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 use their knowledge of academic disciplines to design, implement, and evaluate experiences that promote positive development and learning for each and every child. Candidates understand the importance of developmental domains and academic (or content) disciplines in early childhood curriculum. They know the essential concepts, inquiry tools, and structure of content areas, including academic subjects, and can identify resources to deepen their understanding. Candidates 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. (NAEYC, 2010)

Brief Description of Evidence:

As part of my ECED 235-Preschool Practicum course during the summer semester of 2013, I worked independently to create a small group lesson plan for a preschool classroom. The lesson that I planned, touched on various developmental domains. The lesson plan that I implemented in the classroom told what skills I was intending on presenting, per the Indiana Foundations for Children (ages birth to 5).

Analysis of What I Learned:

As a result of creating, and implementing, this particular lesson plan, I learned to use what prior knowledge I had about a specific subject matter to provide a meaningful learning experience for each child. In creating this lesson, I needed to ensure my use of open-ended questions to enrich the childs understanding. I learned that I need to make adaptations, when needed, to guarantee that I provide each child with the same quality of learning. Another important thing I learned is that after I implement each lesson, I need to reflect, or have someone give their professional opinion. Reflecting allows me to evaluate if my lesson was effective, or not.

How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the NAEYC Standard:

When I created and implemented this lesson plan, it showed that I am knowledgeable about building a meaningful curriculum. It shows that I am able to provide learning experiences that challenge each child. In creating lesson plans, I have become aware of the importance of the developmental domains and how my lessons should be revolved around them. I have the knowledge to evaluate the curriculum that I design by ensuring that I am meeting the learning goals that I have established for each individual child. I have learned how to use other resources, such as resource books, internet, trainings, etc. to help to build a meaningful curriculum.