• Collect everything, but select carefully.
• Take your time—it will help you decide what to include.
• Collect as you go. Keep a box in your office/classroom and/or in an electronic file.
• Classify your collection by general categories.
• Do one section at a time.
• Date all artifacts and entries.
• Attach a descriptive comment to all photos or documents to explain context.
• Include a personal reflection (for example, journal entries) where applicable.
• Organize your personal professional development portfolio for maximum flexibility and accessibility of information.
• Plan carefully how to present yourself.
• Be subtle and strategic; a portfolio for employment purposes should be representative, not comprehensive.
• Personal reflections can communicate growth and professional decision making.
• Schedule a portfolio review with a “critical friend” for reflection and unbiased critique of your selection of artifacts.

Tips Picked Up Along the Way

Must be visually appealing, slender, showcasing significant accomplishments in an attractive and accessible format. Everything should fit neatly into a binder, daily planner case, a leather art portfolio case or other suitable case. For eportfolios, provide a link to your eportfolio within your application package.

The following artifacts could be included:

• A title page, sections and table of contents.
• Full CV/resume.
• One-page autobiographical sketch.
• Your personal values and beliefs in print form, or a short summary of your educational philosophy. Those of you who plan to work in Christian school jurisdiction should include a religious educational statement of belief or statement of faith.
• Samples of behavioural management models, for example, class rules and regulations or behavioural contracts that you have developed and/or used in your field experience.
• One copy of your year long-range plans, a unit plan and two consecutive lesson plans, reflecting promising practices along with resources used and results obtained (for example, student work). These artifacts must demonstrate that you are current in your educational practice (for example, cooperative learning, differentiation strategies, integrated curriculum, mind mapping and so forth). Less, well done and well presented, is more.
• Samples of assessment strategies, for example, a corrected piece of student work using a teacher-developed rubric (formative assessment). These samples should reflect the growth of the evaluator as well as that of the student.
• Photographs of yourself engaged in professional/cocurricular activities (planning with colleagues, with students, conferencing with parents, coaching students, beside learning centres and bulletin boards that you created). Be aware of Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act and Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) regulations.
• Report cards, letters of reference and/or notes from appreciative students send very powerful messages of your child-centred approach. Include letters from principals, colleagues, parents and others.
• Examples of communication with parents / guardians—for example, newsletters.
• Formal evaluations from both the university faculty advisor and the school leaders (and only if possible).
• Transcripts from all postsecondary institutions you have attended.
• Samples of your work demonstrating artistic or technological abilities, for example, Chromebooks, Google Classroom, Moodle.
• Examples of innovative practice (special projects).
• Samples of your reflective journal entries.
• A “current professional reading” page highlighting current articles, books, magazines and journals you have read.
• A section highlighting leadership activities within the school community and beyond, for example, hockey coaching, study buddy, church choir and so forth.
• A professional growth section listing conferences, workshops, postsecondary courses taken and other professional development events you have participated in, attended or led.
• Languages (oral and written fluency).
• Community service learning / volunteer opportunities you are engaged in.
• A list of your five-year professional/personal goals.
• Awards and special accomplishments in personal and professional areas are worth mentioning! Include certificates and affiliation documents.
• Attach a descriptive anecdote to pictures or documents that require further explanation for understanding of the specific context.
• Tailor your portfolio for a specific audience. Add or delete specific information as the situation warrants.

The key to the portfolio process is to synthesize your collection of artifacts, then critically evaluate which artifacts best showcase your strengths, your significant accomplishments and your ability to critically analyze and reflect upon your practice.