Organize art portfolios.
Organizing elementary art portfolios involves choosing what is to be included in the portfolios and storing them. The sooner students understand and practice the concept of portfolios, the better. Finding storage space is always a challenge and even more so in the art classroom.
Instructions
1. Decide whether you want the portfolios to contain all work produced by the students or a selection. Explain the idea of art portfolios to the students and what should be included.
2. Create a portfolio by folding a poster board in half. Punch holes in the open sides and lace it with string. Each student can make his own portfolio as the first project. Students should add their names to the outside of the portfolios and personalize them however they see fit.
3. Locate portfolios in an area that the student may easily access. Lower cabinets are ideal for elementary students.
4. Color-code the cabinet by grade level. Cover the front of the cabinet with the coordinating color of construction paper for easy identification. For example, first-grade portfolios could be kept in the "blue" cabinet.
5. Break down each grade by specific class. For example, in the blue cabinet, students of Ms. A's class would have their own shelf. Label the shelf with the teacher's name so that students will be able to find their own portfolios easily.
6. House projects that will not fit into the portfolio folder, such as clay items, in cardboard box tops and store them in a separate area. A bookshelf would be appropriate. Color-code the shelf area for each grade and label the front of the box top with the teacher's name.
