Homeschooling: Portfolio Assessment

I've been reflecting on my recent post about fitting homeschooling into our day.  A key component to how we make it fit is that we use portfolio assessment.  Essentially, portfolio assessment is a collection of student work which illustrates growth, competencies, and best work.

Portfolio assessment was the 'buzz word' when I took my teacher training. It was presented as a way for students to demonstrate their knowledge in a personally meaningful way (students have a high degree of choice in how they choose to present.)   Portfolios also require the student write a reflection on each piece submitted justifying why it is in the portfolio thereby encouraging them to think about how they learn.
Why portfolios are such a good fit for us is because I don't need constant written assessments to have a clear picture of how the students are comprehending.  With only 2 students I have almost instant assessment feedback on their performance when teaching them (if something is unclear I can read their body language, or they stop me and ask for clarification), whereas a classroom teacher requires frequent formal assessment to get a clear picture of each student's understanding.
Since I know my students have comprehended each concept, their formal work is a demonstration of knowledge for their distance ed teacher, and an opportunity to practice literacy, research, and project management skills. It is a change of paradigm as to why and what we assess.

Our portfolios cover each subject area and we submit them at the end of each semester:

• Language Arts - Weekly dictee samples (We use Spelling Wisdom), creative writing journal, book reports/reviews, learning stories.
• Social Studies - One project per month (We use What in the World? and include reading notes, question & answers/rough work, and final project (often a Powerpoint) for each project), book reports, learning stories.
• Science - One project per month (We use Classroom Ready Science News and include the pre-work as in Socials), book reports, learning stories.  
• Math - We use a web-based program which meets the provincial outcomes for each grade. I receive weekly reports on the kids' progress and share the login with their distance ed teacher to review when he likes. I chose this site because it requires the kids master each outcome and don't sail through a unit without full comprehension. We include written calculations in the portfolio to demonstrate thought-processes. IXL Math
• Fine Arts - We include a written summary of the work completed with their instructors each semester, art samples, and a sample of their music or dance on video. 
• Physical Education - We include their journal of Daily Physical Activity (a BC requirement), goals in their sport and summary of achievements, and photographs.
• French - Not included in the portfolio. As the kids are former French Immersion students they are completing French 8 by distance ed and submitting assignments online regularly to their teacher.
• Personal Planning - Each week the kids send their distance ed teacher a Learning Plan for the week. We also include book reviews, learning stories, and course certificates (such as Home Alone program.)

As the kids complete projects I file them in the portfolio and we work together to organize them at the end of each term and drop them in the mail for marking.

Joyfully yours,
Caz.

We use an expandable file folder as it is easy to mail.