Provider Voices DEVELOPING A PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO Page Chapter Contents Your portfolio can be a valuable tool. It is a compilation of information, experiences, and other data that gives a picture of your program. 151 152 153 154 155 Using Your Accreditation Journey to Develop a Professional Portfolio Forms and Supplements Sample Media Release Form Thinking About Ways to Make My Portfolio Developing Your Portfolio Portfolio Pages (In Sheet Protectors) 15 Becoming an NAFCC Accredited provider has defined me as a professional in the family child care field. I feel more confident about my program and my abilities, and this accreditation helps me to communicate my commitment, expertise and professionalism to parents, families, and other providers. Julie Ann Payne, New Jersey
DEVELOPING A PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO USING YOUR ACCREDITATION JOURNEY TO DEVELOP A PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO You may already have a professional portfolio or be preparing one for a project or other activity. If you haven t already started a portfolio your selfstudy journey is a perfect time to think about it. You may make changes in your family child care program that you want to record. Before and after pictures of room arrangements or tracking the addition of a play structure are wonderful opportunities to show parents or potential clients how self -study is improving your program. Different kinds of portfolios are used for different purposes. A portfolio documenting your accreditation journey will probably fall into the category of showcase portfolio (Jones & Shelton, p. 33.) A showcase portfolio highlights your accomplishments and focuses on your program growth and development. Your portfolio can be a valuable tool. It is a compilation of information, experiences, and other data that gives a picture of your program. It is a central source where you can gather information specific to your program, as well as a place for pamphlets, brochures, and other resources that you can share with client families or other providers. It validates and reinforces your personal skills and helps you define your program. Because you have taken time to actively reflect on your program, your practices, and your philosophy, you are better able to demonstrate exactly how you put theory into practice. You recognize your strengths and are prepared to explain your program and your abilities in a variety of ways. Just as there are many right ways for you to meet accreditation standards, there are also many ways for you to develop your portfolio. Use the templates and suggestions we have included if they meet your needs or use others if they are more appropriate for you. Some of the templates included show accreditation standards that parents often ask about during interviews. This gives you an opportunity to demonstrate why accreditation is important and how it relates directly to them and their children. This is certainly not a complete list of the information parents want and you will need to include many other items that are specific to your program or your community. Blank forms are included in the guide so that you can choose additional standards or so that you customize what you include in your portfolio. As you travel down the path of NAFCC Accreditation, your training and regular self-assessment will help you identify specific skills you use in working with children and families. Your portfolio might include written narratives, photographs, samples of children s work, and other information that describes your program. Information and resources included in other chapters of this guide might be something that you want to include in your portfolio. Be sure to include everything that demonstrates the unique qualities of your program. Add materials and information to enhance your portfolio and keep it current. Just like the self-study process, your portfolio is a work in progress. When you demonstrate growth in a particular area, add that to your portfolio. Your portfolio should showcase you and your work as a quality family child care provider. It should include your personal philosophy about your program so that clients and potential clients can relate more easily to you and what you believe is important about young children, their families, and their future. Your philosophy statement is an opportunity for you to communicate the principles that guide your decision making (Jones & Shelton, p 42). Your philosophy statement is the foundation for all you do in your program and including it in your portfolio helps others understand what is important to you. 151
Provider Guide to Achieving NAFCC Accreditation DEVELOPING A PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO Things to think about Your portfolio may be more interesting for you and for others if you use a variety of techniques to showcase yourself. Photographs of your child care program in action, pictures of field trips, and individual pictures of your children and their activities are all interesting ways to show people what your program is like. You should also have high resolution (at least 150 dpi) photos readily available digitally so when an agency, such as a newspaper or NAFCC, asks for photos of your program you can send them easily. It is also important to already have permission from parents to use those photos. A sample media release form is available at the end of this chapter. Samples of children s work help others see how children are involved in day to day learning. Sampling is especially effective in showing the variety of skill levels you work with every day. Your portfolio samples are an excellent tool to demonstrate a particular child s growth or progress in your program. If you enjoy writing, you may want to include narrative descriptions of your program and activities, your goals for children, or other information that you believe is important. Think about how you could use your portfolio to share community resources and other pertinent information with parents and potential client families. Family child care providers are often the most trusted professionals working with young children and families rely on you for much of their information. Your portfolio is a subtle way for you to demonstrate to parents that you provide quality care for their children and that you are a sound resource for them when they need information about other topics. Remember Your professional portfolio will evolve over time. You should update it regularly so that it includes information that is current and timely. You may decide that you want to include PowerPoint slides or other technology in your portfolio or that you want to develop a website to promote your business. This is all information that you will want to track and show in your portfolio as it develops. Be sure the portfolio you share includes information that really describes the family child care program you currently have. Include information about how and why your program has grown or changed so that others can see your development as a caregiver. When you receive your Accreditation Award notice be sure that you include that in your portfolio. You will probably want to frame the original certificate but a copy in one of the protective sleeves of your Provider Guide will show the results of your accreditation journey to everyone who sees the portfolio. It may also provide a place for recording the work you do to prepare for each of your annual updates. Your portfolio will grow and change just as your program does. Providers often find it helpful to build a portfolio during each accreditation period so that they have a comprehensive record of their professional development or quality improvement work. Your portfolio will be as individual as your family child care program and will offer you a way to reminisce about the changes you have made and the children you have worked with through the years. Enjoy working on it. A professional portfolio is a natural brag book where you can collect training certificates, awards, and other information about your accomplishments. Your portfolio offers you an easy way to share this information. Because it focuses on you, your business, and your professional abilities, it is the perfect avenue for modestly sharing your successes. 152
