CEDO 555 Blog #2 - Building My Portfolio

Building a portfolio is a very important task and one that requires much thought and planning. One must also consider the purpose and desired outcome of the presentation of a professional portfolio. What should the portfolio say about the person it represents, I have reviewed several online portfolios for other educators and have been impressed by how well they seem to represent their creators. They incorporate sections that give insight into educational coursework, professional experiences, accolades and philosophies of the educator. I am still at the beginning and planning stages of my electronic portfolio, however, I did see some segments that I would like to include in my portfolio. Still a work in progress, let’s see what I am able to build, what will my portfolio will say to those who view it.

“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Some events occur by happenstance, others are divine intervention. I explain my career as a teacher, as divine intervention. Before I became a teacher I searched for a career that would hold meaning for me and help me to feel good about what I did everyday for a living. I had worked in several other professions before I becoming an educator, although ,at times, I felt and was considered to be very accomplished none of those jobs have been as satisfying as teaching. The time I spend working late (very, very, very late many times), the time I spend in meetings reviewing test scores or planning for better student instruction, the time I spend in trainings and in-services all are worth it when I remember how it can impact my students’ achievement.

"A master can tell you what he expects of you. A teacher, though, awakens your own expectations." ~Patricia Neal

Working with children and adult learners has offered many memories and experiences that have allowed me to observe the growth of others and myself. Evidence of this has been a collection of lesson plans, student work as well as my own. During the process of my earning my teacher license I built a physical professional teaching portfolio centered around the Wisconsin teaching standards. In the portfolio I included the best work of my students and myself. Now as I prepare to build a portfolio again many years later, I feel that this portfolio should be a culmination of my work as a teacher and me as a person. Oftentimes I feel that who I am as a person is reflected in my work in my classroom.

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” William Arthur Ward

This is what I hope my portfolio demonstrates, the work and efforts of a great teacher and the work and efforts of great students. Everyday I feel inspired by my students and many days it is that inspiration that pushes me to keep working when I am feeling overwhelmed and discouraged by politics or just plain tired. I hope that I am able to include evidence in this portfolio that will reflect the mutually inspiring relationship between my students and myself.