What is a teacher portfolio?

A teacher portfolio includes your professional teaching background, documents concerning your teaching practices, and evidence of student success. Here are some details on these items and other common items in a teaching portfolio:

• Professional teaching background

Most teaching portfolios start off with documents that record and summarize your professional teaching experiences thus far in your career. Depending on the working environment of the teacher, they might include a resume here or a CV. You should also include a cover letter or statement in regard to your teaching philosophy.

• Documents concerning your teaching practices

Next, you should provide official documentation of what subjects, classes, and/or grade levels you have taught and the teaching strategies you have employed in your career thus far. Here are some examples of things to include in this section:

• ists of courses or classes you have taught as a teacher or as a teaching assistant

• Syllabuses

• Grading criteria employed

• Reading lists you have used concerning your previous students

• Examples of assignments, homework, and projects for previous courses or classes

• Samples of exams, tests, and quizzes you have administered

• Learning materials, including items like handouts and lecture notes

• Examples of other teaching methods or aids you have employed in your career

• Video or audio recordings of your instruction

All of this information and documentation allows the reader of your portfolio to get a strong sense of your teaching style and experience.

• Evidence of student success

Teaching portfolios benefit from having student test scores, assignments, and examples of successful student projects. The best kind of information in this section comes from examples of students that were struggling, but under your guidance achieved success.

Here are some options of items to include in this section:

• Papers and essays of previous students

• Creative projects or works

• Class projects

• Individual projects

• Standardized test scores

• The overall grades of previous students, especially those that showed massive academic improvement

This documentation can prove your worth as a teacher and make you a sought-after candidate.

• Reviews of your teaching performance

You should include any materials you have from qualified academic professionals that have observed you teaching classes. You can use their notes or post-observation documentation in this section, but you can also use letters of recommendation from any educational professionals, including:

• Other teachers

• Teaching aids

• Assistant teachers

• Principals

• Vice principals

• Other appropriate administration officials

• Contributions and professional development

In your teaching portfolio, you need to show how you proactively improve your abilities, skills, and knowledge as a teacher. In terms of professional development you should list out any of these types of items

• Teaching seminars you have attended

• Teaching conferences you have attended or spoken at

• Any involvement in the development of new curriculum or teaching practices at past schools

• If you have contributed writings to any teaching journals or other relevant publications

• Awards or achievements you have received during your career