Preparing the Teacher Portfolio – Why You Need One!
While it may be true that school systems throughout the country are courting new and seasoned teachers of color, it is the prepared candidate who will gain the most coveted positions. The teaching profession in general is under greater scrutiny now more than ever, and teachers are required to demonstrate that they are prepared for the challenges that lie ahead – academically and personally.
Your teaching portfolio is your calling card to introduce your preparation, teaching style, unique skills, and personality to prospective school systems. A teaching portfolio describes and documents multiple aspects of your classroom ability.
The two basic types of portfolio include:
*A summative portfolio – created to apply for an academic job or for promotion and tenure within a department.
*Formative portfolio – established for the purpose of personal and professional development.
While the portfolio gained popularity in the 1990s, it has evolved over the years to slick and polished versions to ensure that candidates stand out in the crowd. Gone are the days of strictly using hard copy documents. Today, students are preparing portfolios on CD, links to Web sites, and video clips of their instruction.
A solid portfolio package should include material that can be easily left behind at job fairs. “Quite often, recruiters conduct detailed interviews with candidates at career fairs, especially in some of the areas in high demand such as math and science. Some people actually get offers on the spot,” said Dr. Doris Williams-Smith, chair of the Teacher Education Department at Grambling State University, and NCATE Coordinator. “We have student teachers who have received three job offers halfway through student teaching in math, a high demand area.”
Dr. Williams-Smith recommends that teacher candidates as well as veteran teachers do their homework when preparing portfolios for teaching positions, and should target specific school systems of interest.
“Candidates should find out from prospective employers what they are looking for,” she added. “If high stakes testing is their number one priority, you should have something to show that you are familiar with it and show a sample activity. Find out what’s important to the people doing the hiring and address those things. The portfolio is the chance to show you have the knowledge and experience that prepares you to teach.”
Candidates can visit school system Web sites to get a feel for priorities, needs and demands. The more you know about a school district of interest, the better you will be able to target your materials
Portfolios for the New and Veteran Teacher
Whether a 20-year veteran or a new teacher who is just starting out, a portfolio is a key component of your teaching tools. A universal requirement, your portfolio should be up-to-date as your insurance against unforeseen district shake-ups.
In addition, even if you love your job and have no intention of leaving, the portfolio offers an opportunity for you to do self-evaluation.
Dr. Leigh Butler, director of Teacher Education Services and Advising at Old Dominion University offers advice for new and veteran teachers. “It’s important that they have some demonstration of how you are going to handle working to improve student outcome. It should be well-organized and is provided in a variety of formats that meet the employers need, not just their own.”
“For the seasoned or veteran teacher, the portfolio is often used if you are looking to pursue a national recognition such as the National Board Certification,” Butler said. “It’s important to develop a well-documented portfolio. A lot of people don’t document when they make presentations or create something new. They tend to wait until someone needs their vitae or resume, then try to back track and document everything.”
Butler recommends making a regular schedule of updating your portfolio at the end of every semester. During the Christmas break, she points out that it may be a good time to reflect on the first half of the year, and note important information for your portfolio. The portfolio should also be updated at the end of the school year.
Why Create a Portfolio?
The Teaching Portfolio is a rite of passage into the teaching profession, where standards have been established for new teachers including new licensing requirements, and new professional development expectations. It is a key tool that demonstrates that you have the habits of mind and the practical strategies needed to be a successful teacher and learner. Even the veteran teacher should have a solid portfolio to highlight achievements.
The teaching portfolio can serve many purposes, including:
*Reflecting on your goals as a teacher
*Assessing your teaching strengths and areas which need improvement
*Documenting your progress as a teacher
*Identifying your personal teaching style
*Using elements of the portfolio to promote dialogue with fellow teachers
*Considering new ways of gathering student feedback
*Gathering detailed data to support your goals
*Collecting multiple sources of evidence that document the implementation of your teaching goals and their success.
Your portfolio should include your Philosophy of Education, where you are expected to value all voices and multiple perspectives. However, putting your philosophy into words can be a daunting task.
There are many ways to develop and organize a teaching statement, but statements that communicate effectively often include elements that are:
*Descriptive – What you do when you teach, types of activities or thinking in which you engage your students.
*Analytical – Why you teach in the ways that you do, how your thinking about teaching has changed over time.
*Empirical – Experiences or observations of student learning on which your decisions about teaching are based.
Getting started or updating your portfolio means putting pen to paper and asking some key questions. One way to start is to write out answers to questions about typical learning goals and teaching practices. Ask yourself questions such as: What do I want students to learn? How do I help them learn? What obstacles are there to student learning? How do I help students overcome these obstacles?
A key factor in creating your portfolio is thoughtful planning and organization. A professional teaching portfolio can be created and presented in many ways. No matter how you plan to approach it, there are a few factors you should keep in mind. You should remember to clearly explain your educational philosophy, choose specific features of your instructional program to document, collect a wide range of artifacts, and date and annotate them so you have the information you need when making your final selections. Keep a journal to draw upon for written reflections on your teaching. Collaborate with a mentor and other colleagues (preferably, those experienced in both teaching and portfolio construction.).
Steps for Compiling a Teaching Portfolio
1. Clarify teaching responsibilities
2. Select items for the portfolio
3. Prepare statement on each item
4. Arrange the items in order
5. Compile the supporting data
6. Incorporate the portfolio into the curriculum vitae
7. Determine physical presentation’s considerations
Source: The Center for Teaching Effectiveness, University of Texas |
