Reflective Analysis of Portfolio Artifact

Rationale/Reflection
NAEYC Standard:
STANDARD 2. Building Family and Community Relationships
Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs understand that successful early childhood
education depends upon partnerships with childrens families and communities. They know about, understand
and value the importance and complex characteristics of childrens families and communities. They use this
understanding to create respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and empower families, and to involve
all families in their childrens development and learning. (NAEYC, 2010)

Brief Description of Evidence:

During the spring semester of 2014 during my ECED 235-Families in Transition course, I worked on a
Family Scenario project. This project entailed; using the Bioecological Model of Human Development;
developed by Urie Bronfenbrenne. This project required me to choose a case study and define the needs and
potential issues of each family member. I used the microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem
developed by Bronfenbrenne to create an analysis of the family, set measurable goals, and provide appropriate
community resources to meet family needs.

Analysis of What I Learned:

Through completion of this project; I have learned that environments can all simultaneously influence
an individual. I now comprehend that people cannot fully understand human development without
considering how a person is influenced through each of these systems. Using the Bioecological Model of
Human Development, showed me that there may be one family member in particular who has an obvious
need, but in a family, all of its members will have needs of their own in relation to that member and to each
other. Through this artifact I have learned the crucially of learning about the child and his/her family. I
recognize that the child's family, a child's attitudes toward learning, her/his experiences dealing with other
people, and their self-concepts have been instilled by the family. I know now, that only by working in
partnership with the family, and using community resources that I can enhance the child's development.

How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the NAEYC Standard:

This project is one in which clearly showed me how important family relationships with your families,
and communities are. I can now understand the importance of recognizing forces that bring changes to our
society, such as economics, politics, demographics, and technology. Working with children; it is my
responsibility to help them be successful in adapting to a changing world. A childs reciprocal relationships
with supportive adults and other children are not only crucial to their development, but to their very
existence.