Digital Portfolios

 Every year, I review portfolios.  West Virginia Home School Requirements typically require families to engage a certified teacher to evaluate each child’s portfolios.  (I taught in WV and retain permanent certification.). I have seen a variety of portfolios.  Here is an example.  One family keeps a family photo journal of trips, service projects, etc.  This family submits a digital copy of the curriculum, with each subject, work samples, and grades.  Let me share a few tips.

1.  Start a blog.  Photo experiments, dioramas, lapbooks, etc.  Try to take photos and make posts each week.  You can add the blog link to your portfolio.  Name the blog after your homeschool.  If you upload photos each week, it’s easy to add copies to a slide deck.

2.  Take a set of photos of all the textbooks, kits, test booklets, workbooks, etc.  Put these in a slideshow.

3.  Add to the slideshow.  First add titles for each subject.  Add the photos with samples weekly.  Put in the blog address on the title page with the school year.  

4.  Edit your slideshow—your digital portfolio.  If you use an online program, make a slide with the name of the school and its website.  If your child plays a sport, add it under the heading, PE, and include the league’s website.  The same is true for scouting groups, such as FNE Explorers.  

5.  Scan all tests.  Be sure to add tests, essays, reports, etc to the slide deck.  Be sure to have everything graded.  Include all of this in one slideshow. Do you have  a copy of your college degree?  Scan that, too.  Hopefully, you can submit the portfolio by email.  You can always save the slide deck on a jump drive to mail or give to the school board.