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 (NAEYC, 2011).

Brief Description of Evidence:

As a part of my ECED 243 Cognitive Curriculum course during the fall of 2013, I had to complete fifteen teacher made activities. These teacher made activities had to be developmentally appropriate for children in preschool. I had to make an activity for fifteen different areas of learning like, literacy, matching/sorting, discrimination etc. These activities had to be well put together with all materials needed and instructions for each activity. Each activity also had to have an Indiana Foundations tied to the activity. I also had to complete three of these activities in a classroom setting and reflect on things that I would change or add to the activities.

Analysis of What I Learned:

After completing these fifteen teacher made activities, I learned the differences in making sure that each child has a developmentally appropriate activity to fit their needs. I also learned that having positive relationships with children reflect on how they learn from my environment.

How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the NAEYC Standard:

This artifact demonstrates my competence in standard 4, Using Developmentally Effective Approaches by showing how I can interact with children and use developmentally appropriate practices. It also shows how I can use a wide variety of approaches to help each and every child. Some of the activities have everyday items in them because these items can be found around the home or outside. This shows how a family can easily make learning easy and inexpensive. The fifteen teacher made activities also show that I can take developmentally appropriate approaches and apply those in the classroom environment.