Reflective Analysis of Portfolio Artifact

Rationale/Reflection
NAEYC Standard:
STANDARD 3. OBSERVING, DOCUMENTING, AND ASSESSING TO SUPPORT YOUNG
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs understand that
child observation, documentation, and other forms of assessment are central to the practice of all early
childhood professionals. They a) know about and understand the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment.
They b) know about and use systematic observations, documentation, and other effective assessment
strategies c) in a responsible way, d) in partnership with families and other professionals, to positively
influence the development of every child.(NAEYC, 2010)

Brief Description of Evidence:

As part of my ECED 235- Preschool Practicum course during the fall semester of 2014 I had the
opportunity to observe and work closely with a three year old girl in my assigned practicum class. Over
the semester, I collected samples of her work, assessed her using various developmental checklists, and
established her strengths and needs for improvements in all the domains of development. I set goals for
her and helped her to accomplish those by the end of my time there. I developed a close relationship with
her and her family throughout the semester.

Analysis of What I Learned:

Through this experience I learned more in depth about the average development of a three year old in all
the different domains. I learned the importance of systematic child observation, documentation, and other
forms and uses of assessment by observing my mentor and assessing my case study child when
appropriate. I learned the importance of assessing and how it benefits the child by discovering what they
already know and assisting them in learning what they do not. I learned about the many ways of
accomplishing the goals I set for her and how accomplishing such can benefit her in long run of her
development.

How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the

NAEYC Standard:
I demonstrate my competence in this standard by ability to prove my knowledge of effective assessment
strategies. A few of the ones I experienced were the Brigance assessment and various color, shape, and
number checklists. I worked with my case study child in a responsible manner by assessing and assisting
her in completing her goals. By this, I created life time partnerships with my case study child, her family,
and my class room mentor. I am competent in this standard because I recognize the importance of B.F.
Skinners theory of positively influencing the development of every child I work with in my future class
room, by encouraging him or her to succeed to the best of their abilities with my support.