1. Professional Portfolios
Objective 9.01
Classify components of an early childhood professional portfolio.
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

2. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios
What is a portfolio?
A collection of materials that demonstrates a person’s skills, accomplishments, and attributes
Can be in paper or electronic format
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

3. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios
Purpose of portfolios---to showcase your experiences and prove your skills
To apply for a volunteer experience
To carry to an employment interview
To carry to a scholarship interview
To seek enrollment in a school or course
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

4. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios
What categories of samples and evidences should be included in a portfolio?
Documentation of experience
Evidence of developmental knowledge
Evidence of skills
Work samples
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

5. Documentation of Experience
Anything that confirms that the work and education experiences you are claiming really happened
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

6. EXAMPLES Documentation of Experience
Photos working in education and child care settings
Work agreements/contracts
Work evaluations
Certificates of completion
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

7. Evidence of Developmental Knowledge
Anything that shows you have an understanding of basic theories about child development and of characteristics of children at various ages
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

8. EXAMPLES Evidence of Developmental Knowledge
Photos of a child as he/she learns/grows/develops
Sample work of children at different ages
Case study of a child
Child observation reports
Samples of developmentally appropriate activities/toys/games designed for individuals or age groups of children
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

9. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios
Evidence of Skills
Anything that shows your use of skills you claim to have
You in action using your skills
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

10. EXAMPLES Evidence of Skills
Photos of a person using a skill
Certificates for completion of training
Test scores on skill tests
Items produced using specific skills
Letters from people who have seen a skill in action or benefitted from its use in some way
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

11. More Ways to Document skills
Photos showing you in action using skills
Photos showing things you have made/done using your skills
Work samples that reflect your skills
Letters or comments from people about your skills as seen in action
In each case, specific skills should be identified and labeled
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

12. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios
Work Samples
Actual things you have made, done, planned, constructed, designed, performed, or written
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

13. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios
EXAMPLES Work Samples
Writing samples
Lesson plans
Bulletin boards
Children’s art and other work done by children under your direction
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

14. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios
What other samples and evidences can YOU think of that could be included in YOUR portfolio? How about these?
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

15. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios
Resume/Career Goal
A brief, written account of personal, educational, and professional qualifications and experience
Often prepared by an applicant for a job
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

16. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios
Photos of involvement
Don’t assume viewers can tell what’s going on in the photo
Always include captions or labels
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

17. Awards & Certificates of Achievement
Something awarded or granted, as for merit
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

18. Letters of Reference and Recommendations
Something that recommends, especially a favorable statement concerning character or qualifications
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

19. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios
Evaluations
Internship or other work evaluations and comments from
ECE Teacher
Cooperating teachers in internship sites
Parents of children in sites
Children themselves
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

20. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios
Transcripts
An official report supplied by a school on the record of an individual student
Listing subjects studied, grades received, etc.
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

21. Lesson/Activity Plans
Writing samples
Bulletin boards
Lesson Plans
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22. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios
Other Work Samples
Writing samples
Bulletin boards
Original learning games
Original learning materials
Original stories, poems, song, finger plays
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

23. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios
Community Service
Services volunteered by individuals or an organization to benefit a community or its institutions
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

24. Guiding Questions as You Organize Your Portfolio
1. Have you used self-reflection to identify your strengths?
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

25. Guiding Questions as You Organize Your Portfolio
2. What skills and qualities are employers looking for?
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

26. Top 10 Skills and Qualities
Communication skills
Honesty/integrity
Teamwork skills
Interpersonal skills
Strong work ethic
Motivation/initiative
Flexibility/adaptability
Analytical Skills
Computer Skills
Organizational skills
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

27. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios
Communication Skills
Excellent communication skills are the number one thing that employers and interviewers look for in a candidate.
These can be verbal (spoken and written) or nonverbal (body language).
You must be able to show that you can communicate, listen, and interact with others in a professional manner.
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

28. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios
Honesty & Integrity
This is another very important quality employers look for in a person.
Make sure that any information you provide in your portfolio is done with all honesty as you may be asked about the situation.
If possible, give examples that demonstrate a situation that required integrity.
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

29. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios
Teamwork skills
Back up any claims you make regarding teamwork in your resume with portfolio examples.
Present the portfolio during the interview, showing and confirming previous experiences you have had with teamwork skills.
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

30. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios
Interpersonal skills
You must be able to prove your interpersonal skills to the interviewer or employer during the interview.
These include skills such as: working alongside others, being able to evaluate and accept responsibility, making teamwork more efficient, and identifying methods used when dealing with conflicts.
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

31. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios
Strong Work Ethic
You must be able to prove that you are willing to go beyond the call of duty for your employer.
You are willing to give 100% commitment to the company and the job.
Show that you have high career goals.
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

32. Motivation & Initiative
You should give examples during your interview to get across that you are motivated and can show initiative when left to your own devices.
Be able to explain or show how you would keep things moving forward even with obstacles in your way.
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

33. Flexibility & Adaptability
Give examples from previous positions that show your adaptability to situations.
Show you are able to be flexible, change gears, focus quickly, and adapt to change or expectations.
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

34. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios
Analytical Skills
Give examples that show off your analytical skills, backing up claims with your portfolio during the interview.
Employers and recruiters look for ways that you have been able to analyze and clearly identify problems.
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

35. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios
Computer skills
With today's modern technology focusing on the use of computers, computer skills and understanding of various types of software are essential.
Prove you are literate in the use of computers and software in your resume or portfolio.
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

36. Organizational skills
Prove that you are able to organize quickly and in a clear manner.
Show that you are not afraid to take charge of a situation and find a solution.
Show by giving examples from previous situations in your resume or portfolio.
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

37. How to Demonstrate the Qualities Employers Want
Identify your skills
Skill types:
Technical
Transferable
Skill sources
Work experiences
Life experiences
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38. Guiding Questions as You Organize Your Portfolio
3. Have you shown that you have a wide range of skills to prepare you for the job?
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

39. D-9.01-Professional Portfolios
Skill Types
Technical skills include specific skills related to your career goal.
Transferrable skills include the qualities employers seek. These are skills you have acquired from various experiences that can be useful in many situations.
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

40. Why Provide Evidence of Skills?
Providing evidence of previous times you have successfully demonstrated your abilities is the best way to convince employers that you have the skills, qualities, and abilities they are looking for.
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

41. Guiding Questions as You Organize Your Portfolio
4. Have you chosen your BEST work and evidence to represent your GREATEST strengths?
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

42. Guiding Questions as You Organize Your Portfolio
5. Does the material you’ve included ADD VALUE to your portfolio?
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios

43. Guiding Questions as You Organize Your Portfolio
6. Does the portfolio have a professional-looking appearance?
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44. 3 Steps to an Outstanding Portfolio: Reflect, Collect, and Select
REFLECT on how you can demonstrate your knowledge, skills, personal qualities, interests, and experiences.
COLLECT examples that prove the skills you want to highlight.
SELECT samples that show
your BEST work.
D-9.01-Professional Portfolios