Student portfolio presentations are celebrations of learning. The process empowers students by providing an opportunity for them to realize that they are in control of their own intellectual development, successes, and failures. Students become self-aware of academic skills, abilities, habits, and goals. They examine their own work for growth, strengths, weaknesses, and achievement and reflect on how they have met major instructional goals. They present their reflections and insights to their parents and teacher during a conference scheduled in mid January.  Students become aware of what they know, what they are learning, and areas in need of improvement.  It’s all about students coming to know themselves.