Purchase a three-ring binder, filing folders or a journal for the portfolio. Divide these into sections. Label them with academic subjects such as English, Social Studies, Math and Science. Keep them in chronological order. Include in each section a list of textbooks used along with their publishers.
Check with your local Board of Education or school district to find out if home schooled students are required to keep a portfolio. Determine if the portfolio will be used for state evaluation, remembrances, college admission or employment possibilities.
List the goals for each unit and semester. Write an update for each goal periodically to determine if you are making progress. Record all the activities, ideas and reactions to the work you have completed. Reactions should cover what you learned from the activity, what was not clear and what further information you might pursue on the topics. Include awards, photos or projects in the portfolio.
Include statewide exams or achievement tests in the English section of the portfolio. For elementary students, add any spelling, reading and writing work. For older grades, keep writing activities such as letters or book reports. Insert grammar worksheets, creative writing papers and analyses or reactions to literary readings. This should cover what you learned and how you felt about the literature. Include ideas, such as whether or not it was interesting, admirable, worthwhile or realistic. Ask your instructor to add her comments regarding your interpretations as well as material for further reading.
In social studies, include map work, completed exercises from the text books and research papers. Keep assignments related to United States or world history and include comments on what impressed you and what you consider important. Incorporate photos of any dioramas and posters used, as well as descriptions and impressions of visits to places of historical interest.
In math, contain all worksheets. Describe activities or problems that appear at the end of the textbook chapters. Include recipes, designs, patterns, fractional charts and other mathematical concepts. Be sure to specify what math levels have been completed, such as algebra, geometry or calculus.
The science section should contain descriptions and reactions of science experiments. Add diagrams of the human body for biology and pictures of various plant life for botany.