Portfolio Connection, The: The Mindful School Series

What is the best way to assess a person’s vocabulary level? A multiple-choice exam? A fill-in-the-blank exercise? Or perhaps a performance activity that allows the person to “show” the contextual meaning of a word? As the new reforms in education emphasize alternative forms of evaluation and testing, creative educators are now implementing assessment strategies which no longer measure an individual’s ability to memorize and reiterate, but focus instead on one’s capacity to create, discover, and become a lifelong learner. The portfolio has emerged as one of the most powerful tools for assessment and evaluation in education. Just as the artist chooses from an array of watercolors to paint her picture, the creative educator chooses from a repertoire of assessment tools to paint her picture of a student as a lifelong learner. This easy-to-use resource explores a multitude of options for purposes and types of portfolios as well as practical ideas for implementing them in the classroom. Ten steps in developing portfolios are presented, along with lesson options, examples, and suggestions for encouraging creative and critical thinking in an easy-to-follow format. Educators, administrators, curriculum planners, and parents. A Skylight Professional Book.