Assessing literacy strategies through collected works, reading logs, journal writings, other language activities, and informal testing, this book provides preservice teachers a firm grounding in the theory of literacy portfolios as part of authentic assessment strategies and provides guidelines of creating and using literacy portfolios successfully in classrooms. Chapters in the book are: (1) Introducing Portfolio Practice; (2) Changing Views of Literacy; (3) Observing Authentic Literacy Practices; (4) Surveying Portfolio Use in Authentic Literacy Classrooms; (5) Exploring Authentic Assessment Opportunities; (6) Introducing the Literacy Assessment Portfolio; (7) Using the Literacy Assessment Portfolio to Assess and Guide Reading Instruction; (8) Using the Literacy Assessment Portfolio to Assess and Guide Writing Instruction; (9) Conferencing and Reporting with the Literacy Assessment Portfolio; (10) Implementing Authentic Literacy Assessment in the Classroom, School, and School District; (11) Using Portfolios with Students Who Have Learning and Behavioral-Emotional Problems; and (12) Using Portfolios with Language Minority Students. The book concludes with examples of teacher reflections, the use of portfolios in a first-grade classroom and a gifted classroom, and the use of an administrator's perspective. (RS)