I have slacked off so badly in this area in the past. In our state, keeping records or portfolios isn’t a requirement so my efforts have been seriously lacking. However I love having a record of my kids work and their progress. I also think it is actually quite important to keep records in regards to homeschooling.
What is a Homeschool Portfolio?
A homeschool portfolio is a snap shot of your child’s learning and progression throughout the school year. It will show what they have done, subjects covered, progress made and things of that nature.
Do I Need to Create a Homeschool Portfolio?
The answer depends on the laws in your state surrounding homeschooling. For some states they are mandatory, for others they aren’t. In any case it is generally a good idea to keep some kind of record.
A homeschool portfolio is the easiest way to do this and it is much easier that you think.
Records come in handy for many reasons. The first being, meeting your state requirements for homeschooling. It is always best to play by the rules here.
The second reason is for your own benefit. Sometimes it can feel like there is no progress or you are just talking to a brick wall, (how I feel when I am teaching my 5 year olds to read). When you have a record of the progress your children are making through the year it really gives you that boost in confidence as well as your child.
A third reason is because it is always nice to have as a memory and keepsake for your children. It may not mean much now but as they get older it is really nice to look back and read the stories they wrote or look at their first attempts in writing. I just put my son’s first essay into his portfolio last week, I am sure it is going to be the first of many essays he writes.
The last reason I want to mention is having evidence of learning and education should anyone report you, or you need to go to court in custody hearings etc. Hopefully this isn’t ever going to be the case but sometimes it is just better to be safe than sorry.
How Do I Create a Homeschool Portfolio?
When creating a homeschool portfolio is doesn’t need to be fancy, or pretty. Of course if you are that way inclined then go for it. I will be secretly jealous from a far.
The key to this post is how to make it as simple as possible.
1. Buy a 3 Ring Binder
Simple, easy to find, you probably already have one collecting dust somewhere. I just found in my garage last week.
2. Check Your Requirements
If you are making a portfolio specifically for your states requirements then make sure you include all the information they need. This might include attendance hours, and testing for example.
3. Decide What to Include
Ideally you will include each subject taught and then also any extra pages you feel appropriate.
- Subjects
- Attendance hours
- Field Trips
- Any Testing Taken
- Books Read
- Yearly Educational Plan
- Photographs
- Curriculum and Resources used
- Introduction/All About Me
- Goals
4. Separate Each Section with a Divider
For each subject label a divider and insert it into the binder. Then add extra dividers for any of the additional pages you chose to use.
5. Fill the Binder
Now comes the fun part. Each quarter select two pieces of work to act as samples of each subject for that period. If your child does any pre/post testing include these as well. I usually give my children a pre-test before we start any new math unit then have them repeat the test at the end of the unit to show how much they have progressed.
By the end of the year you will have at least 8 pieces of work per subject. You can either have them do something specifically for the portfolio or simple photocopy a piece of work they have already done as a part of their day to day school work.
Now for the photo portion I have decided this year I am going to create a Social Book. It is super easy and requires almost zero extra effort on your part. What you do is, simply take photos as you usually do and upload them to Facebook or Instagram (let’s be honest most of us are doing this already) then at the end of the year/quarter Social Book will print them out for you into a little book. They can even include the captions for you! Cheap, and easy. I am always looking for an easy way out, plus my scrapbooking skills are sub par.
How Long Should I Keep My Portfolio?
Most states that require you to have homeschool portfolios want you to have them accessible for 2 years. However you will probably want to keep them longer.
You can use the same folder for multiple years. Simply add each year to its own clear sheet protector in the dividers. This way you can keep multiple years without having to find space for twelve binders per child for the entire school career. Can you imagine how many binders that would be with even just a few kids! My friend has 10 kids, she would need and entire storage unit! You can also get rid of the boring parts after two years and just keep the cute stuff.
When creating a homeschool portfolio try not to be intimidated by all the pretty and complex portfolios. It doesn’t need to be complicated. Start out with the simplest portfolio and then add in extras when you can.
Now that I have simplified the whole homeschool portfolio it has become a lot less overwhelming and has turned into something I actually enjoy and am grateful for rather than a resentment.
