Portfolios in the Classroom: Tools for Learning and Instruction

The wonderful effect of the portfolio process is the self-awareness that develops when kids generate their own selection criteria, make decisions, and reflect on their work. When students discuss what they want to include in their portfolio and why, and analyze which project or piece of writing meets those criteria, they are creating connections to learning far beyond the scope of traditional forms of assessment.

Portfolios also increase learning because students:take responsibility for their learning;actively engage in the learning process;think about their own thinking;grow in confidence and self-esteem;set goals for future learning.

Using portfolios enables teachers to be clearer in their presentation of instructional strategies. Using examples from real portfolios and successful classroom experiences, Beth and Joanne take you step-by-step through helping children create portfolios that reveal accurate assessments of their own work.

Portfolios in the Classroom features:

instructional ideas that extend your use of portfolios;questions throughout the text that guide you to key ideas;real student examples from classrooms where teachers have successfully used portfolios;samples to illustrate discussion of each element in the process;end-of-chapter summaries and a complete bibliography;reproducible forms for you and your students to use;recommendations for using portfolios as a tool for parental involvement.

This is a book full of ideas and suggestions that you can put to use immediately in your classroom.