Homeschool Portfolio Evaluation
Review Portfolios for Student Assessment and Standardized Testing
May 21, 2008
A homeschool portfolio can be much more than a glorified scrapbook. According to Diane Hart, author of Authentic Assessment; A Handbook for Educators [Addison-Wesley Publishing Company 1994],a portfolio is "a container that holds evidence of an individual's skills, ideas, interests, and accomplishments."
Reviewing a student's portfolio can reveal a much wider picture of the student's aptitudes, talents and abilities than a traditional bubble test. In a home based school, a portfolio can reflect homeschool activities, social activities and self directed learning projects that might not be part of a standardized test.
Reviewing a Portfolio
At the end of the year, samples that are typical of the student's work in each subject area are generally dated and placed into a three ring binder. Many states allow a portfolio review in place of an annual standardized test. Some states require the portfolio to be evaluated by a professional educator. Other states simply require the portfolio to be compiled and reviewed by the homeschool parents and saved for future reference.
Criteria for Portfolio Evaluation
If you're using a portfolio review to track progress over the year, you'll want to make sure each work sample is dated and ordered chronologically, with index tabs designated for each subject area or skill. Include examples of written work, printouts from the results of other standardized testing, map work and notes, charts and graphs, tests and quizzes, list of books read, awards received, records of participation in group classes or events, writing journals and scientific logs, disc recordings of student presentations, photographs of large projects, peer reviews, participation certificates, self-evaluations and anything else that might show progress and achievement over the school year.
Self Assessment with Portfolio Review
For older students, compiling a portfolio can be a powerful self-assessment exercise. Urge students to choose their best work from each quarter of the year. Using side by side comparison, ask the student to form a summary of progress based on program goals. For example, if the student struggled in the beginning of the year with punctuation, look to the end of the year samples for progress. Use the deficiencies at the end of the year to guide summer enrichment or determine next year's curriculum. In a self assessment, a student can be guided to make goals for the following year. It is these goals that seed the lesson plans for the following year.
Portfolios for Special Needs
For children with special needs, a portfolio can be much more telling than a traditional test. Creativity and character development can be more easily communicated in a portfolio rather than in the multiple-choice questions that comprise the popular bubble tests. Victories that might not be quantified on other tests shine through in a portfolio review. For example; penmanship, pursuit of a photography hobby, overcoming a fear of dogs, planning a vegetable garden or coping with a death in the family through essay.
Compiling a Homeschool Portfolio
You can begin compiling a portfolio at any time. If you follow a traditional school calendar, then you might want to begin your portfolio with components that were created in September and end in June. If, however, you choose to learn all year 'round, you can have a January-December portfolio or a September-August portfolio. Remember, however, to date each sample placed in the portfolio for reference. Consider your circumstances and create a portfolio protocol that works best for your family.
