National School Reform Faculty

Educators Making Portfolios
First Results from the National School Reform Faculty
by Kathleen Cushman
Phi Delta Kappan, June 1999

Assembling the Portfolio

RAWING on the experiences she had in preparing two professional portfolios, Susan Howard-Bubacz of New York City's Community School District 10 came up with the following suggestions:

1. Begin with a goal or standard describing an aspect of good teaching that you have become aware of from your discussions with colleagues. Write out the steps you will take toward reaching it.
2. Think about benchmarks. What will serve as evidence of your progress toward the goal or standard?
3. Collect artifacts. As you work, document your efforts. Save teaching notes, lesson plans, student work, journal entries, photos, videotapes, letters, written recommendations, awards, and memos. This collection is your working portfolio.
4. Refer back to your original goal or standard regularly. Check your progress amd make changes when appropriate.
5. Sort, catalogue, and reflect on your artifacts. Write a description of each item and explain how it gives evidence of your progress or process. Reflect on your progress: What was successful? What challenges came up?
6. Write an introduction to your portfolio. Describe the setting and your rationale for the project. Discuss concerns you held at the outset and outline the goal or standard you hoped to achieve.
7. Write some reflections about the process. Think about the work's impact on you, on your students, and on your school culture.
8. Assemble your portfolio. Create a table of contents.
9. Present your portfolio to colleagues for feedback.

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Table of Contents