Reflective Analysis of Portfolio Artifact Rationale/ Reflection

NAEYC Standard: STANDARD 5. USING CONTENT KNOWLEDGE TO BUILD MEANINGFUL CURRICULUM Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs a) use their knowledge of academic disciplines to design, implement, and evaluate experiences that promote positive development and learning for each and every young child. Candidates understand the importance of developmental domains and academic (or content) disciplines in early childhood curriculum. They b) know the essential concepts, inquiry tools, and structure of content areas, including academic subjects, and can identify resources to deepen their understanding. Candidates c) use their own knowledge and other resources to design, implement, and evaluate meaningful, challenging curriculum that promotes comprehensive developmental and learning outcomes for every young child. Brief Description of Evidence: As a part of my ECED 235 course, I designed and implemented small group lessons to promote positive learning for each child in the class. I implemented the small group lessons in a two to two and a half year old classroom. When designing the lesson plans I included the objectives, foundations, materials, essential concepts, inquiry tools, and structure of content areas. I also included the academic subjects that would be taught during my lesson plan. I found resources by shopping at the teacher store and gathering supplies from my practicum site to design, implement, and evaluate meaningful, challenging curriculum to promote comprehensive learning for each young child in the classroom. Analysis of what I learned: Through designing and implementing small group lesson plans I learned how to be creative in coming up with activities to plan around all the multiple intelligences. By making lesson plans I became more competent in using essential concepts, inquiry tools, and academic subjects to allow me to design, implement, and evaluate meaningful, challenging curriculum to promote comprehensive development and learning outcomes for every child involved.

How this artifact demonstrates my competence on the NAEYC standard: This specific artifact is just one of many that demonstrates my competence for designing, implementing, and evaluating experiences that promotes positive development and learning for young children. I am competent in using essential concepts, inquiry tools, resources, knowledge, and academic subjects. This experience perfects me in designing, implementing, and evaluating meaningful, challenging curriculum in the early childhood field.