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 a) 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 b) know the essential concepts, inquiry tools, and structure of content areas, including
academic subjects, and can identify resources to deepen their understanding. Candidates c) 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:
During the fall semester in ECED 243 Cognitive Curriculum a few classmate and I had to
work together to make a lesson plan that integrated science and math into an art project. We went
to Apple Tree in the preschool classroom and actually did our lesson we had planned. Once
finished at the next day in class we all talked about what we would do differently and how we
would fix the mistakes we made.
Analysis of What I Learned:
What I learned was that there are many things that go into making a lesson that is math,
science or social studies instead of just an art activity. While making this I learned how to use the
knowledge of academics and how to design and implement a lesson plan by encouraging the
students that I worked with to do math and science while also doing a fun and creative art
activity. When completing this project I learned how to identify recourses to deepen the students
understanding by using things such as art activities to incorporate math and science if the
student(s) struggle in those areas.
How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the NAEYC Standard:
With the completion of this project I am now able to use my gained knowledge of
academic disciplines to design, implement, and evaluate experiences that promote positive
development and learning for each and every young child. I am able to understand the
importance of developmental domains and academic disciplines in early childhood curriculum as
well as know the essential concepts, inquiry tools, and structure of content areas, including
academic subjects, and can identify resources to deepen their understanding through things such
as self-reflections. While completing this project I am able to use my own knowledge and other
resources to design, implement, and evaluate meaningful and challenging curriculum.