Home School

Portfolio

By: Karen Diamond

"For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and
to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it."
~ Matthew 8:9 (NASB)
 HOME SCHOOL PORTFOLIO

I am not an attorney, nor do I pretend to be one. With that being said, nothing contained in this
e-book is intended to be legal advice. This information is provided for information purposes
only. It is the responsibility of each home schooling parent’s to understand his/her rights and
responsibilities under their State home schooling law and administrative rules.

Reproduction pages may be copied for the sole use of immediate family members. No other
portion of this text may be copied or sold without prior written permission from the publisher.

Published in the United States of America by:

Karen Diamond
GodsGem4Life
3872 SW Ridley St.
Port St. Lucie, FL 34953
diamondsden@aol.com

For additional information, please checkout our blogs at:

GodsGem4Life

KarensKorner

COPYRIGHT 2009 BY KAREN DIAMOND

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 HOME SCHOOL PORTFOLIO
Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
What are your State requirements? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
What is a Home school Portfolio? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Why do I need a home school portfolio? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
What should be included in a Home school Portfolio? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
How Do I Make a Portfolio? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Additional Information:
Establishing a School Identity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Home school ID Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Home school Yearbook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Forms Included:
Portfolio Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11
Portfolio Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Evaluation Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Divider: Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Course of Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Attendance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Religious Exemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Intent to Home School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Divider: Lesson Plan / Learning Logs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Lesson Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Co-Op Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Reading Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Library Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Recitals/Concerts/Plays/Live Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Video, Audio, Computer & Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Music Lessons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Community Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Divider: Field Trips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Field Trip Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Field Trip Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Divider: Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Divider: History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Divider: Math . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Divider: Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Divider: Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Divider: Language Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Divider: Grammar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Divider: Spelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Divider: Composition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 HOME SCHOOL PORTFOLIO
Table of Contents (Continued)

Divider: Literature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Divider: Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Divider: Foreign Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Divider: Typing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Divider: Home Economics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Divider: Standardize Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Divider: Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 INTRODUCTION

Once you have decided to home school, then you need to take a look at your state laws says
about home schooling. Some states need an affidavit with the education department while
others don't.

Basically, there are three sections for home schooling laws: home education laws, equivalency
laws and private school laws. You may be required to keep attendance or a portfolio. Some
states require the parents to have a minimum educational background. Some states have
laws that require you to teach curriculum similar to the public school curriculum. Regardless,
each state has different requirements.

Almost every state requires you to keep a portfolio of some sort. Some states even require you
to submit the portfolio for review. This means that if you are ever questioned you will need
some proof of what you have taught your child and your home school portfolio is your best
defense!!

When your home school portfolio is completed, you will have a wonderful keepsake for
yourself and your child! Imagine your child showing a home school portfolio it to their children
and saying, "Look. This is what mommy done when she was in the 6th grade…"

What are your State requirements?

For a brief summary of your Home school Law, just click on your state below. The following
links will take you to the home school state laws by the Home school Legal Defense Assoc.

States

Alabama Illinois Montana Rhode Island

Alaska Indiana North Carolina South Carolina
Arizona Iowa North Dakota South Dakota
Arkansas Kansas Nebraska Tennessee
California Kentucky Nevada Texas
Colorado Louisiana New Hampshire Utah
Connecticut Maine New Jersey Vermont
Delaware Maryland New Mexico Virginia
District of Columbia Massachusetts New York Washington
Florida Michigan Ohio West Virginia
Georgia Minnesota Oklahoma Wisconsin
Hawaii Mississippi Oregon Wyoming
Idaho Missouri Pennsylvania

© 2009 Karen Diamond

What is a Home School Portfolio?

A home school portfolio is a collection of your school papers to make up a showcase of what
your child has learned over the "school year." This is very important because majority of the
states require a yearly assessment of home school students by testing or by the presentation
of a portfolio.

A portfolio can be described as a collection of drawings, photographs, etc., representative of a

person's work.

Why Do I Need a Home School Portfolio?

Even if your state does not require a portfolio, they do come in handy. A home school portfolio
is great way for you as the parent/teacher to record their progress and achievements. A
portfolio adds an additional layer of legitimacy to your child’s education not to mention the
home school portfolio is great for college admissions

What Should Be Included in a Home School Portfolio?

Here are suggested items to include:

1. A journal which contains notes about activities and the progress that has been made.
2. A list of resources (ie.. books, computer software, games, toys and outside classes).
3. Samples of the child's work (ie.. samples of creative writing and drawings, text book or
workbook pages, and if possible you may include audio or video tapes of your child
singing, playing a musical instrument, reading aloud, or taking part in a dramatic
performance - pictures will also sometimes work well in place of audio or video tapes).
4. Photos of field trips, artwork, projects and family life.
5. Brochures and booklets from field trips and other activities.
6. A list of books that the child has read including both the title and the author.
7. A list of your goals for the year.

How Do I Make a Portfolio?

There is NO right or wrong way to make one. It is up to the parent and/or child what materials
the portfolio will contain. However, it is a good idea to choose a variety of material in order to
reflect what the child has learned, experienced and accomplished throughout the year.

