I was just wondering if you guys have portfolios and if so, do principals take the time to look at them? The reason I ask is because last yr. when I interviewed for teaching positions, none of them actually took the time to look at it. So far this yr I have had 4 interviews and 2 have looked thru them. On Tues. I had an interview with a principal and an assistant principal and they sat down and we all huddled in a group and went thru my whole portfolio. They complimented me greatly on it too saying how that is what a portfolio should look like. The principal today glanced thru it too and told me I had spent a lot of time on it. I really appreciated the fact that they took the time to look thru it. It really bothered me last yr. that no one looked thru it. I realize that sometimes interviews are on a tight schedule, but I was always told in college that it was important to have it but sometimes I feel like what's the point. Even tho I know having a great portfolio will not land me a job, I think it def. shows them my organization skills and shows what I think is important.
Funny you should ask...I just got my 1st teaching job 2 weeks ago. No portfoilio. I have to schedule my exit interview from my teaching credential program next week. I need to show them my portfolio. I got a job without one, but I can't get out of school without one! What's up with that??
Haha no idea. I dont feel that you need portfolios to get a teaching job either, but like I said I worked hard on mine and when the principals take the time to look thru them it makes me feel that they are interested. What will you be teaching?
I was just excused from the job I have had all year and then asked to re-interview. I did and was denied my job back. I was told I should have brought a portfolio inorder for them to know what my teaching style is like - I taught under their noses all year!!! That frustrates me.
Ouch. That's a bummer. I have definitely found out that in the field of teaching, first of all it is hard to land a job, and second of all they screw you over in a heartbeat.
when I went to college, we had to do a portfolio as the second part of our student teaching assignment. They also gave an assembly from a former student who feels she was directly hired as a result of her portfolio. The one I did was HORRIBLE. Of the few interviews I went on last year, one of them looked at the portfolio. I was no really happy with how I put it together. A few weeks ago, I redid it and much more pleased of how it came together. This year, I've gone on one interview so far(and got hired) they said I could bring it along and show it. Luckily, I recently redid it and knew everything I had in there. At the interview, the two principal team asked to see it and flip through it while I was interviewing. I wanted them to concentrate on what I was saying, so I asked to keep it to use during the interview as a reference. I was able to flip through it and show examples that worked with the different questions that they asked me. I think that really helped. Afterwards, they flipped through it before I left. Now this was my student teaching portfolio, once I go through my first year of teaching, I'm going to align my portfolio and redo it according to PDE standards.
I bring it because it makes me feel better. I don't expect tme to look through it, but I use it as a way to help me answer questions. It's more concrete when I can show examples
I did the same thing. A lot of times there isn't enough time at the end to devote to just looking at the portfolio. But, if you can use it as you are speaking to illustrate your point, they basically have to look and see it.
It is better to be prepared with one than to be without when/if they ask. When I was on an interview panel, we didn't take the time to look at the portfolio specifically during the interview. We did take them if we looked at them after all the interviews were done if offered. I think the most important thing about having the portfolio available is simply to use it as a reference. Bring examples that you can show the interviewers. For instance, if they ask you about your behavior management system, show an example. Have copies of your reference letters and resume in there so the interviewer can have a clean copy to make notations on. The reality is many interviews may not include the use of a portfolio. However, better safe than sorry. Bring it with... in this competitive market, you need to have all of your i's dotted and Ts crossed.
I am a career changer, of sorts, going from informal teachin positions to getting certified and seeking a district position. I have no portfolio any advise?
What reaaaally cracks me up is that children are now creating portfolios of their work in elem school! they will be professionals at it when the time comes......well, I guess THAT is the point!
I thought about looking for a different teaching job this year and asked a principal acquaintance if they generally wanted to see portfolios. She said she didn't. I got my current job without one. I don't know. It seems to me that if you are emplyed and are keeping a portfolio that might send the message that you aren't planning to stick around. I guess I'm thinking my focus is on doing the job, not planning to get a new one.
I've never had a portfolio, and I've had no shortage of job offers. I think this is mostly due to the facts that I teach in a specialty field (Latin) and I'm super awesome. =) With that having been said, I know lots of people who have made portfolios. One girl I know has a regular old portfolio, a DVD, and a brochure about herself. The DVD has some short (really short) clips of her teaching, a couple of sound bytes from her professors and cooperating teachers, and a slide show of still pictures of her in action and some of her students' work. All in all, the DVD is about 5 minutes long and she paid a friend with editing software about $50 to do the whole thing. As for the brochure... she printed up this cute little tri-fold thing, fully in color. It has her picture on the front, her credentials on the inside flap, some "testimonials" from her students (with bylines like "Kelly B, age 7"), professor, and cooperating teacher. I think she might have a fun mini-lesson plan in there, and some photos of student work. She says that the DVD and brochure are a huge hit because they are unexpected, short, informative, and make her stand out.
I am a career changer as well. I did my portfolio based on one of the workshops from my alternative certification program. 1" 3-ring binder with dividers and pages in sheet protectors - philosophy > philosophy of education - resume > cover letter, resume, references - credentials > ACP acceptance letter, content exam scores - transcripts - classroom management > discipline plan, classroom procedures, classroom layout - lesson plans > one for each grade 6 -8 since I was applying for middle school positions - artifacts/recognition > certificates from college, military awards I hope this helps! The philosophy of education was the hardest for me. I did some "google-ing" and built what I think is my philosophy which I'm sure will change lots. Mine is less than a page ( about three paragraphs. Good luck!
I've gotten three jobs (different years) and I've never had a portfolio. My worry with providing somthing they didn't ask for specifically is that it would show somthing that they didn't like (dicipline different than their school plan). I can come up with an answer that fits that is still me when asked. I can't change somthing that's in a portfolio. I also wouldn't want to look like a teacher that couldn't work with their lack of resources or with all the resources that they have. If you are in a field where you produce products (art) or that is oddly competitive and needs demonstrations (HS marching band) I would say absulutly. If you have one it can't hurt to put it in your bag. I wouldn't bother with one if you don't have one or bring one if yours isn't fantastic.
