Why best work portfolios are the best

1. USING BEST WORK
PORTFOLIOS
By Miss Anum Rizwan and Syeda Faryal

2. WHAT IS A PORTFOLIO?
 Definition:
"A systematic collection of work that demonstrates a
student’s progress,skills,and achievements over time."
(Nitko & Brookhart,2007; Popham,2002)
 Types:
 Best Work Portfolio
 Developmental Portfolio
 Showcase Portfolio

3. WHY USE PORTFOLIOS?
 Benefits for Teachers:
 Tracks student growth effectively.
 Highlights areas of strength and improvement.
 Provides a comprehensive view of learning beyond
test scores.
 Benefits for Students:
 Encourages self-reflection and ownership of learning.
 Helps showcase achievements to parents, peers, and
future opportunities.
 Builds skills like organization, critical thinking, and
self-assessment.

4. TYPES OF PORTFOLIOS
 BestWork Portfolio:
 Focus: High-quality achievements.
 Example: Published essays, winning projects.
 Developmental Portfolio:
 Focus: Progress over time.
 Example: First draft vs. final draft, problem-solving approaches.
 Showcase Portfolio:
 Focus: Highlighting specific strengths.
 Example: Artistic work, leadership tasks.

5. QUESTION?
• Which project or task are you
most proud of, and why?
• Have you ever felt that a piece of
work didn’t reflect your full
potential? What could you have
done differently?

6. WHAT IS A BEST WORK
PORTFOLIO?
 Definition:
A carefully curated collection of a student's best works that represent their highest
level of achievement and subject-matter mastery.
 Purpose:
 To showcase accomplishments.
 To highlight strengths and unique skills.
 To present work for assessment, admission, or career opportunities.
 The purpose of a BestWork Portfolio is to allow students to present their proudest
achievements while learning from less-than-perfect experiences.

7. KEY FEATURES OF A BEST WORK
PORTFOLIO
 Evidence of Subject-Matter Mastery:
 High-quality essays, test scores, or projects.
 Demonstration of Developed Skills:
 Critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.
 High Achievement Documentation:
 Awards, certificates, or letters of recommendation.
 Reflection on Excellence:
 Student’s perspective on why each piece represents their best work.

8. ADVANTAGES OF BEST WORK PORTFOLIOS
 Personalized Showcase:
 Highlights each student's unique strengths.
 Motivational Tool:
 Encourages students to strive for excellence in their work.
 Assessment Tool for Teachers:
 Provides a comprehensive view of a student’s highest capabilities.
 Career and Admission Readiness:
 Acts as a professional portfolio for applications or interviews.
 Parental Insight:
 Allows parents to see and celebrate their child’s best work.

9. HOW TO CREATE A BEST WORK
PORTFOLIO
 Set Clear Criteria:
 Define what qualifies as “best work.”
 Select High-Quality Pieces:
 Encourage students to choose their most
polished and successful projects.
 Include Reflections:
 Ask students to explain why they
selected each item and what they
learned from it.
 Organize Thoughtfully:
 Use clear categories and visual appeal.

10. EXAMPLES OF BEST WORK
PORTFOLIO ITEMS
 AcademicWork:
 Research papers, essays, top-scoring tests.
 Creative Work:
 Art projects, digital designs, music
compositions.
 Extracurricular Achievements:
 Certificates of participation or awards.
 Innovative Projects:
 Science fair submissions, coding projects, or
entrepreneurial endeavors.

11. LIMITATIONS OF BEST WORK
PORTFOLIOS
 Narrow Focus:
 Does not show progress or areas needing improvement.
 Pressure to Perform:
 Students may feel pressured to create “perfect” work.
 Selection Bias:
 Might not represent the full spectrum of a student’s
abilities.
 Time-Consuming:
 Requires effort to curate and organize effectively.
 May Lack Depth:
 Focuses on outcomes, not the learning journey.

12. EXAMPLE FOR SLIDE: A STUDENT'S BEST
WORK PORTFOLIO (ENGLISH)
 Portfolio Highlights
 Creative Writing Project:
 Title: The Mysterious Forest
 Description: A 1,500-word short story demonstrating narrative techniques like vivid
imagery, character development, and plot twists.
 Reflection:
"This story is my best work because it challenged me to think creatively and helped me
improve my vocabulary. I also learned to structure a story with a clear beginning, middle,
and end."

