Reflective Analysis of Portfolio Artifact Rationale/Reflection NAEYC Standard:

NAEYC 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.

Brief Description of Evidence:

The fifteen teacher made activities, which I created for my engaging the brain project as part of my ECED 243 course, is a compilation of activities designed to promote fifteen cognitive skills in children. The teacher made activities kits were based on a certain theme the children had expressed interest in and presented within small groups of my peers prior to implementing with children; this allowed for the benefit of supportive interactions. Each activity was created specifically as a means to help assess if the children possessed the skill and to develop and promote the skill in children who had not yet achieved it.

Analysis of What I Learned:

Through the creation of these activities I was able to use positive interaction and social skills to work collaboratively with a small group of peers. I learned how to work with and share ideas positively with other early childhood professionals working together as a means to best support the developmental abilities of children. Through this artifact I have learned how to gauge the interest of the children, integrate those interests into subject matter based activities, and create an overall curriculum in which children are actively involved in their own learning. Through the implementation of these activities I learned how to modify instructional strategies to best develop and promote the childrens skill levels.

How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the NAEYC Standard:

This artifact illustrates my competence in this standard by demonstrating my ability to work collaboratively with my peers to design and implement activities which use a wide array of developmentally appropriate approaches, instructional strategies, and tools in order to positively influence each childs development and learning.