Reflective Analysis of Portfolio Artifact Rationale/Reflection NAEYC Standard: STANDARD 4.

USING DEVELOPMENTALLY EFFECTIVE APPROACHES Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs understand that teaching and learning with young children is a complex enterprise, and its details vary depending on childrens ages, characteristics, and the settings within which teaching and learning occur. They understand and use positive relationships and supportive interactions as the foundation for their work with young children and families. Candidates know, understand, and use a wide array of developmentally appropriate approaches, instructional strategies, and tools to connect with children and families and positively influence each childs development and learning. (NA !C, "#$#% Brief Description of Evidence: &n my C ' "() Cognitive Curriculum course during the fall semester of "#$), & was re*uired to complete $+ teacher,made activities. ach activity focused on a different cognitive skill that children should possess. These activities would -e -eneficial to use when assessing the cognitive skills of students as well as an aid in enhancing skills. All $+ activities were related with the theme of pi..a which was chosen through a pro/ect -ased learning approach. Analysis of What I earned: Through completion of this assignment & was a-le to -ecome more familiar with what skills young children should have or -e working to o-tain. & learned how to create a variety of activities that could -e used in centers as well as in lessons to promote positive interaction. & was a-le to implement a few of these activities and found them to -e successful and en/oya-le for the children. & came to reali.e the importance of such activities when assessing children, as many assessments can -e completed through childrens play. These activities could also -e sent home with children to get parents and families involved in working with them on these skills. !o" #his Artifact De$onstrates $y Co$petence on the NAEYC Standard: This pro/ect helped me to understand the necessity of making activities age appropriate in order to receive proper assessment results and provide children with meaningful activities. & reali.ed the need for a variety of activities as children learn in many different ways. &n order to connect with all children, different tools and routes must -e used. This will help children to develop and perform at their very -est.