We are starting school tomorrow and I forgot to update the sections in the portfolios . I have already cleaned out the papers from last year, except my daughters' book. Listed below are the sections I will be putting in for this year. Just about the same as last years. The portfolio is a white 3", 3-ring binder. I put a portfolio cover sheet on the front and a spine cover as well. By the end of the year, it will be well packed .

God's Child - describes the child, lists all extra activities such as sports, holds all awards earn during the year.

Records - weekly planner, reading log, field trip log, PE log.

Calendar - child keeps up with his own calendar

Math
English - under English will be:
Spelling
vocabulary
Grammar
Dictation
Latin
Science
History
Geography
Art/Extras

Do you do all of these sections for each grade? your portfolios sounds similar to ours.

I was wondering something about this. Do you put all of the papers your daughter does in the portfolio or just a few from each subject for each week or month or what. I was wondering because we have a binder for some subjects and then I have a file folder to file papers for the rest of them. I figure as long as I date the papers and try to keep them in order I will easily be able to get them together at the end of the year for a portfolio. But then again if take a few as I go along then I would not have to do this at the end of the year.

I do not put all of the papers in the sections. I pick from the beginning, middle and end of year. Just enough to show improvement.

I have one portfolio for each child (4). The kids get to pick the portfolio cover they want for their own books.

They also have a 3-ring binder for a notebook. They keep the things they are currently working on, like assignments that take more than one day, calendars, art projects, etc. Once they are done I can move them on over to the portfolio. By the end of the year the portfolio should be done. Last year, I didn't have the teacher's planner done and that is something that is required by our state. So, I spent a few all nighters writing down what we did all year. I hope I have learned from that mistake .

I noticed in my son's portfolio that the tabs are getting torn. I guess after using them for three years now, that they need to be replaces.

I forgot to mention that I have pocket sleeves (not sure of the name ) to put in odd shaped work or awards. I don't like to punch holes in their awards, so I just use the pocket things.

Oh! Thank you! I have been trying to figure this out for years! I've been so bad about this, and really wanted to have a good portfolio for each child for each year, but haven't done it.

Thank you! I think I can do this now. ONE question ... how do you handle art papers, etc. that might be on bigger paper than 81/2 x 11" paper????

Thanks for explaining how you work it Michelle! I was just going to ask if the child's notebook was the portfolio. I know this sounds like a simple thing but these little details keep snagging me. I need to go buy some 3" binders now I was using the kids notebooks as their portfolios and wondering how I was going to keep everything orderly. Now I know By the way, I did start My contemporaneous schedule with the homeschool planner. I'm such a procrastinator that this really works well for me to have everything done and I just open and record what we are doing. If by some miracle I plan ahead (in pencil) I can write it down in the planner and just check it off or arrow to the day we did it. I'm really excited about this and believe I can stay on top of it and not have to pull a week of all nighters before my next evaluation

It usually goes on the refrigerator and not in the portfolio. If I think it should be in the portfolio I have two options. Just take it with you to the evaluator or punch holes on the short side, fold the long side up and place in the binder. Not much help, huh? I don't like things hanging out of the portfolio , so I make sure the art papers are the right size to begin with. I even place a pencil line down the left side as a margin and forbid the kiddos to cross the line . Bad mama!

How about photos? Kinda hard to stuff a salt-dough map in the binder

Hmmm, never thought of putting a salt dough map in the binder. That would be interesting for the evaluator.

I wonder what kinds of things evaluators get to see, maybe some shed snake skins stuck to nature journals, or dead bugs. That might be an interesting job.

I bet they do see some of those strange things. I'll have to ask our evaluator what is the strangest thing she saw in a portfolio.

I used this as my guide for portfolio tabs

I only added Art, Creative Writing and Literature

Thanks so much Michelle this really helped me feel more pulled together.

I see you already did this in August

Some of us are late bloomers I guess

That doesn't mean there is anything in them yet.

Bumping this up. It is getting time to work on the portfolios. Is everyone ready? I am not doing well with recording what the kids do each day. I'll have to get started on that, so I won't be over loaded at the end of the year. Work has been put in each portfolio through out the year, so that is going well.

One big problem. I forgot to write down what my daughter has read. Thankfully, I have kept copies of our library book list and I can go from there. Gee, what was I thinking?

I see that you are from Fl. Do your children do F-CAT and have an evaluation done or do you do 1 or the other?
Thanks

My oldest is in the 6th grade and he does group testing using the Iowa test. That is only because that is what is offered at this group. If you wish to do the F-CAT, you will need to sign the kids up at your public school. To do that contact your school district.

I also have a K and a 2nd grader. They will be evaluated by the same lady who gives the group test. Group testing is only for 3rd grades and up. They made that decision; it is not a requirement from the state.

Call your local homeschool district person (I don't know where you live), and ask them for a list of people who do evaluations and group testing. FPEA site might offer that information.

I do pretty much what you do. I put my pages in a clear protector, so #1, the pages stay nice, #2, so that they don't rip.

The last couple of years, we started having separate binders for science and history. I really want to keep all of those papers, since we don't work directly out of a workbook. So I give my evaluator, (we call them portfolio leaders), a couple of binders to look at.

I am a portfolio leader in my state this year, so I will let you know if I see anything interesting! Hopefully no insects or snacks!

We work out of a combination of binders and spiral notebooks.

My portfolio sections consists of:

Overview
Records
Correspondence
Ideas
Subjects
(Within subjects are subsections for whatever that particular child is working on. The beginning of the year was the summarized lesson plans, the tests, handouts, etc. that I would be using. As time goes on, I will pull work from their other binders and put here. Also, my notes for the year will go here, as well as a list of all their supplementary books they've used per subject.)

We have a few unit studies that are separate This year we have a book on Colonial Life and a LapBook on Pirates. Both will go along with the portfolio to the evaluator.

I would like to know what you find in other portfolios.

In DE you have the option of belonging to an umbrella group, which assigns portfolio leaders ... which as I said before, I am one. We are all mom's, who help each other out. In DE the rules are so lax, that you don't really need to show your work to anyone. You just need to turn in your days you taught and your child's grade. Sooo, sooo easy...almost insane...really!

Thanks Michelle. You're a big help.

I am so glad you bumped this up. I knew it was getting that time of year and I kept putting it off and putting it off and then I stopped thinking about it period I have to get mine started. Ours are completely empty I do have all of their school paper in a pile on my desk though. What a job it is going to be to go through them all.

Thanks, I am going to put this in my planner binder. I do not need one for kindergarten, but I am going to do one for my son. This will give me a place to start.