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 young 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.
Brief Description of Evidence:
As part of my ECED 243: Cognitive Curriculum course during the fall semester of 2014, I designed
and implemented an invitation to learn to a small class of three to four year olds. I first decided I
wanted the content to focus on a relevant objective that they were learning or ready to learn in class.
I made my display about circles, being that the children were learning about shapes, and there are
many ways to incorporate other subject areas off of the topic. I laid out multiple activities to choose
from including Play-doh, craft supplies for gluing circles to make pictures, and painting with
circles. Each child found interest in at least one of the activities; some wanted to do each one.
Analysis of What I Learned:
I learned how to effectively create and implement a learning invitation to a class of three to four
year olds. I was able to decide on content area that was relevant to the objectives of the class, and
find ways to expand the learning experience. I incorporated several subject areas into the invitation,
so the children were able to explore math, literacy, sensory, and fine arts. This ties in with the
Montessori approach to teaching, as children learn best by exploring their senses and pursuing their
interests. They need to be given objects to manipulate in order to exercise sensory learning. By
adding sensory manipulatives to the display, the children become more engaged in what the display
is about. There were also multiple activities to choose from, so that they were able to explore what
interested them, and make the most out of the experience.
How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the NAEYC Standard:
My competence in this standard is demonstrated by my ability to efficiently design and incorporate
a learning invitation to a class of three to four year olds. I based my display on content area that was
relevant to what the children were learning, or ready to learn, in class already. I found ways to
integrate multiple subject areas in order to maximize the learning potential for each child. The
experience was fully engaging and expanded their thought processes beyond what they already
knew relative to the topic.