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. (NAEYC, 2010)

Brief Description of Evidence:

As part of my ECED 243 Cognitive Curriculum course during the fall semester of 2014, I made a
lesson plan to be implemented by a small group of children. I read a book about pumpkins and
had the children use math and reading skills to complete a recipe. The recipe was for moon
sand. The children were able to use different objects to play with in order to engage in fine
motor and math skills.

Analysis of What I Learned:

As a result of completing this project, I was able to carry out a successful lesson. My
understanding of the childrens needs and personalities made it possible for me to personalize
my lesson plans to better suit the children. I make it a point to get the children participating and
interacting with each other and to provide an open and positive environment.

How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the NAEYC Standard:

The more lesson plans I complete, the more comfortable I am with my ability to succeed in this
career. I am confident in my ability to create a healthy environment where children are free to
grow physically and emotionally. I know that my knowledge of a childs characteristics and
needs are on point and that children need to have interactive learning influences. As a future
teacher, it is important to understand that not every child learns the same, and this artifact
allowed me to show my competence in this area. Implementing this and other lesson plans
gave me the opportunity to see the levels of different understanding in children.