Although it may seem to be overwhelming, it is quite easy! Simply use a three ring binder with
dividers and add paper for your journaling. Then begin collecting samples of work, organizing
them by subject, and punching holes in them to place them in your binder.

© 2009 Karen Diamond

Suggested dividers are:

Administration: Items included in this section could be attendance records, course of

study, medical records/waivers, and notification to school board and goals for the year.

Lesson Plans: and Learning Logs: Include lesson plan, co-op records, movies, books,
movies, etc.

Reading: Scope and Sequence with samples from the beginning, middle and the year-
end to show progression in learning.

Math: Scope and Sequence with samples from the beginning, middle and the year-end
to show progression in learning.

Language Arts: Scope and Sequence with samples from the beginning, middle and the
year-end to show progression in learning.

Science: Scope and Sequence with samples from the beginning, middle and the year-
end to show progression in learning.

History: Scope and Sequence with samples from the beginning, middle and the year-
end to show progression in learning.

Spelling: Scope and Sequence with samples from the beginning, middle and the year-
end to show progression in learning.

(Include a divider for each subject being taught)

Field Trips: If you plan to have field trips during the school year then be sure to include
a section for it.

Awards: awards and certification of completion from outside sources, report cards,
transcripts, achievement test results, and evaluations.

Remember, an organized and complete portfolio presentation helps when you discuss the
school year with the reviewer.

Establishing a School Identity

Your school identity can be simple as your family name or tied into a family hobby. Your name
can have a deep meaning like the meaning of your family name.

Let me say that naming your school can be loads of fun... for you and your children! There are
a couple of good reasons to name your school. Just to name a few reasons:

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 It will help give your kids a sense of identity,
it will be less of a headache when applying for free items, and
it also allows you to receive educational discounts.

Ideas for names:

Your last name. (Diamond Academy)

Religious or Spiritual connection (Doves in Flight)
Your street, city, state, region etc. (Oak Leaf School)
Meaning of your surname (Meadow Brook Academy)

Home school ID Cards

There are many companies who offer educators a discount. In order to get the educator
discounts, home school families need to make a simple home school ID card.

Here are just some of the companies that I have taken advantage of the educator discount or
heard of others doing the same: Jo Ann’s Fabric, Barnes and Nobles, Half Price books,
Walden Books, Staples, Borders, and Kinko’s.

Individualized home school ID cards can get your child discounts to shows and events. It can
also give them a sense of identity of belonging to something.

Although there are several companies available that will make your home school ID card,
Home school Buyer’s Co-op makes a nice ID card for FREE!

Yearbooks

For the individual families, you can make a homemade yearbook in the form of a scrapbook or
a photo album. Last year, I took my camera everywhere! Over the summer, my daughter and I
compiled our yearbook, and it was fabulous! She has something to go to her grandma's house
(in another state) and share all the memories we done together. It really warmed my heart
seeing her with my mom, going over the things we done and the things she learned. I was
impressed with her some of the things she came up with!

Along with your pictures, be sure to include journal blocks to tell of your trip. Brochure, receipts
or ticket stubs make a great additional to your photo page.

© 2009 Karen Diamond

This belongs to: _____________________________________________

Year: ________/________

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 My Middle School
Portfolio

This belongs to: _____________________________________________

Year: ________/________

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 My High School
Portfolio

This belongs to: _____________________________________________

Year: ________/________

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 Home Education Program Portfolio

Student Name: _______________________________________________________

Supervisor Name: ____________________________________________________

Academic Year: ______________________________________________________

The following items are included in this portfolio.

Evaluator’s letter, certifying that the student has received an appropriate

education.

Attendance chart, indicating 180+ days of instruction.

Log, designating by title the reading materials used.

Summary of work in the required subjects.

Samples of writings, worksheets, etc.

Results of a nationally standardized achievement test in reading/language arts

and mathematics.

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 HOME SCHOOL EVALUATION FORM

In compliance with Section 1002.41(1)(a), Florida Statues, this serves as an annual educational
evaluation.

Upon review of the portfolio and discussion with the Home Education student below, I have found
that the student has demonstrate progress at ___________ grade level commensurate with his/her
ability and is ready to be promoted to ___________ grade level.

EVALUTATOR’S INFORMATION

__________________________
Evaluation Date

___________________________________ ___________________________
Signature of Florida Certified Teacher Teacher/Evaluator’s Name (Print)

_________________________ __________________________
Certification Number Date of Expiration

STUDENT’S INFORMATION

____________________________________ _________________________
Student’s Name Date of Birth

___________________________________ ___________________________
Student’s Address Telephone Number

_________________________ ________________ __________

City State Zip

____________________________________________
Student’s Parent/Guardian Signature

© 2009 Karen Diamond

Administration

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 COURSE OF STUDY
20___-___

Student __________________________________________ Age_____________ Grade_____________

(First & Last Name)

Subject Grade Level Book and Publisher

Bible

Language Reading/Literature
Arts
Grammar/Composition

Spelling & Vocabulary

Penmanship

Math

Science

Social Studies/History

Fine Arts Music

Drama

Art

Physical Education & Health

Electives

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 ATTENDANCE CHART
Name: ___________________________ Grade: ______ School Year: ________

Day Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March April May June July
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Total

Total # of days planned: _______ LEGEND

X = Present A = Absent
Total # attended: ________
S = Sick day H = Holiday
Total # absent: _______ / = Weekend

“The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor.” ~ Proverbs 12:24

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION FROM IMMUNIZATION

Date: _______________________

REF: Submission for religious Exemption from Vaccination for:

_____________________________________

To Whom It May Concern:

I am the parent or legal guardian of the above-named child. Immunizations are in conflict with my religious
tenets or practices. Therefore, I request that my child be enrolled in school, preschool, child day care
facilities, or family day care homes without immunizations required by sections 232.032, F.S., 402.305, F.S.,
and 402.313, F.S.

