Putting Together the Homeschool Portfolio

What is a Homeschool Portfolio?

So, what is a homeschool portfolio anyway? It sounds a bit daunting but let’s first explain what it is and how it is used. You can grab the FREE PDF Portfolio to help you put together your own.

A homeschool portfolio is a collection of documents, assignments, and assessments that are compiled to demonstrate a child’s academic progress over a school year or multiple years. It is typically used as an alternative to traditional report cards or grades, providing a more comprehensive overview of a child’s learning and growth. Often a homeschool portfolio is used as an assessment or evaluation to satisfy the law to homeschool in a particular state. Many parents keep a portfolio, regardless of state laws, to help them create any necessary transcripts their child may need.

Homeschool portfolios may include a wide range of materials, such as writing samples, artwork, science experiments, math worksheets, and photographs. Additionally, they may include documentation of field trips, volunteer work, and other extracurricular activities that the student has participated in.

Homeschool Supplies

100 Two Pocket Folders with Prongs
3 Ring Binders, Round Rings, Holds 350 Sheets, 4 pack
Bostitch Office EZ Squeeze Heavy Duty 3 Hole Punch, 40-Sheet Capacity
SHARPIE Markers, Highlighters, 24 Count
Bostitch Stapler with Staples
Paper Clips, Binder Clips

Why Do You Need a Homeschool Portfolio?

A homeschool portfolio can serve several purposes:

Record of Progress: The homeschool portfolio provides a record of the student’s academic progress and achievements over the course of a school year or multiple years. This is especially applicable if you tend to use “unschooling” more than textbooks to educate your children.
Assessment: It can be used as part of a homeschooling assessment or evaluation, which is required in some states to comply with homeschooling laws. I need to put together a homeschool portfolio when my children with global developmental delays are required by my state law to get an annual assessment and are incapable of taking a standardized test.
Goal Setting: The portfolio can be used to set goals for the student and to monitor progress towards those goals. This is great for high school.
Record Keeping: It provides a way for parents to keep track of assignments, assessments, and other important information related to their child’s education.
Preparation for College or Employment: A homeschool portfolio can be used to demonstrate academic achievement and skill development to colleges and potential employers.

What to Include in Your Child’s Homeschool Portfolio

As stated, the homeschool portfolio is a record of your child’s progress and can include many types of documents. Yet, this begs the question, how much do you keep? Over the school year, your child will produce many written assignments, artwork, writing samples, and possible assessments. What counts as “proof” of your child’s progress over the course of the school year?

Provide a basic log of activities either by the month or throughout the year. You can use your planner as a guide.
List of books read throughout the year. The book list can include books you read out loud to them, too.
List of courses taken online or through a homeschool co-op.
List of any supplements used.
Field trip information.
Notebooking pages filled out by your child of the hands-on experiences they regularly engage in around your home such as animal husbandry, horticulture (gardening), building projects, handicrafts (sewing, knitting, etc.), and child care.
Tests throughout the year. Perhaps one from each quarter or semester and a final exam.
An example of a completed essay. If your child wrote several essays, you can keep the ones that show a different writing style such as one persuasive essay, one book report, etc.
Lab result sheets for any science experiment.
If your child performed or gave a speech, possibly include a picture and a description of the event.
Include any volunteer work the child performed on his own or with you.
Include any extracurricular activities.
Include any club memberships or co-op memberships.

In Conclusion

A homeschool portfolio is like a diary of your child’s academic year. You can provide a physical copy or store these items digitally. Many parents enjoy taking pictures and making a portfolio more picture heavy. This may be useful if your child created a lot of art or was involved in many activities outside of your homeschool.