STUDENT PORTFOLIOS

An Organizational Strategy for Teachers

By: Jill Pavich, NBCTBoca Raton Community HS

Creator, The Global Pen blog

PBC School District:

As many of you know, having a writing portfolio for each individual student in your writing-intensive classroom has its benefits.

This strategy will help stakeholders (i.e. students, teachers, administrators, district personnel, etc.) monitor student learning and progress; storage of this valuable material will help us make sound instructional decisions as we progress through the school year.

What Does This Mean for Teachers?

Most of you are thinking... “more work!”

However, I’d like to share a simple strategy I’ve adopted to (hopefully) keep my own classroom organized this year; maybe it will inspire you to “simplify” your life as well

Fellow Teachers, from ME to YOU:

I UNDERSTAND that we do not all necessarily:

Organize our paperwork in the same fashion;

Have the desire to organize in such a nerdy fashion (I consider “nerdy” a compliment, by the way…);

Have a million dollars to spend on supplies;

Have the time to expend on such an endeavor.

Heck, some of you might even have an even EASIER way of doing things, and in that case, go for it!!

HOWEVER…. My motto for sharing this portfolio with

teachers is this… “USE IT, LOSE IT…either way, I’m not offended…I’m just trying to be helpful!!!!”

The “Skinny” on my Technique:

Truly, this idea is NOT rocket science: Some teachers will say, “um…

hello, I’ve been around long enough to use a filing cabinet! Stop insulting my intelligence!”

Other teachers will say, “Gee, I’m brand new and this is a GREAT idea!”

Still others will say, “Hmm…I do something similar/sort of like this…let me tweak a little here…fuse a little there and…voila! Update! Perfect paper organization!”

Whoever you are, USE IT, LOSE IT…I won’t be offended

MY INSPIRATION:

I met a wonderful lady at Office Depot today during the “Teacher Appreciation Breakfast” and she inquired about my intent to purchase the blue bins in my shopping cart. I explained that I was going to use them to organize student portfolios and explained the system I deemed easiest for all parties involved (students, teacher, parents, administrators, district personnel).In response to this idea, and to my surprise, she confessed her minor difficulties with organizationally sound techniques. I just assumed this very delightful and intelligent teacher already had a plan, but then I realized the beauty of networking; it strengthens our practice even further. So, as teachers do, we brainstormed, swapped ideas, and problem-solved. At the end of our conversation, my new friend and I were inspired to experiment with a few new organizational ideas.In light of constant change and educational evolution,I hope this brief, rather elementary, system inspires you too…after all, that’s what teachers do:• Listen• Share• INSPIRE!!!

STUDENT PORTFOLIOSLet’s Get Started…!

What You Will Need: Please note that the materials I

suggest are OPTIONAL and can be substituted for other items: A plastic bin (or crate, cardboard

box, etc) Hanging Folders File Folders Sticky Labels File Tabs Scissors Sharpie Marker Computer/Printer/Microsoft

Office

The Portfolio Bin(sugg. price $6.99)

Hanging File Folders:(sugg. price: $9.79)

File Labels(sugg. price: $11.99)

Using Microsoft Office to Make the Labels:

• Open Microsoft Word on your computer and click on

TOOLS• Then click on “Mailings and Labels”• On the LABELS tab in the window, click “Options” to determine what you will set your printer at (Laser and Ink Jet)…you may not even need to do this, really…• Select Label products/Avery Standard (if, of course, you buy Avery brand…)• Scroll through the product numbers until you find the one that matches the label product you purchased (i.e. Avery 8161…it should say it on the front of the package you purchase and at the top of each sheet).• Highlight/click on that product number; Click OK.• Now click “New Document”…the template should come up on the screen.• Begin typing in the labels as you wish…I typically highlight the entire page first to set the page to where everything I type in the boxes is centered, the font size is approximately 30-40, and then pick preferred font style (the one in my presentation is Comic Sans MS).

Computer Processed Portfolio Labels:

Now it’s time to trim the labels so they fit properly onto the folder…observe the following pictures for an idea of how this is accomplished…

Trimming:

Trimming con’t:

A Completed Strip of Alphabetized Labels:

Now that the labels are properly formatted, it’s time to apply them to the hanging folder tabs…

Applying Labels to Hanging File Tabs:

Applying Labels to Hanging File Tabs:

Applying Tabs to Hanging Files:

• Of course, there is no need for computerized tabs…

• But the benefits include:•Neat•Professional•Visually-appealing•User-friendly

And now for the final (simple) product…

Two bins help to split the alphabet in half…once real student work goes in, less

room is available!

Decorating ignites enthusiasm…

BOBCAT PRIDE!!

STUDENT PORTFOLIOS:

STUDENT PORTFOLIOS A—M:

STUDENT PORTFOLIOS N—Z:

Filing Student Work is as simple as A-B-C!

Last Name = P:

Simple, Efficient, and ACCESSIBLE for all

stakeholders!!

Again, I’m sure this might be a NO-BRAINER for some, but for others,

it might be an EYE-OPENER .

Materials Purchased at:

A Special Thanks for the Discounts

Special THANK YOU’s:

Mom (for the organizational gene)

Dad (for the generosity gene) Rindy and John Dourdis (for the

feedback and support) Linda and Harmony (for the

inspiration to share!!) ALL Teachers who made it all

the way to this slide and are reading this sentence!!! Your support for colleagues and concern for professional development shows!

TEACHERS/COLLEAGUES,

SUPPORT STAFF,

Have a fantastic school year!!