Education Majors
Why Use a Portfolio?
- To showcase and provide evidence of your abilities in an interview--make yourself stand out from other applicants
- To provide a visual tool to help an interviewer remember you. If an interviewer asks "Why should I hire you?" or "What are your strengths?", you can say, "Let me show you."
When and How Should I Start?
- Start collecting material for your portfolio NOW. At the end of each term select the most important evidence you have - a thoughtful paper on an educational theory, an effective set of lesson plans, documentation of honors and awards - and file them together.
- Take photos and videotapes of your activities to keep on file.
- Look at other portfolios for ideas.
Portfolio Organization
Background Information
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Resume |
List of references: name, title, address and daytime phone number |
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Unofficial transcripts |
Personal philosophy of education |
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State certification documents |
Autobiography |
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List of professional organizations to which you belong |
National examination results |
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Letters of recommendation (not included in credentials) |
Copy of diploma |
Student Teaching Or Early Field Experience
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Lessons or units developed |
Seating charts |
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Handouts/worksheets |
Photos of you working with students |
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Assessment tools |
Extracurricular activities related to your school |
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Essay about your student teaching experience |
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Teaching / Course Work Materials
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Sample lesson plans or units |
Motivating strategies |
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Learning centers |
Assessment tools |
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Photos of bulletin boards |
Workshops or conferences attended |
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Special projects |
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Past Work With Children / Youth
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Camps |
Child care |
Volunteer work |
Life guarding |
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Coaching |
Civic activities |
Younger siblings |
Sunday/Bible School |
Accomplishments / Honors / Recognition
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Academic honors |
Special awards |
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Civic awards |
Newspaper clippings/photos |
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Congratulatory letters |
Athletic achievements |
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Achievement in the arts |
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Special Skills or Hobbies
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Computers |
Artwork |
Music |
4-H |
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Drama |
Crafts |
Sports and coaching |
Scouting |
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Volunteer work |
Travel |
Humor, where appropriate |
Civic activities |
Organization
Use a large three-ring notebook in "conservative" colors.
Organize materials into sections and use tabs or divider pages to separate and label each section and provide a table on contents.
Put your name on the outside of the portfolio and use minimal decoration or embellishment on the cover. A border design is nice, with the border design on each divider page to add continuity.
Mount photos and other materials with rubber cement, applying on the back of the item to be mounted and on the surface of the place it is to be mounted.
Use construction paper to mount photos and other materials for a more dramatic, professional appearance.
A laser printer gives a professional look, especially if you are not as confident in your handwriting. If hand lettering words and labels, use a straightedge to draw a light guideline (nothing looks worse than crooked lettering!).
Create a balance of information and pictures/print and white space. Be aware of visual appeal.
Make it short enough so that administrators will take the time to browse through it.
One option is to keep it easy to reproduce and affordable to mass-produce.
BE NEAT! An unorganized and messy portfolio is worse than no portfolio at all.
Presenting Your Portfolio
- Some school districts request that portfolios be submitted with your application; others request that you bring it to an initial or follow-up interview. Communicate with the district you are considering to determine their preferences. Be prepared to discuss each item and answer questions.
Contact Kathy if you have questions.
