Chapter 2 Becoming a Teacher 51
• Portfolios refl ect your uniqueness. Your abilities and experiences are
not the same as anyone else’s. Because of this, your portfolio should
be original. You may choose to include different artifacts than others
in your class. You might, for example, include photographs, certifi -
cates, descriptions of your work with children, and evidence of your
personal leadership experiences.
• Portfolios show your progress. Your portfolio is not just a random
collection of things. Think carefully about what to include. Identify
and date each item. For each, you also need to include a thoughtful
statement about why the item is meaningful and what it demonstrates.
These statements, along with the changing quality of your work,
show how your thinking, understanding, and skills have evolved. For
example, you might include the fi rst lesson plan you develop for your
teaching class, along with a paragraph about what you learned from
the experience. Later, you may add other teaching materials that you
have developed. The differences in their quality and your thoughts
about them will show how you have progressed from your earlier
efforts. Remember that portfolios evolve over time, but they should be
current. You may remove some items (or store them elsewhere) as you
add new ones and progress in your professional preparation.
• Portfolios refl ect professionalism. An effective portfolio is well-
organized, neat, and easy to understand. One of the most common
methods of organizing a portfolio is to use a three-ring binder with
tab dividers. Make the pages interesting. Even the paper you choose,
the way you arrange items, and the lettering you use say something
about you. Make sure that what you have written is accurate, clear
to the reader, and grammatically correct. To be effective, a portfolio
must be error-free. Proofread carefully several times. It is a good idea
to ask at least two people to review your portfolio before you turn it
in for a class or use it for another purpose.
What Should You Include in Your Portfolio?
Even though portfolios vary, there are several documents that often
are part of a personal teaching portfolio. If you are preparing this as a class
project, your teacher will give specifi c guidelines. The following are some
items to include in a portfolio:
• basic information about yourself, including your name and year in school
• an essay focusing on your career goals and personal interests
• projects, assignments, or examples from experiences that display
your skills
• journal entries about your experiences related to teaching