Discusses four books written by teachers for other teachers that share stories of expertise, of new discoveries, of interpretations and perceptions. Argues that these stories will help new teachers feel less isolated and lonely and will help them to become better teachers and learners. (SR)

Considers four key decision points in the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards' assessment-development process: development of content standards; development of tasks guiding candidates in providing evidence about their teaching; development of scoring rubrics and benchmarks; and determination of the performance standard that…

Examined the validity and reliability of the 1995-96 reading/language arts portfolio assessment developed in the Dallas (Texas) public schools for prekindergarten through second grade. Ratings by 42 teachers show that portfolio contents do not provide a valid sample of student work and the assessment reliability is low. (SLD)

Presents the value of portfolio experiences for graduate students. Posits that, by using portfolio assessment, students take more responsibility for their own progress, and they have the opportunity to be a part of their own learning process. Provides a summary of student assessments of their portfolio experience. (DSK)

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…

A survey of 209 educators taking graduate classes in general and special education examined their knowledge, attitudes, and concerns about portfolio assessments. The survey found respondents had some knowledge of and positive attitudes toward portfolios. They viewed inadequate training and support, and lack of time to design and implement…

Focuses on the evaluative use of teaching portfolios for personnel decisions in higher education and compares claims for their merits against fundamental research on evaluating faculty teaching. Draws on the literature on teaching portfolio development and suggests meta-analysis to examine the impact of using portfolios for personnel decisions.…

Discusses the use of electronic portfolios and their assessment and describes the development of an electronic teaching portfolio Web site that can facilitate teacher development alone or in conjunction with an accompanying traditional inservice training course. Examines the educational reform movement and the new emphasis on student-centered…

Describes the process for gathering and organizing products of teacher activity in the form of a portfolio. Discusses typical products and documents to be included and the reflective questions that are used to select entries. Notes that portfolios are considered to provide insight to the content and method of instruction and a qualitative…

Proposes developing systems that allow parents to contribute items to their preschool child's portfolio. Suggests transition portfolios, parent information sheets, weekly newsletters, requested parent observations, sharing table, and take home packets as activities that parents can choose from during the school year. Stresses need for a variety of…

A study investigated the extent to which scores in Kentucky's statewide alternate assessment program for 60 students with severe disabilities correlated with measures of program quality and overall school effectiveness. Results indicated a significant relationship between overall program quality and scores, but not between scores and…

Describes how a reader-response approach can help students construct a portfolio of readings that reflects their development as poetry readers. Describes using a reader-response journal, communal learning activities, and a portfolio to create a recursive process through which students develop a better understanding of how poetry works. Discusses…

Argues that grading and evaluation need not be as pervasive as they seem. Explores ways teachers can step outside grading: nongraded writing assignments, portfolios, and grading contracts. Explores how it is possible to go further and step outside the mentality of evaluation by using certain descriptive and analytic responses to student writing.…

A digital portfolio is a purposeful collection of work, captured by electronic means, that serves as an exhibit of individual efforts, progress, and achievements in one or more areas. The CD-ROM format provides an ideal medium for storing and displaying electronic portfolios. Items included document what an individual knows, how knowledge was…

Draws on a portfolio assessment project to identify challenges of making transition from literacy tests to literacy portfolios. Explains rationale for portfolios, then uses "Kim," a fictional composite, to relate possible difficulties, including having to meet the mandate without the knowledge base, mismatch between teacher beliefs and…