Reflective Analysis of Portfolio Artifact

Rationale/Reflection
NAEYC Standard:
STANDARD 7. EARLY CHILDHOOD FIELD EXPERIENCES
Field experiences and clinical practice are planned and sequenced so that candidates develop the
knowledge, skills and professional dispositions necessary to promote the development and
learning of young children across the entire developmental period of early childhood in at least
two of the three early childhood age groups (birth age 3, 3 through 5, 5 through 8 years) and in
the variety of settings that offer early education (early school grades, child care centers and
homes, Head Start programs). (NAEYC, 2010)
Brief Description of Evidence:
As part of my ECED 260 Early Childhood Professional course during the spring semester
of 2015, I worked independently to create a cover letter and resume describing my skills and
experiences. By completing the cover letter I was able to tell my potential employer Tammy
Carney, why she is receiving my resume and that I am applying for the lead teacher of a Prekindergarten classroom.
Analysis of What I Learned:
By submitting my cover letter and resume to Udder Angels Childcare Center, I was able
to discuss and learn about Indiana Foundations and Developmentally Appropriate Practice
(DAP), Path to Quality, and how children are learning in their own environments. The cover
letter was a new concept for me. I was able to see the value in being direct about the job I am
applying for. The cover letter takes the guess work away from the employer and allows them to
put more focus on my rsum and also provides an opportunity for them to see a small window
of the kind of person that I am and how I think. This also paints a specific picture to see if I
would be a good fit for their center.
How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the NAEYC Standard:
This project allowed me through my cover letter and resume to show what it is I am
pursuing along with the skills I have obtained through personal experiences along with my
education. It also reviewed why it is that I should be the lead teacher in the Pre-kindergarten
classroom. In my resume, I show that I would work well teaching children in a variety of
settings that allows them to learn in almost any environment. My personal experience has
allowed me to work with the school-age children where I was in a level four child care center;
however, when I switched to become the Pre-k teacher I was in a home center which has an
entirely different appearance both literally and emotionally. I reviewed my knowledge and skills
in creating curriculums, accountability to the Indiana state surveyor, utilization of ISTAR-KR,
my ability to encourage and promote team work among peers, parents and specialists, along with
instilling calm open communication. I also provided a good analysis of the skills I have
developed, the learning opportunities utilized through ages and stages, my cautiousness of
disinfecting and preparing areas for future use, my value in ensuring the safety of the children
while inspiring their young minds, monitoring food vouchers for state reporting, and confirming
children were picked up by the appropriate care taker. Most importantly I hope I demonstrated
my love for the learning of a young mind.