Pillowcase Portfolios

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Pillowcase Portfolios
The portfolios used in the classroom will hold
samples of the students work including both home
and school activities. A pillowcase can be used
to make an effective and accessible portfolio
that can be hung on the back of a students
chair. Instead of making all of the portfolios
yourself, you may want to send sewing directions
home to the parents (see attached sample letter).
The portfolios can then be brought to school to
be decorated by the students. All kinds of things
can be added to the portfolios to personalize
them.
How to make Pillowcase Portfolios 1. Fold the
open end of a pillowcase back 8 inches to form a
cuff. (This cuff will eventually slide over the
the back of the students chair.)
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How to make Pillowcase Portfolios 2. On one side
sew only the perimeter of the cuff. Leave the
other side free to slide over the back of the
chair. BE CAREFUL NOT TO SEW THE PILLOWCASE
SHUT. 3. Sew a piece of Velcro on the inside of
the portfolio so the portfolio will be held
shut. 4. Write the students name (or have them
write their own names with magic marker) across
the front of the pillowcase. Fabric paints are
also available for this purpose and are very
effective. 5. Have the students decorate their
new portfolios with markers, paints, glitter,
ribbons, photographs, or whatever is their fancy.
Teachers or parents may sew buttons or patches on
the portfolios. Anything goes! The portfolios
should be individualized by each student. Just be
sure that each students name can be easily seen.
The portfolios are then ready to save stuff the
students want to save and share with their
teachers and parents. The teacher may also ask
the students to save certain things in the
portfolio for later sharing.
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1. Sew an 8 inch cuff. 2. Do not sew all the way
through so the flap on the back can fit over a
chair back. 3. Sew Velcro on each side of the
inside so the portfolio can be held shut. 4.
Write the childs name on the portfolio. 5.
Individualize with decorations.
Jerimah's portfolio
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Dear Parent, This year our class will be keeping
some of their favorite stories, pictures, and
other work to share with me and with you when you
come to school to visit. We will be keeping these
favorite things in classroom portfolios. Each
child will have his or her own portfolio that
they can keep at their desk so they can get to
them to add materials easily. I have found that
pillowcase portfolios the student can hang on the
back of their desk chairs are very effective as
portfolios. I have included directions with this
letter about how to make a pillowcase portfolio.
A clean, used pillowcase will work just fine. All
that is needed is to fold down an eight inch cuff
and then sew the cuff so there is flap on the
back and the front of the cuff is sewn to the
front of the pillowcase. We will decorate the
portfolios in class. If you have any questions
about how to make the portfolio, please let me
know. Ask your son or daughter about the
portfolio from time to time. We hope to make them
into a collection of those things that students
can use to share their reading and writing. I
really appreciate all of your support and
cooperation. Sincerely, Mrs.. Hughes