The object is to measure yourself up to the national standards in your area through your teaching portfolio, and your portfolio will support your efforts to meet those standards. No teacher is perfect, so part of the exercise is the recognition of areas in which you do not meet national standards and the formulation of a plan to meet those standards. If your purpose is to make a positive impact on student learning and improve your teaching methods, then it is much easier to reflect in the objective way necessary to complete this task. With six different sections to the portfolio, planning and organization is a must. Many of the portfolio sections require teaching units of special length, such as an 8-week science unit.
Every unit has very specific requirements spelled out in the portfolio directions.
It is important to address and meet all the requirements for each portfolio entry. You might also find it necessary to consult professional organizations for extra information. When I planned the required math unit, I focused on NCTM standards in the area I chose. To help with the planning, I suggest that you create a weekly planner for the time between your starting point and the actual mailing of the portfolio. I created one on the computer so that I could see all the time at once.