The New Testament epistles provide an exposition of Christian teaching regarding ethical behavior.
Christians think of life as a gift of God and the body as a marvelous work of divine creation to be reverenced
as a temple of God (I Corinthians 3:16, 6:19). To keep the body/temple holy and clean from blemish,
scripture warns against defiling the body. (I Corinthians 3:17, 2 Corinthians 7:1).

There is no scriptural support for injecting poisons or any virus into the bloodstream to cure or prevent
disease. The Old and New Testaments, however, are replete with references to keeping the body blemish-
free so that we may have abundant life.

I am fully aware of the risks of not vaccinating as described by the Centers for Disease Control, The
American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Medical Association. However, I have sincere religious
beliefs that prohibit us from submitting to and receiving vaccinating agents.

Respectfully,

_________________________________
Parent

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 Intent to Home Educate Form

In compliance with Section 232.03(4) (B) (I), Florida Statue, this serves as written notice of intent to
establish and maintain a home education program. Please refer to the following information
required by state statue and enroll my child in home education per the date of this letter.

Date: _________________

Child’s name: __________________

Birth date: ____________

Address:___________________________________

Parent’s Name: _______________

Parent’s signature: _____________________

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 GOALS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR

Child’s Name: Grade:

Religious Education: Language Arts:

Math:

History/Geography: Science:

Foreign Language: Fine Arts:

Field Trips:
Other:

© 2009 Karen Diamond

Lesson Plans
And

Learning Logs

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 WEEKLY ASSIGNMENT SHEET
Name: ____________________ Week: ____________________ Year: _______________

Subject Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

_________ _________ _________ _________ _________

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 Co-Op Record
20 ___ / ____

Date Started: ___________________ Co-Op Class: _________________________________

Date Ended: _______________________

Length of Class: _____________________________

Instructor: ____________________________________

Goals: _______________________________________________________________________________

Information: __________________________________________________________________________

Were goals met? __________

Did student enjoy class? ____________

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 Reading Log

Grade: _______ Year: ___________

Date Title Arthur Pages Rating Type

Type:

FB = Fiction book NFB = Non Fiction book M =Magazine N = Newspaper

“That you also aspire to lead a quiet life, mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we
commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.”
~ 1 Thessalonians 4: 11-12

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 Library Books
Grade: ___________ Year: ___________

# Title Author Date Due Returned

"So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them
to understand the reading." ~ Nehemiah 8:8 (NKJV)

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 Recitals / Concerts / Plays / Live Events
Grade:______________ Year: ________________

Date Name of Event For Course: * Type

Type:
R = Recitals C = Concert P = Play LE = Live Event

“He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing.” ~ Job 8:21

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 Video, Audio, Computer & Internet Log
Grade: _________________ Year: ______________________

Date Title or Web Site address Type Time Time

Started Finished

Type:
V-Video A-Audio C-Computer I-Internet

“He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing.” ~ Job 8:21

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 MUSIC LESSONS
Date Lesson Practice Performance

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms
{and} hymns {and} spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” ~ Col 3:16 (NASB)

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 COMMUNITY SERVICE LOG
Date Location Supervisor & Description of Project Total Hours
Title

“As each one has received a {special} gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of
God.” ~ 1 Pet 4:10 (NASB)

© 2009 Karen Diamond

Field Trips

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 STUDENT’S FIELD TRIP ASSESSMENT
Date_______________________________ Trip to_____________________________

What did you enjoy the most? The least?

What did you learn about?

What did you observe?

Would you want to go on this field trip again? Why or why not?

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 FIELD TRIP LOG

Date Place Visited Starting Ending Notes

Time Time

© 2009 Karen Diamond

Science

© 2009 Karen Diamond

History

© 2009 Karen Diamond

Math

© 2009 Karen Diamond

Reading

© 2009 Karen Diamond

Writing

© 2009 Karen Diamond

Language
Arts

© 2009 Karen Diamond

Grammar

© 2009 Karen Diamond

Spelling

© 2009 Karen Diamond

Composition

© 2009 Karen Diamond

Literature

© 2009 Karen Diamond

Art

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 Foreign
Language

© 2009 Karen Diamond

Typing

© 2009 Karen Diamond

 Home
Economics

© 2009 Karen Diamond

Standardize
Testing

© 2009 Karen Diamond

Awards

© 2009 Karen Diamond

© 2009 Karen Diamond