This article describes key elements for educators to successfully implement a student mathematics portfolio in an undergraduate mathematics course. This article offers practical advice for implementing a student mathematics portfolio in a freshman precalculus course. We look at the potential value added to student class preparation and compare our approach to traditional classroom assessments of the portfolio. The article provides anecdotal and student self-efficacy evidence that student mathematics portfolios lead to increased student performance in the course. (Contains 1 table and 5 figures.)