Topic: Descriptive Portfolios

Grade Level: 4 - 6

Strategy: Portfolios (to demonstrate what a student can do)

Objective(s) and/or Purpose(s) for the Assessment
Involve students in their learning.
Provide information on how to adjust course content to meet students' needs.
Improve communication with parents.

Materials Required:
One folder per student
Self-assessment sheet

Description of the Activity:
The teacher directs the students to keep all returned math work in a safe place until Friday. On Friday, each student chooses the work sample he/she would like placed in his/her portfolio folder. Then each student completes a questionnaire pertaining to the chosen work. The questionnaire is stapled to the work and both are placed in the student's folder. This process continues until parent-teacher conferences. At conference time the parents, the student, and the teacher discuss the student's strengths and weaknesses using the portfolio as a guide. After conference the procedure begins anew.

Reproducible Page:
Self-assessment sheet

Management Tips:
Keep portfolio folders in a centralized, safe area - not in student's desk.
Do not allow portfolio work samples to go home until conference time.

Reference(s) of Source(s):
NEA Today, November 1996, Vol. 15, No.4
Schaffer, Frank. Schooldays, Nov./Dec./Jan. 1992-93.



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