In this article the authors report on research into how an ePortfolio (eP) process can address the critique that teacher education programs offer fragmented course experiences and too often focus on narrow instrumentalist approaches emphasising the "how to" and the "what works"--implying that learning how to teach is about stitching together…

Portfolios provide students with opportunities to communicate the story of their learning to their parents. During one Illinois school's portfolio evenings, children use portfolio materials to demonstrate how their writing and understanding of numbers has changed since last year. Excerpts from a sample five-year student portfolio are presented.…

Claims that increasing numbers of reading educators are looking to recent advances in holistic writing assessment to explore new potentials for assessing reading comprehension. Reports on a research project exploring use of freewriting to assess reading comprehension; describes use of written retellings as a tool to support reading; and presents a…

At a Rhode Island elementary school, portfolio sharing night provides a way for students to share their classwork with parents in a relaxed, informative setting. Parents see works in progress and completed samples and hear the children explain their work. This format has helped improve public relations and communication with parents and encouraged…

A Rhode Island elementary school decided to include students in their parent-teacher conferences. The idea was to increase student responsibility for learning and improve student achievement. Revamped portfolios that focused on the quality of student work provided the key to success. (MLH)

Educators at the New City School in St. Louis, Missouri, employ a schoolwide approach to multiple intelligences. The school changed its practices in three primary directions: curriculum development, student assessment, and communication with parents. Learning centers, living museums, videotaped portfolios, and standardized exam results attest to…

Notes that portfolios have gained acceptance as a recognized tool in educational assessment and evaluation in many elementary school classrooms. Suggests that portfolio assessment be used in literacy methods courses for preservice teachers. Describes students taking an active role in learning about portfolio assessment, evaluation, and management.…

Offers guidelines and examples for the use of portfolios with early childhood and elementary age children with disabilities. Topics addressed include what a portfolio is and looks like, how a portfolio is organized, what is included in a portfolio, the selection process for deciding the portfolio contents, and portfolio evaluation and reporting.…

The Early Assessment for Exceptional Potential portfolio assessment model assesses children as exceptional learners, users, generators, and pursuers of knowledge. It is based on use of authentic learning opportunities; interaction of assessment, curriculum, and instruction; multiple criteria derived from multiple sources; and systematic teacher…

Confronting low student performance, staff at a central California elementary school tackled curriculum-alignment problems; identified available instructional, support, information, and human-resource processes; and dealt with the language issue. The school's "Student Portfolio and Assessment System" helped teachers discover feasible…

This report describes research on the portfolio process that the Oceanside (California) Unified School District uses to identify and plan instruction for students in the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program. The report is based on interviews conducted with educators in two elementary schools that participated in the GATE curriculum,…

Discusses how teachers can use the process of deciding what students should put in their assessment portfolio to help students develop reasonable goals and criteria for their work, and make critical self-reflection a positive process. Describes young children's understanding of evaluation processes and provides suggestions for helping children…

Describes Kentucky's inclusion of all students in its educational assessment and accountability system. Describes how this system operates at three elementary schools to drive high expectations for all students and include students with disabilities in the general education curriculum. Students participate in either the standard assessment or…

Suggests that telecommunications and multimedia technologies of interactive video have increased possibilities for learners at-risk to become successful. Discusses a portfolio planning guide which contains instructional strategies for creating literacy and diagnostic multimedia assessment information. Discusses how undergraduate elementary and…

Discusses the use of portfolio assessment in elementary schools, focusing on how Montessori teachers can effectively develop portfolios. Presents samples of items for inclusion in student portfolios. Discusses the decision to use portfolio assessment, detailing advantages. Asserts that portfolios assess as well as facilitate creativity,…