What you Need to Assemble a Stellar Homeschool Portfolio
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When my husband and I decided that we were going to
homeschool, the first thing that I wanted to know was what type of reporting we
would be required to do…my daughter was 2 ½ at the time…I was definitely on the
ball! In Maine we have a few different
options, the two standard options are some sort of standardized test, and the
other is a portfolio review by a Maine certified teacher.
One of the main reasons for our decision to start homeschooling was to get away
from standardized testing, so I knew that was not the choice for us. I love scrapbooking, and immediately thought a portfolio would be a wonderful option for our family.
from standardized testing, so I knew that was not the choice for us. I love scrapbooking, and immediately thought a portfolio would be a wonderful option for our family.
However, when it came time to do my first official portfolio
review last year, I was scared out of my wits!
review last year, I was scared out of my wits!
I knew that I had the basics covered and that we could show
“progress” in each of the subject areas, but my biggest question was – did we
do enough?
“progress” in each of the subject areas, but my biggest question was – did we
do enough?
Today I want to talk to you about the supplies that I
currently use to put together a portfolio for review, and then in my next post
I will talk about what to include in your portfolio.
currently use to put together a portfolio for review, and then in my next post
I will talk about what to include in your portfolio.
When I decided on a portfolio review, I thought that I would
obviously make a beautiful scrapbook for each year of school, and for each
child. You may know where this is going
– it did not at all turn out that way.
Instead, I realized that I could barely get baby books made for my kids,
so I’m not sure why I thought I would have a beautiful scrapbook of their
school work for each year.
obviously make a beautiful scrapbook for each year of school, and for each
child. You may know where this is going
– it did not at all turn out that way.
Instead, I realized that I could barely get baby books made for my kids,
so I’m not sure why I thought I would have a beautiful scrapbook of their
school work for each year.
Instead, I realized that my portfolio needed to be more
functional, and take a little pressure off of me. I was already anxious about having a teacher
sit down and evaluate what we had done, I knew that I did not have the mind
space to be as creative as I had hoped.
functional, and take a little pressure off of me. I was already anxious about having a teacher
sit down and evaluate what we had done, I knew that I did not have the mind
space to be as creative as I had hoped.
Join us for more tips and tricks for homeschool planning and organization!
The first item you will need for your homeschool portfolio
is a binder. I have chosen a 3 inch D-ring binder that is 12×12 – the reason
for this will be clear shortly. I may
not necessarily have 3 inches worth of paper that needs to go in there, but I
like to have the option, and since I have been making binders for the kids for
several years now, there are definitely times that I wish I had a larger
binder.
is a binder. I have chosen a 3 inch D-ring binder that is 12×12 – the reason
for this will be clear shortly. I may
not necessarily have 3 inches worth of paper that needs to go in there, but I
like to have the option, and since I have been making binders for the kids for
several years now, there are definitely times that I wish I had a larger
binder.
The next piece to my puzzle is sheet protectors. I use these for all the papers that I put in
the book. It may be a little extra work,
but knowing that if someone spills something (someone always spills something)
my pages are protected, that makes me happy.
I think it makes for a cleaner look as well, and saves me from punching
holes in all the work, pages, etc.
the book. It may be a little extra work,
but knowing that if someone spills something (someone always spills something)
my pages are protected, that makes me happy.
I think it makes for a cleaner look as well, and saves me from punching
holes in all the work, pages, etc.
The next item that I use is 4”x4” photo pocket sleeves. Ever since I
got an Instagram account I have religiously documented my kids and
what they are doing – if we go on a field trip, it goes on Instagram; if they
are doing a special project, Instagram; pretty much anything homeschool related
goes on Instagram. I use a specific
hashtag for my photos that I will use for a homeschool portfolio, and then at
the end of the year I can easily upload them to Snapfish and have them printed
for me.
got an Instagram account I have religiously documented my kids and
what they are doing – if we go on a field trip, it goes on Instagram; if they
are doing a special project, Instagram; pretty much anything homeschool related
goes on Instagram. I use a specific
hashtag for my photos that I will use for a homeschool portfolio, and then at
the end of the year I can easily upload them to Snapfish and have them printed
for me.
I also do have some normal 4”x6” pocket sleeves as well for the times that I pull out my nice camera and take actual photos of
projects, artwork, field trips, etc.
But, those are a lot less frequent than my use of Instagram.
projects, artwork, field trips, etc.
But, those are a lot less frequent than my use of Instagram.
I do print out a good deal of information on my HP Deskjet Wireless Printer. This printer is really small, which means I
can easily tuck it away when we aren’t using it, but it is a powerhouse and
does a wonderful job printing color, which I love to use. I may not be able to make a legit scrapbook,
but I am going to use as much color and pretty accents as I can manage!
can easily tuck it away when we aren’t using it, but it is a powerhouse and
does a wonderful job printing color, which I love to use. I may not be able to make a legit scrapbook,
but I am going to use as much color and pretty accents as I can manage!
