Reflective Analysis of Portfolio Artifact

Rationale/Reflection
NAEYC Standard:
STANDARD 1. PROMOTING CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING
Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs are grounded in a child development
knowledge base. They use their understanding of young childrens characteristics and needs, of
multiple interacting influences on childrens development, and create environments that are
healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for each child. (NAEYC, 2010).

Brief Description of Evidence:

As part of my ECED 235 practicum course in the fall of 2014, throughout my time spent
at the facility chosen, I constructed a child case study/ portfolio to show my understanding of the
growth and development that can happen in just a few short months on one specific child in the
classroom. I engaged in parent involvement as well as teacher collaboration throughout the
duration of my time spent completing assessments, tying in lesson plans as well as
documentation on a specific child while I assisted at this facility.

Analysis of What I Learned:

Completing this child case study/ portfolio has taught me how to work collaboratively
with a daycare professional (my mentor) to assess, work on and conclude developmentally
appropriate approaches in the classroom. I learned that communicating with my mentor was key
for constructing developmentally appropriate lesson plans based on data gathered from the child
assessments, completing milestones assessments and well as having the parents involvement to
help me create developmentally appropriate goals for their child. I was able to present myself as
an early childhood professional by making apprehensive decisions as I worked with my mentor
to set goals. I also had to work towards making those goals become a reality by engaging in one
on one interaction to support the childs growth in the various domains. In the process of
constructing this case study/ portfolio and working side by side with my mentor, I realized that
by using data from developmental assessments I am better able to adjust my classroom
environment to meet the individual needs of my children.

How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the NAEYC Standard:

This child case study/ portfolio displays my ability to work collaboratively with
professionals and families of diverse needs as an early childhood professional. This child case
study/ portfolio also shows my ability to combine knowledge from a variety of resources and use
those resources to help assist me in the development of appropriate approaches for teaching these
children. Through this child case study/ portfolio I am able to see my ability to learn through my
mentor.