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 a) understand and use positive relationships and supportive interactions as the foundation
for their work with young children and families. Candidates b, c) know, understand, and use a
wide array of developmentally appropriate approaches, instructional strategies, and tools to
connect with children and families and d) positively influence each childs development and
learning (NAEYC 2010).

Brief Description of Evidence:

As part of my ECED 243 Cognitive Curriculum course during the fall semester of 2014 I created
ten activity kits based on one theme. Each kit had a certain activity, Indiana Foundation, and an
objective to go along with each activity. The children can use the kits individually, in a group, or
even take them home and do them with their families.

Analysis of What I Learned:

When I first started creating these kits I struggled to find different activities that were DAP for
the age group I was using. With some help and suggestions I was able to create ten activities no
problem. I took some of the kits to work and the children interacted really well with them.
While observing the children as they were playing with the kits I was able to see the different
ways all the children learn. Some children did not like the kits where they painted their
hand/foot and for others that was his/her favorite.

How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the

NAEYC Standard:
My competence in this standard is proven by my ability to create different DAP activities for
children to use. Every activity was tied to an Indiana Foundation and was hands-on. The kits I
made were based on children in the age range of one to two. The children were more energetic
during the day while using the kits as opposed to playing with them during extended day hours.
Some children took home the kits and the parents were excited to be able to do activities at home
with their children that were interactive. Howard Gardners Multiple Intelligence theory
revolved around the different characteristics and ways children learn. Multiple intelligence is a
psychological theory about the mind. This theory allows us to see what areas children are
struggling in and areas they are excelling in. By allowing the children to take the kits home it
helped create positive relationships and supportive interactions between the families and myself.