My last items are my *Erin Condren Teacher Planner & Notebook and my Staedtler Pens.
I am a planner, and so I spend a lot of time looking through my teacher planner and writing out exactly what I
want to include in the portfolio before I even attempt to put it together. It makes the “putting together” part so much
more seamless when I already know what order, and what items need to go in the
binder.
I am a planner, and so I spend a lot of time looking through my teacher planner and writing out exactly what I
want to include in the portfolio before I even attempt to put it together. It makes the “putting together” part so much
more seamless when I already know what order, and what items need to go in the
binder.
Next time I will share what I put in the homeschool binder,
and other items I keep from my kids’ school year.
and other items I keep from my kids’ school year.
Do you make a
portfolio or scrapbook for your child each year? If your kids are in public school – what do you do with all the papers and projects from the year?
portfolio or scrapbook for your child each year? If your kids are in public school – what do you do with all the papers and projects from the year?
*If you sign up for an Erin Condren account through this link – they will send you a code for $10 off your first order!
Linked to – Homeschool Nook
Linked to – Homeschool Nook
This is really an Interesting read and I love the ideas of home school to my son and all get organized.
I don't home school, but I can easily understand how easy it is to get disorganized. Especially since I work at home.
These are all such great ideas! We have not home schooled but I have friends that would love this checklist.
This is really helpful for other people who home school. As an Early Years teacher, I know how important it is to have evidence and show why you believe a specific thing. Plus it's very important to stay organised!
I honestly do not think that I could do homeschooling, but I really admire those who can!
Great list! My kids were cyber school for a couple of years. They liked it at first but then started missing being physically at school.
Ooooo such a great resource for all those homeschooling mamas and papas out there!! I have a bestie who is thinking about homeschooling her kiddo. I need to send her this
Okay thank you thank you thank you!!! I'm going to be doing my first real year of homeschool this year with my kids. I'm looking for all the tips I can get. I'm excited but definitely nervous about it!
This is a great topic. We don't homeschool and I imagine it's tough to stay organized.
What a great foundation to start learning with! This would be great for any home.
I'm not homeschooling but I could use these same tips for other things with my kids! Thanks so much for sharing!
I admire people who homeschool although it isn't really an option for us and homeschooling is a little different here in the UK!
I admire parents who homeschool their kids. I can never do it. I think it'snice that you chose something that you're comfortable with. This portfolio sounds great.
This is a great idea for tracking your kids' progress and having some nice memories for the future. It's always fun to look back and see where you've been and what you've learned.
I have a friend of mine that home schools her daughter. She could probably use every bit of this. I think I will pass this information onto her.
You are very organized knowing that you wanted to home school at such a young age. I admire anyone with the dedication to do that x
I have thought about homeschooling, but honestly it seems so overwhelming! This is a great to do list to get started with!
Hahaha! We all have dreams of making amazing scrapbooks for each of our children. It's impressive you realized how unrealistic it'd be so early on!
I've been tossing around the idea of homeschooling my middle son for several reason. I will keep this in mind if I go that route!
This is a great start for homeschoolers! Being organized is SO important!
Homeschooling is such a great gift for your children. Good for you to have that dedication!
Good for you with all the ways you can teach at home. And, super important to be organized in the process!
Glad you found a process that works well for you. It's great that there are guidelines for parents to follow when it comes to educating their children at home. I am a firm believer in doing what's best for you but I really do think guidelines need to be very strict.
Sometimes I think I would enjoy homeschooling, and other times I realize how much work it really is! Thanks for the insight.
I've always been curious about homeschooling. I went to school my whole life and I don't have kids yet but I have wondered often what kind of curriculum homeschooling would entail. This was cool to read 🙂
It pays to be organized, doesn't it! I love all of these tools and devices for keeping paperwork in check.
We homeschool, but don't really keep a portfolio so to speak. We are ending our second year (6th grade), and I just have a folder with work in it that my daughter has done this year. However, we have chosen an umbrella school in our state that doesn't require keeping portfolios.
This is great, wish I would have seen this before this year when I pulled kids out and homeschooled them! – Jeanine
I use my Erin Condren teacher planner for my college classes and give my students a discount at the end of my course! I love it. I can't wait to see more about the portfolio itself.
As a teacher, I can attest to the fact that there is SO MUCH WORK that gets sent home!! I'm sure as a parent, you want to treasure each and every work sample or project your child works on, but it can add up to be so much!
I homeschool and keep all the work my kids complete in neatly organized binders. Luckily Illinois has very little homeschool oversight.
This is super helpful for those thinking of homeschooling. Its not something in our plan but I think its great for those who do it!
My sister in law was just telling me yesterday that she is planning on homeschooling my niece who is starting Kindergarten in September. This is going to help her a lot.