KY law does NOT require home school students to keep portfolios, but some families choose to do so.  The following plan describes a way to gather a  portfolio that would be meaningful in a home school setting.
 
1.  Criterion:

• What is included – best work, projects, field trips, progress, etc.
• How often will portfolio be updated.
• Who will be responsible – student or parent and student
• Will it include summer work or only work done August – May
• How will the work be divided – by subject matter (Math, Language Arts, Science, etc or by Unit Studies or a Combination of ways to be divided)

 
 
2.  Gather Materials:

• Notebook – 2-3” ring binder with pockets
• Dividers
• A hole punch
• Labels, rubber cement
• Magnetic pages, plastic sleeves for holding photos/small items
• Folders/ envelopes to place work in temporarily (we use drawers)

 
 
3.  Portfolio Day:

• Make portfolio day a part of school with little or no additional assignments
• Organize school work into categories of divider subjects
• Decide what to include and what to pitch
• Try to date everything
• Have students provide explanations of photos, brochures, and other items which are not self-explanatory
• Ask students to evaluate their work in each area (verbally or written); parent also provides their own evaluation
• Keep a reading list in portfolio
• At the end of the year, include a brief overview of subjects covered – parent or student may do this
• Take photos of the large projects/drawings to include in portfolio; action shots are also great!

 
 
HINTS:

• Start simply and add as you go
• The ultimate goal is for students to be responsible for their own portfolios with parents providing summaries and evaluations.