induction program I participated in.

The end! 

I have created a portfolio package for you! Head on over to my store for a checklist of things to include along with my custom designed stationary, my professional picture page, a table of contents page, a philosophy page, and my course template.

So now that you have had a chance to take a peek into my portfolio - what is in your portfolio? How often do you update it and/or add to it?