Digital Portfolio for Your Homeschool

As our kids get older keeping a portfolio becomes more important for keeping track of the curriculum, classes, and projects that you do. Keeping a digital portfolio means you can access it from anywhere. Share it with your child as they may need it for applying to colleges, universities, etc.

Digital Portfolio Pinterest image of person using Instagram with text overlay

This post contains affiliate links, see my disclosure policy for more information.

Digital Portfolio Using Google

I am going to discuss how to create a low-cost traditional portfolio, but then I will explain how to maintain a digital portfolio for free.

There are many advantages to maintaining a digital portfolio, and at the top of the list is this: digital portfolios are completely free!

Types of Homeschool Portfolios

Traditional homeschool portfolios display a student’s work using a 3-ring binder, accordion file, file box, or scrapbook system. In fact, I have physical portfolios for each of my kids’ first few years of homeschooling. And then I realized how much space it was going to take up, and how much easier it is to maintain a digital portfolio.

Many homeschoolers use blogs as a means to document their homeschool journey. This is a fantastic way to keep family updated, and an easy way to keep records if you enjoy writing, photos, and feel comfortable with technology.

Instagram is a great visual way to document your homeschool. You can choose whether or not to keep it private. I use IG as a great way to look back and see what we have done through the year.

The best way I have found for keeping a digital portfolio for each of my kids however has been to use Google Drive. I have a folder for each of them where I keep a periodic log each year and can add work samples, pictures of projects we have done, etc.

https://www.forgetfulmomma.com/keeping-homeschool-portfolio/

Here are some ideas for what to include in your homeschool portfolio:

  • Legal and other important documents (letter of intent, test results, immunization records, etc.)
  • Curriculum used
  • Learning objectives
  • Work samples for all academic subjects
  • Book logs
    • Read aloud book log
    • Individual student book logs
  • Gameschooling log (yes, games count!)
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Monthly schedule/activity log
  • Field trips
  • Films and documentaries watched
  • Live music and theater performances
  • Awards and certificates
  • Community service hours
  • Tickets, brochures, and other memorabilia from field trips, vacations, and other adventures
  • Artwork
  • Photos of large projects
  • Video of students reading aloud (this is easier with a digital portfolio)
  • Videos of student presentations (this is easier with a digital portfolio)
  • Fitness logs
  • Video clips of academic skills (such as oral reading), sports performance, music performances, etc. (Again, easier with digital portfolios)
  • Photos, photos, and more photos– because so much of homeschooling cannot be captured on paper!
Digital Portfolio Using Google social media image of person using computer with text overlay

More Information and Tips on Google Classroom

5 Beginner Tips for Google Classroom

How to Set up Google Classroom for Homeschool – Step by step setting up Google Classroom for Homeschool

Chrome Extensions for Google Classroom Planning

Alternate Sites to Google Classroom