Advanced Reading Portfolio

The reading portfolio is a valuable assignment because of its future implications. To make a memorable impression on future employers a portfolio may be required, and if we can learn the skills to be successful in this task then our future opportunities are endless. For this assignment, I chose to appeal to an employer seeking a teacher for an advanced reading class because that is my preference, and goal for the future. By creating this portfolio, I have had a glimpse into the process of future job opportunities, and I have enjoyed the learning experience of creating it. This has helped me realize that a resume is not enough, predict future materials to include, and reflect on my overall teaching style. The lesson plan that I chose is

I believe it acts as an extension to the typical resume. A resume is a list of achievements, qualifications, and historical evidence of previous jobs. Whereas, the portfolio is specific to the job in question, gives samples of previous work, and identifies areas for improvement. This last area is interesting because I wouldn’t want to highlight my weaknesses, but I think it is valuable to remember, that teachers are not expected to be perfect, and the best teachers are humble enough to continuously improve

However, TESOL is not limited to teaching, but also provides opportunities of research. The reflection of researchers and of teachers in this field are different types of reflection, and this portfolio seems like an opportunity for teachers to reflect in a way that researchers would. This is a time to reflect on past successes and failures. How were these failures overcome? What made a lesson successful? Which professional development opportunities taught me the most? How can I use that knowledge to further my learning? These questions are examples that I assume a researcher would ask about their own work. After thinking about this I felt intrigued about the type of work TESOL researchers might be involved in, and if they have an equivalent to a teaching portfolio. Overall, this portfolio provides a chance to self-reflect beyond what I had already reflected