Reflective Analysis of Portfolio Artifact Rationale/Reflection NAEYC Standard:

STANDARD 4. USING DEVELOPMENTALLY EFFECTIVE APPROACHES Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs understand that teaching and learning with young children is a complex enterprise, and its details vary depending on childrens ages, characteristics, and the settings within which teaching and learning occur. They understand and use positive relationships and supportive interactions as the foundation for their work with young children and families. Candidates know, understand, and use a wide array of developmentally appropriate approaches, instructional strategies, and tools to connect with children and families and positively influence each childs development and learning. (NAEYC, 2011)

Brief Description of Evidence:

During my fall semester of 2013 I created fifteen developmentally appropriate activities that can be used with children in a variety of settings to attain an understanding of the childrens developmental standing. Using easily attainable materials, the activities that were created address multiple areas of development including but not limited to: Gross motor, fine motor, one to one correspondence, matching, seriation and other developmental skills that may be used to gauge a childs development

Analysis of What I Learned:

Through the completion of this project I gained a better understanding on how to use developmentally appropriate activities to gain a better understanding of any childs developmental standing. I learned that through the use of clear, supportive instruction and guidance along with developmentally appropriate tools I can connect with children in a manner which promotes learning in multiple environments.

How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the NAEYC Standard:

This project is one in which I was able to use my knowledge of childrens developmental stages to create effective developmental approaches that can be used in a multitude of settings to engage children and gain an understanding of their developmental standing. Through spending time researching various teaching activities, I feel more informed that my teaching practices are developmentally appropriate for young children.