How Digital Portfolios Drive Student Success: Insights from Kelly Aldinger

As educators, we know that tracking the progress of multilingual learners can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to assessing all four language domains—listening, speaking, reading, and writing. But what if there was a way to not only track this progress effectively but also make it meaningful for both students and their families? In this episode of Equipping ELLs, Beth Vaucher speaks with Kelly Aldinger about the transformative power of digital portfolios.

The Power of Digital Portfolios

Digital portfolios are a powerful tool that can help multilingual learners track their language development in a comprehensive and engaging way. These portfolios go beyond traditional assessments by providing audio, video, and written samples that show students’ growth over time. Unlike paper-based portfolios or report cards, digital portfolios offer a dynamic, interactive way for students to showcase their progress.

Kelly explains that the key to a successful digital portfolio is its ability to capture “living” data points—real-time assessments that provide insight into a student’s abilities. Whether it’s a speaking sample, a reading fluency check, or a writing prompt, these portfolios allow both students and teachers to see language growth in action. Teachers can use these portfolios to analyze student work against rubrics and identify areas of strength and improvement. Meanwhile, students and families can easily track growth and celebrate milestones.

Another benefit of digital portfolios is their ability to help teachers make data-informed decisions. Kelly shares how she uses rubrics like the NISISLOT (New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test) to assess speaking and writing and RAS-L assessments for reading and listening. This consistency in scoring reduces subjectivity and ensures that teachers have a clear understanding of each student’s progress.

But it’s not just about tracking data. One of the most powerful aspects of digital portfolios is the opportunity for student reflection. Kelly highlights how students can use simple prompts like “I used to be able to do this, but now I can do this” to reflect on their growth. This reflection fosters metacognition and encourages students to take ownership of their learning.

To make the process manageable, Kelly suggests starting small—perhaps focusing on just one language domain or a subset of students. Once the digital portfolio system is in place, it becomes a sustainable tool for driving instruction and supporting multilingual learners throughout the year. Plus, the portfolio can easily be shared with parents, providing them with a clear picture of their child’s academic progress and allowing them to engage in the learning process at home.

In conclusion, digital portfolios are more than just a collection of student work—they’re a tool for empowering students, engaging families, and improving instructional practices. By capturing language growth in real-time and fostering student reflection, digital portfolios are a game-changer for multilingual learners and their educators.

Takeaway Tips:

Start small: Focus on one language domain or a few students to get started with digital portfolios.
Use rubrics and assessments to provide consistency and clarity when assessing language development.
Encourage student reflection to help them take ownership of their learning journey.
Share portfolios with families to foster strong home-school connections.

By incorporating digital portfolios into your classroom, you can give your multilingual learners a platform to see and celebrate their growth, ensuring they feel empowered throughout their language learning journey.

Links and Resources:

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In this Google Drive Folder, you will find a copy of presentation slides, NYSESLAT Targets of Measurement, K-5 Digital Portfolio Reference Guide, Google Site Template

**IMPORTANT** Right click on the file within the Google Drive folder –> “Make a copy” –> Be sure to store it outside of the shared folder in your OWN drive, otherwise it won’t allow you to make the copy.

A copy of the site will be created, and you can rename it and make changes as needed.

More about Equipping ELLs:

We all know that teaching isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be this hard. Equipping ELLs is a podcast for both ESL specialists and homeroom teachers who are looking for effective and engaging ways to support their English Language Learners without adding to their endless to-do list. Tune in each week to hear tips, strategies, and inspirational stories that will empower you to better reach your ELL students, equip them with life-long skills, and strengthen relationships with colleagues and parents.

Your host, Beth Vaucher, is the founder of Inspiring Young Learners. She is an ESL certified homeroom teacher with over 10 years of experience teaching in the US and internationally. Her background of M.Ed in ESL and Curriculum and Instruction combined with her experience has led her to develop a bestselling newcomer curriculum that has sold in over 90 countries around the globe. She brings a different perspective to teaching ELLs from her years teaching and living abroad and working with ELLs from around the world. You will walk away from each episode with the ideas and tools you need to transform your experience as a teacher and cultivate a thriving and welcoming environment for your ELL students.