SAMPLE MEDIA RELEASE FORM Your logo or business name here Media Release Form (Only one person per form) I, the undersigned, do hereby grant or deny permission to (your business name) to use my image or the image of my child, (print name of person in media) as marked by my selection(s) below. Such use includes the display, distribution, publication, transmission, or otherwise use of photographs, images, and/or video taken of me or my child for use in materials that include, but may not be limited to, printed materials such as brochures and newsletters, videos, and digital images such as those that may be used on a website. Deny permission to use my image or my child s image at all. Grant permission- I give unrestricted permission for my image or my child s image to be used in print, video, and digital media. I agree that these images may be used by NAFCC for a variety of purposes and that these images may be used without further notifying me. I do understand that my child s last name will not be used in conjunction with any video or digital images. Signature Date (or Signature of Parent/Guardian) Return to: Your Business Name Your Address Your City, State and Zip
THINKING ABOUT WAYS TO MAKE MY PORTFOLIO PICTURES CHILDREN S WORK SAMPLES Who What Where WRITTEN INFORMATION BROCHURES AND PAMPHLETS What Where OTHER OTHER
DEVELOPING YOUR PORTFOLIO The following pages include several accreditation standards that parents often ask about. Use these pages to begin your portfolio. Think about each standard and how you meet it. Then, use Thinking About Ways to Make My Portfolio to present examples of how you meet that particular standard. Additional pages are included so you can address other standards or questions parents might regularly ask. Giving parents more concrete information about your program helps you explain what you do and makes your family child care business come alive when others examine your portfolio. Use the standard below as an example. Think about how you might demonstrate your positive attitude about any of these areas are there resource materials that would be helpful to parents? Perhaps a book list for toilet learning would be one way that you could demonstrate how you meet this standard. Then, do the same thing on the following pages, making sure that you incorporate a variety of techniques to communicate how you meet each standard THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DEMONSTRATE The provider shows positive attitudes toward bottle weaning, diapering, toilet learning, discipline, and special needs of children. (relationships) THIS IS WHAT I DO
THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DEMONSTRATE The provider keeps parents informed, by conversation or in writing about what their children do. This happens daily for babies and at least weekly for older children. The provider tries to maintain open and easy communication with each family. (relationships) THIS IS WHAT I DO
THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DEMONSTRATE The areas of the home used by children are welcoming and friendly, appearing like a family home, a small preschool, or a combination of the two. The child care space is well organized. The environment includes a comfortable and cozy place for children, as well as a place for quiet time alone. Each child has a space for personal belongings. (the environment) THIS IS WHAT I DO
THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DEMONSTRATE Positive guidance, appropriate for the developmental abilities of each child, is used to help children gain selfcontrol and take responsibility for their own behavior. (developmental learning activities) THIS IS WHAT I DO
THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DEMONSTRATE The provider reads to children for at least 15 minutes during each half day, or all the children are able to read. Books are used to stimulate conversation that expands upon children s interests and imagination, to build vocabulary, or to introduce new ideas and information. (developmental learning activities) THIS IS WHAT I DO
THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DEMONSTRATE The provider builds on children's emerging interest in print and writing in the context of meaningful activities. Depending on their developmental levels, she encourages them to scribble; to recognize signs, alphabet letters and their sounds, to write their names, notes, and stories; to label their drawings; make books; or keep journals. (developmental learning activities) THIS IS WHAT I DO
THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DEMONSTRATE Children are engaged in activities most of the time. Their faces often reflect concentration. Children have opportunities to make choices and explore their own interests. The provider offers several activities appropriate for the abilities and interests of the children. (developmental learning activities) THIS IS WHAT I DO
THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DEMONSTRATE The provider serves nutritious and sufficient food following Child and Adult Care Food Program guidelines. If parents bring food, the provider assures that it is nutritious or supplements it. A written menu is posted daily or weekly and modified if it is changed or parents bring food. (safety and health) THIS IS WHAT I DO
THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DEMONSTRATE Before enrollment parents are informed if there are any pets. They are informed before new pets are brought into the child care area. If there are cats or dogs, rabies and distemper immunization records are on file and signed by a veterinarian within the past year. Pets are free of parasites and fleas. (safety and health) THIS IS WHAT I DO
THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DEMONSTRATE The provider has information about community resources that offer services to parents and children. The provider helps families access community and medical services as needed. The provider informs parents about tax credits, child care subsidies, and employer child care benefits if available. (professional and business practices) THIS IS WHAT I DO
THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DEMONSTRATE Standard Number THIS IS WHAT I DO