13. POETRY COLLECTION:
 Title: Whispers of the Soul
 Description: A series of five poems exploring themes of identity, growth, and resilience,
showcasing advanced use of metaphor and symbolism.
 Reflection:
"Poetry allowed me to express my feelings. I’m proud of the way I used figurative language
to connect emotions with vivid images."

14. PERSUASIVE ESSAY
• Title: Should Social Media Be Limited for Teens?
• Description: A 1,200-word argumentative essay presenting well-researched
points with strong thesis statements and logical reasoning.
• Reflection:
"This essay reflects my ability to research,argue effectively,and stay neutral.I learned
how to back my arguments with credible sources.“
• https://
drive.google.com/file/d/1BYldEfSGb56OA0MltG_MZuk907Q8DYJj/view?usp=shar
ing
– An Actual Example of Student's work

15. BOOK REPORT:
• Book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
• Description: A critical analysis of themes like racism and justice, highlighting
personal interpretations of the text.
• Reflection:
"Analyzing this book deepened my understanding of social issues and honed my
critical thinking skills."

16. PRESENTATION SKILLS
 Project:Title: Exploring English Literature Through Time
 Description: A 10-minute PowerPoint presentation delivered to the class,
showcasing research on the evolution of English literature.
 Reflection: "Presenting this taught me how to communicate ideas effectively and
boosted my confidence.“
 Closing Statement for Slide: Huzaifa Ahmed’s portfolio highlights his growth as a
writer,critical thinker,and communicator,showcasing his hard work and dedication
over six months.

17. Criteria Excellent (4) Proficient (3) Developing (2) Emerging (1)
Content Quality Work demonstrates
exceptional mastery of
subject matter with deep
insights, creativity, and
advanced language skills.
Work demonstrates
good
understanding, with
clear ideas and
appropriate use of
language.
Work shows basic
understanding, with
some ideas lacking
clarity or depth.
Work shows limited
understanding, with ideas
that are underdeveloped or
incomplete.
Organization Portfolio is thoughtfully
organized, with logical flow
and clear sections for all
pieces.
Portfolio is well-
organized but may
have minor
inconsistencies in
structure or
presentation.
Portfolio organization is
somewhat unclear, with
work pieces not
logically sequenced.
Portfolio is poorly
organized, making it difficult
to follow or interpret.
Reflection Reflections provide
insightful analysis of
learning, growth, and
challenges, showing strong
self-awareness.
Reflections
demonstrate
understanding of
learning and
growth but lack
depth or specific
examples.
Reflections are basic,
with limited analysis of
learning or growth.
Reflections are missing or
lack meaningful
engagement with the work
presented.
Skill
Demonstration
Clear evidence of advanced
skills in writing, critical
thinking, and creativity
across all selected works.
Evidence of solid
skills in writing and
thinking, with room
for improvement in
certain areas.
Evidence of emerging
skills, with some
inconsistency in quality
across the work.
Limited evidence of skill
development; many areas
require significant
improvement.
Effort and Progress Portfolio clearly shows
exceptional effort and
significant progress over six
months.
Portfolio shows
consistent effort
and steady
progress over the
period.
Portfolio shows some
effort, but progress is
inconsistent or
minimal.
Portfolio shows limited
effort, with little to no visible
progress.
Relevance of
Selections
All pieces are highly
relevant, showcasing the
best work and aligning
perfectly with portfolio
goals.
Most pieces are
relevant and align
well with portfolio
goals.
Some pieces are
relevant, but others
may not represent the
student’s best work or
align with the goals.
Many pieces are irrelevant
or fail to reflect the student’s
strengths and abilities.
Presentation Presentation is highly
polished, professional, and
visually appealing, with no
errors.
Presentation is neat
and visually
appealing, with
minimal errors.
Presentation is basic,
with some errors that
detract from overall
quality.
Presentation is messy or
incomplete, with frequent
errors.
RUBRIC
TO
ASSESS!