Portfolios indicate progress over time. The teacher can look through the samples of the children s work and determine whether the children are progressing or if additional help is needed. The children s strengths and weaknesses can be determined. Another important way the portfolio helps in assessment is that it gives the children as well as the teacher a time for reflection. Self-evaluation is a critical aspect of portfolios.
Portfolios are extremely useful for parent conferences.
They provide parents an opportunity to examine the child s work instead of just looking at letter grades. This gives the parents a much better insight into the child s progress. As more children with disabilities are being included in the regular classroom, teachers must be prepared to deal with inclusion. The classroom environment, adapting the curriculum, teaching strategies to use, and assessment present valid concerns for teachers and parents. These concerns can be alleviated through preparation, organization, planning, and support from the administration.