Creating a Teacher Portfolio
These are suggested sections for your teacher portfolio. Create a file and underneath each sub-heading, try to place the following information:
- All About Me:
- name
- school
- grade/subject taught
- qualifications
- previous job roles
- any responsibilities
2. My Teaching Philosophy
A document that outlines your:
- goals as a teacher
- reasons for becoming a teacher
- approach to teaching and career progression
- viewpoint on how to teach effectively
- preferred teaching methods/strategies
- challenges faced when teaching.
3. Workshops / Training attended
- A record of any training that you have attended should include dates, worksheets and follow-up activities.
4. Evidence of Change/Progression of Skills:
- examples of where you have changed your teaching practice after training, research, classroom observations etc.
- samples of learners’ work, lesson plans, photographs etc.
5. Lesson Observations:
- evidence of any lesson observations from your peers or senior leadership team.
- plans for developing the areas identified in observations as requiring improvement.
6. Lesson Plans/Reflections:
- examples of lesson plans
- examples of lesson reflections (completed after teaching the lesson)
- areas where you have included new strategies or techniques.
7. Assessment:
- a record of learners’ assessments/marks to help monitor progress
- a record any assessment strategies that you find effective (and why)
- appropriate markschemes (if applicable).
8. Professional Development Action Plan
A list of teaching practice areas that considers:
- the areas you would like to improve
- the method of improving these areas, e.g. peer observations, planning, training etc.
- the frequency that you will visit your own action plan and how you will monitor progress.
9. Subject Knowledge Action Plan
A list of subject specific information that documents:
- the topics you are confident teaching
- the topics you need further expertise in
- the method of developing this knowledge; it might be worth considering who in the department could assist you with specific gaps.
10. Personal Interests
- Any articles, newspaper clippings and photographs that you would like to reflect on as a teacher.
This teaching portfolio should be continually updated. It will become vital evidence for your career progression.