Description of Portfolios

My daughter's school has decided to start using portfolios for assessment and instruction next year. Could you please give me more information about how portfolios are used for each purpose? - Curious
Answer: A portfolio is not just a stack of papers in a folder showing what your child has done at school. It is supposed to be a purposeful collection of a student's work that can be used to demonstrate his or her skills and accomplishments. Students are usually given a prominent role in determining the contents of their portfolios. The best portfolios are those in which both teachers and students clearly understand what is to be accomplished by creating individual portfolios.
In the instructional use of a portfolio, students put in work that shows they have mastered what their teachers are expecting them to learn. For example, to show an understanding of the writing process, a student could put papers in a portfolio showing how an essay evolved from brainstorming to final editing. Choosing the right papers does not come automatically; it requires on-target instruction from teachers.
When used for assessment, the collection of student work is a record of what students know and can do. Then the portfolio can be used as a supplement or alternative to a report card and also as a way to communicate student progress to parents. It is an easy way to see how children's skills have changed over time.