Creating a Teaching Portfolio
A teaching portfolio can be a great interview asset.
Jill Hare
What is a teaching portfolio?
A teaching portfolio is a history of your teaching career and continual work in progress.
Why Do I need a teaching portfolio?
Many school systems require that you build your portfolio from year to year to show progress. Prospective employers may use a teaching portfolio to get to know you better.
How is a teaching portfolio constructed?
Introduction
- Need help creating your teacher resume? Read tips from an expert.
- Need a job? Search education jobs now.
- Get the degree you need to become a teacher. Find an affordable degree program that’s right for you.
On the cover page of the portfolio, include your name, current position, subject area specialty, and certification status. This should be followed by your most current resume.
Teaching Philosophy
To help others get to a clearer picture of your teaching style, write a brief philosophy of how you approach education.
History
For prospective employers, be sure to include a list of all grades and subjects taught previously, as well as the locations and names of the schools.
Also include positions of leadership or committees that you held at previous schools, as this will be important for helping employers identify strengths.
Professional Development
Organize your professional development activities into an easy list that includes college courses taken, workshops or conferences attended, grant-funded projects, and professional memberships in which you are actively involved. In this section, you may also include a professional growth plan or professional goals for your career.
Teaching Evidence
Throughout the school year, think about items to collect and add to your teaching portfolio to represent the year. Items may include:
• Classroom Pictures/Activities
• Sample Lesson Plans and Asessment Rubrics
• Evidence of Student Achievement/Progress
• Technology Integration
• Examples of Differentiated Instruction
• Innovative Strategies
• Cross-Curricular Projects
• Positive Communication with Parents/Colleagues
• Administration Evaluations and Observations
Since a teaching portfolio is a work in progress, be sure to date items appropriately for easy reference and update often. Each year I kept a folder designated for my teaching portfolio to slip things into as I came across them. If you don’t have time during the school year to update your portfolio, the summer can be a great time to make all changes necessary.
© 2008, TheApple
mcgurttm
9 months ago
2 comments
Dear Cotton2:
I have begun working on my portfolio but have a couple of questions. It seems that some of the pages are repetitive of the resume. Am I correct ( history of Academic Employment, certification status. It it still desireable to repeat this info in the resume or am not understanding what type of things go in the resume. Also, is it appropriate to include reference letters in the portfolio? Thanks for your time.
mcgurttm
tolistefl65
10 months ago
146 comments
Dear Cotton2, why don't you create a document on the guidelines outlined above (Cover Page: name, current position, subject area specialty and certification status, Resume (with references), Teaching Philosophy, History of Academic Employment: all grades and subjects taught previously, positions of leadership or committees held at previous schools, as well as the locations and names of the schools, Professional Development: college courses taken, workshops/conferences attended, grant-funded projects, professional memberships in which you are actively involved, professional growth plan or career goals & Teaching Evidence
Classroom Pictures/Activities, Sample Lesson Plans and Asessment Rubrics, Evidence of Student Achievement/Progress, Technology Integration, Examples of Differentiated Instruction, Innovative Strategies, Cross-Curricular Projects, Positive Communication with Parents/Colleagues & Administration Evaluations and Observations)?
To be honest, most of us cannot fill in each and every one of these, e.g., I would not put personally anything in the slot "Positive Communication with Parents/Colleagues". However, most of them can be adequately filled in by the average teacher.
If you have any queries, you can e-mail your portfolio to me (tolistefl65@yahoo.gr) and I can propose to you (obviously for FREE) any improvements. I have worked both as a student counsellor and as a municipal counsellor for people requesting loans and subsidies to start a new business.
tolistefl65
10 months ago
146 comments
Excellent! Especially for our prospective colleagues and also for many of us novices and veterans alike. The portfolio definitely sets a new status in searching for a teaching post.
mrsmcgrew
about 1 year ago
20 comments
This can be done in an online format as well. Then you don't have to worry about giving copies out and the cost or getting them back.
cotton2
about 1 year ago
2 comments
I need to know how to put my papers together for my future evaluation...