What is the purpose of maintaining a child portfolio?

• A. To document progress over time and communicate development to families
• B. To replace ongoing assessments
• C. To penalize students for mistakes
• D. To compare to peers

Answer: (B)

Portfolios capture a child’s learning over time and provide a visible record to share with families. They include samples of work, teacher observations, photos, and reflections that show how skills grow across areas like communication, problem-solving, social development, and creativity. This concrete evidence helps families understand where the child is in development and supports meaningful conversations during conferences. Portfolios complement ongoing assessments; they don’t replace them but offer a holistic view of the learning process and progress. They emphasize growth and reflection rather than punishment or comparison. The overall purpose is to document progress over time and communicate development to families, while informing planning and instruction.