As an ELD teacher, I’m always looking for meaningful ways to track my students’ oral language growth and celebrate their progress. A speaking portfolio is one of my favorite tools for doing this, and Canva is an awesome platform to do it in—yes, the same Canva we all use to make classroom signs, newsletters, and presentations!
So, why do I use Canva to create digital speaking portfolios with my upper elementary English learners? It’s simple, impactful, and best of all—it grows with students over time. These portfolios not only provide authentic evidence of language development, but they also boost student confidence and give them a voice—literally!
What Is It?
A speaking portfolio is a collection of student voice recordings. Each month, students add a new slide where they respond to a prompt using academic language and content vocabulary. Over time, this becomes a powerful record of their oral language growth.
Why Canva?
Canva is free for educators and very user-friendly. It allows students to combine visuals, text, and audio on each slide, which makes it perfect for multilingual learners who benefit from multimodal supports. Plus, the drag-and-drop interface is intuitive—even for younger students.
🎤 Step-by-Step:
1. Create a Template
Start by creating a simple Canva presentation with a title slide and one template slide students will duplicate each month. The template slide might include:
- A space for an image
- A question or prompt
- A sentence frame or language support (as needed)
- An audio recording box or circle
You can also include written directions on how to record, but don’t forget to model this process and support as needed on their first few attempts.
2. Share the File with Students
Assign each student their own copy of the Canva file by simply sharing the template link. You can share the link through email, or, if you use Google Classroom or another LMS, you can share the template link there. Once students open the link, a copy of the template will automatically be created for them.
I have my students add their name to the cover page, and then immediately share their portfolio back to me using my email address. Now I have a copy of each student’s portfolio, which I then add to a folder in Canva called “[year] Speaking Portfolios.”
3. Set a Monthly Prompt
Each month, give students a new speaking prompt connected to your content or language objectives.
Examples:
- Describe your favorite landform and explain why you chose it.
- Describe the life cycle of a butterfly using sequence words.
- Explain how seasonal changes affect plants and animals.
- Compare two habitats using academic vocabulary.
Make sure to provide scaffolds like visuals, word banks, and sentence starters as needed.
4. Students Add a New Slide
You can create a year’s worth of slides ahead of time with predetermined prompts and images, OR, students can duplicate the template slide and respond to the monthly prompt by:
- Adding a relevant image or visual
- Recording their voice using Canva’s built-in audio tool
Recording is easy: Students click the “Uploads” button on the left side menu, select “Record Yourself,” and speak into their device’s microphone.
5. Review, Reflect, and Celebrate
At the end of each quarter or semester, have students listen to their recordings to reflect on their growth. You can also:
- Share portfolios during parent conferences
- Use as a conferencing tool with students
- Have students choose a favorite slide to share with the class
Why It Works
- Visual + Verbal = Stronger Language Connections
- Student Voice = Increased Ownership
- Monthly Practice = Consistent Growth
Most of all, I believe providing on-going practice with recorded speaking will better prepare students for their annual English proficiency speaking assessment — in my state that’s WIDA ACCESS. Through practiced strategies, and multiple exposures to audio recording, students feel more confident in pressing the dreaded “record” button on test day. 🙌
But, honestly, I love seeing my students’ confidence bloom as they realize how much their speaking has improved over time. These portfolios also provide valuable formative data to guide my instruction and support targeted language goals. As I listen to their recordings, I jot down anecdotal notes on skills to teach and practice, so it’s a valuable tool that guides my instruction with my students’ oral language needs.
Want a Free Template?
I’ve created a ready-to-use Canva template you can copy and share with your students.
🎤Speaking Portfolio Template link
To see how I set up my own Canva speaking portfolios, check out my Instagram Highlights called “Speaking Act.”
And if we’re not already Instagram friends, I’d love to see you there. 💛
Classroom Activities to Build Oral Language
Looking for activities to build oral language skills? Speaking Mats are a great option! Here are a few of my favorites.
Happy teaching,
