About
Let me help you homeschool with confidence! Apple Tree Assessments and Consulting - Providing professional, stress-free homeschool portfolio assessments to meet the Ohio and West Virginia state requirements and to be turned in with your annual notification. It doesn't have to be stressful! My years of being homeschooled (K-12th), my M.Ed. degree, my experience teaching in public school, my experience teaching in private school, my current Ohio teaching license, and my ongoing experience homeschooling my own children have given me a seasoned insight and a combined 20 years immersion into the world of homeschooling. I will deliver the support you need to be successful!
FAQs
Can I schedule my portfolio assessment if we are not finished with our school year?
Absolutely! All I’ll need is a snapshot of your year thus far since I’m looking for progress, not completion. No worries!
We school year round and don’t have a ‘start’ or ‘end’ - what do we do?
No problem! Lots of homeschoolers do year-round schooling! Assessments are required annually, not during a set time. Keep in mind that NOIs are due in August ;)
Do I need a portfolio for my kindergartener or high school senior?
If you notified for your kindergartener(on purpose or accidentally), then yes. If you did not notify for your kindergartener, then no. If you pulled your kindergartener out of school mid-year and started teaching him/her at home, then yes. For a senior in high school, it is not required since you are not notifying for the following year, however, if you still want to have a record of the school year, feel free to do so.
Most of our work is online/on the computer - How can I get you samples?
You can send screenshots of completed assignments, report cards, samples from the beginning/middle/end of the school year, off-line work if you have worksheets, book reports, etc…If you can show me progress and learning, I can accurately assess your student. You’ve got this!
We are unschoolers - is that a problem?
Nope! Be as creative as you need to be with pictures/videos/written work/book lists to give me a full view of what your students have experienced/created/learned this year. I do ask that I have something on paper (writing samples, etc) to look at for me to see the progress achieved.
Do you have sample portfolios I can look at?
Yes! I have a sample here under "portfolio assessments", but keep in mind that every teacher has a different style. Don’t feel the need to put yourself in a box.
What do you look for?
Progress! I love to see a combination of activities, field trips, unit studies, hands-on work, worksheets, book reports, essays, math problems, tests, report cards, chore charts, handwriting samples, sports awards, curriculum lists, book lists, co-op classes, extracurricular clubs, or anything that shows the learning ability of your student and the progress of your school year! (I do not need ALL of the above to get a complete picture - don’t worry!) I do prefer that you write a summary or a brief narrative of your year to get me in-focus with your philosophy of teaching and expectations quicker :)