Question:

Is there a tool I can use to help my students learn more about themselves through self-assessment and setting goals? I teach special day class students at the middle school level. Thank you for any tips you have to offer.

Submitted by a Special Day Class Teacher.

Answer:

This is a very good question! One tool that I have found to be quite useful in helping students learn about themselves is the personal portfolio. Students get hands-on opportunities to explore and learn the following things about themselves.

• Strengths and challenges
  

• Leaning styles

• Personal values

• Likes and dislikes

• Problem solving and decision making strategies

• Goal setting strategies

Once students develop self-awareness, teachers can help them apply their qualities to academic and career learning. Students can also share their personal portfolio contents with other students, parents and IEP team members.

The key to getting started is to tap into your creativity and desire to involve students in developing their own portfolios. The following checklist is intended to serve as a guideline ONLY. It should be customized to fit your needs and those of your students.

1. Decide on a time and place.

What forum (e.g., regular course, career exploration class) will you use to help your students begin developing their portfolios? Make sure ongoing support is provided throughout the portfolio project.

2. Decide what type of portfolio you will use.

There are various commercial samples on the market. You may also create one yourself.

3. Familiarize yourself with the sections of the portfolio before presenting the contents to your students.

4. Introduce the portfolio to the students.

Have students personalize their portfolio, e.g., name, statement, pictures. Discuss the positive outcomes of using such a tool.

5. Review the sections of the portfolio with your students.

Students should highlight the sections that will be worked on.

6. Choose only a few sections at a time to begin.

Ease into the process. If you build your curriculum and class assignments around the sections, time spent developing the portfolio will seem like a natural part of learning. Try to include community-based experiences into as many sections as possible. Use this project to tie into the state standards required by your school and state.

7. Help students learn to maintain and update their portfolios.

Keeping information current, organized and pages free of doodling" is an important aspect of learning how to use a personal portfolio. It teaches students respect and the value of maintaining their own work while allowing them to see tangible evidence of their accomplishments.

8. Lastly, have fun!

Students should see this as a creative and fun way of developing a personal document detailing their self-awareness attributes.

Remember these portfolio benefits:

• Motivates students to take responsibility for academic and career planning
• Supports accountability requirements (teachers and students)
• Promotes collaboration with others
• Includes meaningful self-learning
• Provides demonstration of self-knowledge and self-assessment (students monitor their own progress and direction)
• Develops thinkers
• Develops creative planners
• Encourages self-advocacy
• Most important feature: facilitates student-centered planning

Web Links:

Website to explore: http://www.ici.coled.umn.edu/all/profiler/manual.pdf

Additional Transition Websites