I quickly got to know some of the amazing moms in our group and offered them portfolio evaluations at the end of the school year. I loved getting to know these homeschooling moms and saw MANY fabulous portfolios!
Ideas for portfolios are always a topic of discussion. I do digital portfolios, watch YouTube videos for reading and field trips, and view binders. Here are a few ideas that I have for you from my own homeschool journey this year.
Art
Include a picture of your child's art. Art is not a requirement for the reviewer; however, it demonstrates a well-rounded child. You can also have the child write a paragraph on the project, what was used, why it was chosen, and describe the colors. This will cross curriculum into Language Arts Class. Visit Mike's Inspiration Station for "Art Class" ideas. We watch it via DVR.
Lectures
A picture of a lecture that was attended. This shows a Ken Ham talk we attended at Appalachian Bible College. I am very glad he came to WV and spread the word about science and the Bible. Ken Ham runs Answers in Genesis and The Creation Museum, which we visited earlier in the school year. It was one of my favorite blog posts. Creation Museum Field Trip. To find out more, visit Answers in Genesis for Kids.
Physical Education
Again, P.E. is not a requirement for a portfolio evaluation, but it shows well-roundedness and socialization if done with other kids. This may put the portfolio evaluator at ease regarding the issue of socialization. It may show the evaluator that homeschooled children have many opportunities available to them as well.
Physical Education comes with socialization opportunities.
Here the group of ORCHARDS (local homeschool support group) gets instructions on rock climbing. ***Listening skills - check!
BUDGETING
Budgeting projects where the child helps at the grocery store to remain within a certain budget is a great math lesson to include in a portfolio. Pictures always solidify the "practical" activity. Here is a budgeting project for choosing baby products within a certain amount of money. There are practical ideas online. Try ideas from a site called Math is Fun.
CENTERS
Pictures of language study or alphabet for little ones would be suitable if you include many other ideas too... This would be an example of hands-on learning for language. Your child is learning a new language. This picture actually shows my 'center' time where the children do fun activities on their own and they rotate each day. This particular day they were to review ABCs of sign language via flashcards. They have 30 minutes for this activity. If they finish early, there are other activities from which to choose.
Sewing
This sewing project quilt plan shows geometry, advance planning, material compositions, etc.
Unit Study Idea
Here is one way to visually express a unit study. Along with the actual worksheets that may be completed, the books read and explored could be photographed to show the depth of the project. Worksheets are certainly OK to include, but a picture is worth 1,000 words. This also creates a sort of scrap book feel to your portfolio instead of lists. If you choose to put the entire unit study, in the portfolio binder, that would be wonderful.
This VIDEO on trains is the best video to show the old time train with its whistle to younger kids.... I LOVE it! Post by William Helmintoller.
Include a video with your YouTube channel. Or link to videos that you have shown your children.
I have a few parents who have a channel to which I subscribe. As they do experiments or reading, they add the video. I watch and we together do a year-round review of sorts.
CRAFTS
ART or craft projects show creativity, accomplishment, talent, God-given giftings. My girls take sewing lessons from a fellow homeschool mother and friend.
How can you show what you know with Visual Enhancements for your portfolio? This is in no way a requirement, but it is easier to give the evaluator a better understanding of what you actually do as a homeschooler.
Interested in me evaluating your portfolio? Check out my Homeschooling Portfolio Evaluation website.
No comments:
Post a Comment