Obviously documenting the courses your child takes will be the most important part of the portfolio. Of course, any event, recital, field trip, or extra curricular activity is also very important to show the student as a whole. As we know, learning is about more then textbooks and that is also what we want to show.
I prepared two portfolios and for each I included a sheet that listed the curriculum used and courses of study. I also listed extra-curricular activities and courses such as piano, crochet, ballet, theater class, volleyball, and an art course taken through a homeschool co-op. In addition, I listed a piano recital and an opportunity my daughter had to give a speech at an event. Since my oldest was involved in certain aspects of my business, I included that as well. I wanted to present the child as a whole. Make sure you include field trips. You may provide photos if you wish to document your portfolio like a scrapbook. Use your dividers in your binder between each subject. You can keep all your portfolios as a keepsake the more “scrapbook” you make it.
Core Classes:
Math: Provide a sampling of work and tests from the beginning of the year, the middle, and the end, to show the progression of learning. Three to five sample pages and a test from each term should be sufficient. If your child did any logic problems or math game type workbooks then include some samples. Provide a list of math resources online and manipulatives or games you used to enhance the course.
Language: Include samples of grammar work, vocabulary sheets, or spelling tests in this section. If your child wrote a story, a book report, biography, or did sample letters, also include those. This is the section to include a reading list. Again, list any games or enhancements you added to the course. If you have pictures of your child putting on a puppet show or something of that nature, include it! I used this section to include samples of narration, dictation, and copywork.
Science: We are very hands on when it comes to science. So, I provided images of science projects and some sample pages from lab books. I included a list of all experiments we did for the year.
History: If you have any brochures from field trips or images from projects include them. If your child did a timeline, wrote a report, or made a project, you will want to add it in to the section. Tests, quizzes, worksheets and relevant work throughout the year is important to include as well.
Other Classes:
Charlotte Mason Classics: As a Charlotte Mason flavored homeschooler, my children do narration, copywork, dictation, and nature journals. I include the first three in my language arts section. Nature Journals can be submitted under science.
Foreign Language: As with any other course you will want to list the objective and the progression. If your child uses an online course then print out a progress report or take a screenshot that shows what has been completed. If the course is through a book, then provide the information, and any tests, quizzes, or projects the child has done throughout the year. You only have to provide a sampling to show the progression of learning.
Music: My daughter had a unit study on composers which I provided. She also takes piano and had a recital. I listed piano under extra-curricular activities. I showed a picture of her playing the piano because I thought that would be cute.
Art: One of my daughters took an art class through a homeschool co-op. I listed the course under extra-curricular activities. I provided some samples of work she did that was small enough to include in the portfolio. Since the teacher came to my home to do the evaluation, she could see the displays in my dining room. We also use a curriculum for art that includes art history so I added it to my curriculum list.
Physical Education: I provided a simple sheet that stated how often they had physical education and what it included. I included our visits to the YMCA, times we play outside for the purpose of phys ed, ballet classes, and volleyball.