Artifact #7: Early Childhood Degree

This artifact is my Early Childhood Education degree I received through Villa Maria

College of Buffalo NY. Early childhood to me is important because early childhood development

includes the emotional, social and physical development of young children which has a direct

effect on their overall development and on the adult they will become. The first five years of a

child's life are fundamentally important. These years has a direct impact on how children develop

learning skills as well as social and emotional abilities. Children learn more quickly during

their early years than at any other time in life. That is why understanding the need to invest in

very young children is so important, so as to maximize their future well-being. I feel that myself

being a Preschool teacher, I play an important role in building a child's success in their first years

of school. I do more than facilitate arts and crafts projects throughout the day. I provide structure

and help children grow in their reading and writing skills, teach science and help children

understand themselves. This artifact displays my strong foundation in child development and my

understanding developmentally appropriate practices. This artifact also shows that I have thought

my career path through. I have always enjoyed teaching and working with children and I feel t

that having a strong background and extensive work experience with children will help me be the

best educator to my students.

Connections to Standards

INTASC Standards

1(e) The teacher understands that each learner’s cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional,

and physical development influences learning and knows how to make instructional decisions

that build on learners’ strengths and needs.

9(a) The teacher engages in ongoing learning opportunities to develop knowledge and skills

in order to provide all learners with engaging curriculum and learning experiences based on local

and state standards.

9(n) The teacher sees him/herself as a learner, continuously seeking opportunities to draw upon

current education policy and research as sources of analysis and reflection to improve practice.

New York State Code of Ethics for Educators

Principle 3 Educators commit to their own learning in order to develop their practice. Educators

recognize that professional knowledge and development are the foundations of their practice.

They know their subject matter, and they understand how students learn. Educators respect the

reciprocal nature of learning between educators and students. They engage in a variety of

individual and collaborative learning experiences essential to develop professionally and to

promote student learning. They draw on and contribute to various forms of educational research

to improve their own practice.

TEAC/CAEP

Claim 1: Medaille College graduates know the subject matter in their certification

area(s)

Claim 2: Medaille College graduates meet the needs of diverse learners through

effective pedagogy and best teaching practices.

Claim 3: Medaille College graduates are caring educators.