Teachers College Career Services

1. What Is a Teaching Portfolio? 2. What a Teaching Portfolio is Not 3. What Should Be Included In My Portfolio? 4. What Are the Key Functions To a Portfolio? 5. What Makes for Good Portfolio Content? 6. A Short List of Portfolio Items 7. More Content Tips 8. The Aim of a Teaching Portfolio 9. The Professional Component 10. Assembling Your Portfolio 11. Tips for Organizing Your Portfolio 12. Suggested Uses for the Portfolio In the Context of the Job Search 13. Finishing Touches a. Checklist for Effective Portfolios b. Next Steps

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A place to summarize your teaching accomplishments and provide examples of classroom experiences and materials.

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A mechanism and space for reflecting upon your teaching.

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A collection of documents and artifacts designed to describe, document and showcase your teaching ability as well as your accomplishments.

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A factual account of your accomplishments and abilities supported by relevant data and

“Once

analyzed by you to show the thought processes behind the documents and artifacts.

you know your goals

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The portfolio is not simply a binder with all of the teaching documents inserted with random pages of reflection.

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“ The portfolio is not an exhaustive compilation of all of the documents and materials that bear on teaching performance… Instead, it presents selected information on teaching activities and

then it will effect every decision you make about creating your portfolio.”

solid evidence of their effectiveness.” (Seldin,1997, p.2)

It depends on The length of your experience- whether you are pre-service or practicing  The purpose for creating it, and  Your audience Always remember,  Portfolios are representative not comprehensive  A small set of well chosen documents is more effective than a large unfiltered collection of all your teaching documents

 To collect evidence of your teaching ability.  To provide the reader with a context for your teaching.  To provide summary data of your teaching in a simple readable format.  It is focused on quality not quantity.  It is organized and its sections relate to one another.  It allows for self-reflection.  It demonstrates that YOU are organized and systematic.

“Electronic portfolios are a creative means of organizing, summarizing, and sharing artifacts, information, and ideas about teaching and/or learning…”

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Table of Contents

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Teacher created games and worksheets

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Resume

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Field observations

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References/letters of recommendation

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Examples of Parental Communication

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Awards and special recognitions

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Letters/cards from students

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Transcripts/Test Scores/Grades

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Final results of projects

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Teaching credentials

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Classroom management theory

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Statement of Educational Philosophy

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Photographs of Classroom/Bulletin

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Lessons and/or units of Study

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Student work samples

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Blueprints for room arrangements

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Reflections on teaching

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Examples of Assessments

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Table of Contents

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Resume

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Statement of Educational Philosophy

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Classroom Management Plan

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Lessons and/or units of Study

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Examples of Assessments

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Student work samples and other artifacts

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Final results of projects (if relevant)

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Reflective Commentary on Teacher InPut and Student Out-Put

boards

“Creating an appropriate classroom environment is also considered to be a central professional responsibility.”

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Keep it concise

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Be selective in terms of which materials you include

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Provide a fair and accurate portrait of yourself

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Focus on the professional component

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Make sure every single piece of evidence in your portfolio is accompanied by some sort of context and explanation

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Always keep in mind your purpose and Be prepared to create a compelling story about yourself as an effective teacher based on the items selected for inclusion in your portfolio

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every single piece of evidence in your portfolio is accompanied

your audience •

“Make sure

Know your field and content area. Identify

by some sort of context and explanation.”

trends and reflect back in portfolio how you have illustrated that within your teaching.

Knowledge of Students

Knowledge of Standards Curriculum

Knowledge of Instructional Strategies

The Professional Component of Your Teaching Portfolio

Evidence of Student Assessment Evidence of Assessment Based Teaching Decisions Evidence of Assessment Based Teaching Strategies

State Standards Units of Study Lesson Plans Teaching Points Evidence of Curriculum Based Teaching Decisions Evidence of Curriculum Based  Teaching Strategies

Teaching Artifacts Student Work samples Teacher Evaluations of Student work Reflective Commentary on Teaching/learning Annotated Photographic Records

Your portfolio communicates important traits through its •

Organization

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Creativity

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Neatness

Assembling your portfolio is an act that expresses your abilities, style and values. In a word, your portfolio reflects you in more ways than one!

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Make your organization explicit to the reader by using a table of contents at the beginning and tabs to separate the various components

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Aim to have between 10 and 20 pages of material in your portfolio- admitting just enough to show depth

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Decide on a consistent look for your portfolio (scrapbook vs. professional)

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Label any items that the reader would need background information to understand

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Use clear plastic page protectors to preserve artifacts

“Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand.” – Chinese Proverb

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Bring it to your job interview and refer to it as needed!

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Embed it in your cover letter or resume as a hyperlink.

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Don’t simply pass it to the interviewer to skim and scan at the beginning or end of the interview.

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Use it as a prop to highlight your effectiveness as a teacher during the interview.

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Do consider bringing along several trimmed down copies for members of the hiring team.

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Select a few artifacts that shout “I am the professional you are looking for!” and attach them to your resume.

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Prepare a table of contents of portfolio materials listing all as available upon request.

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Prepare a comprehensive list of all of the items in your portfolio and have a plan for how you will forward them.

“Don‟t simply pass [the e-portfolio] to the interviewer to skim and scan…”

Select a few artifacts that shout „I am the professional you are looking for!‟

Checklist for Effective Portfolios Structured  Are the contents portrayed in a logically organized manner?  Is the portfolio complete?  Is the portfolio neat?  Is the portfolio creative and aesthetically pleasing? Representative  Does the portfolio capture the scope of your abilities and accomplishments? Selective  Is the portfolio concise?  Did you select content based on the purpose?  Did you select content based on the audience?

Next Steps  Review your portfolio content and organization  Retain what is essential for interview or outreach  Emphasize the professional component  Develop your talking points to support your portfolio contents during an interview  Implement strategies for direct outreach Remember, if you plan to showcase student work and their identities, you must obtain permission from a parent or guardian. For more guidance on this process, please go to: How To Get Parental Permission Before Putting Students’ Work Online