Welcome
Introduction
What is a Portfolio?
How do I Begin the Portfolio Process?
What is the Hopkins Portfolio Process?

The Framework Section
Activity 3
The Standards Section
The Hopkins Portfolio Review Process
The Morgan Portfolio Review Process
Support and Help
Using Your Portfolio

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ACTIVITY 3

Your portfolio is grounded in your educational beliefs and values-your Educational Philosophy. Complete this brief activity to begin to develop your own philosophy.

Step 1. Consider your best lessons. Are there common elements, are there "non-negotiables" in your lessons-elements you believe must be there for student learning to take place?
Step 2. List these common elements. These represent your values and beliefs.
Step 3. Now think about what you did to make those lessons work-the components and strategies that increased the likelihood that your students would be successful.
Step 4. This step requires you to organize and develop your thoughts to include not only WHAT you believe but WHY, the rationale for your selecting and implementing these strategies.

One way to organize these thoughts into a coherent philosophy is to begin with a belief:

  • I believe students learn best when…
  • I believe it is the role of the teacher to…
  • As a teacher I must…
  • A classroom should be a place of …

Then, once the statement is complete, add the rationale: I believe students learn best when they are actively engaged in learning experiences that connect them to real world situations.

I believe this because…
(I believe this because students that can see a real world need for mastering a topic are more likely to participate and transfer the knowledge to other situations. This type of teaching provides students with critical thinking and problem-solving experiences that will assist in their construction of knowledge-not only during the lesson but when placed is other situation in school and in society.)

Now add the evidence:
This is evidenced in my teaching by…

  • A class structure that support student input into classroom rules and roles. Or
  • The types of scenarios used and questions asked during my lessons.

Please develop 2 beliefs about teaching and learning and develop a rationale statement and a list of sample artifacts. Use the examples provided above as a model, but feel free to adjust the prompts for your own personal style.