Reflective Analysis of Portfolio Artifact

Rationale/Reflection
NAEYC Standard: STANDARD 3: OBSERVING, DOCUMENTATING, AND ASSESSING
TO SUPPORT YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs understand that child observation,
documentation, and other forms of assessment are central to the practice of all early childhood
professionals. They know about and understand the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment. They know
about and use systematic observations, documentation and other effective assessment strategies in a
responsible way, in partnership with families and other professionals, to positively influence the
development of every child. (NAEYC, 2010).

Brief Description of Evidence:

As part of my ECED 225 infant and toddler practicum course in the summer semester of 2015, I
conducted a child case study and created an assessment portfolio on one specific child to show my
understanding of the growth and development that can happen in just a few short months on one specific
child in the classroom. I engaged in parent and family involvement as well as teacher collaboration
throughout the duration of my time spent completing assessments such as Ages and Stages Questionnaire
forms, tying in lesson plans as well as documentation on a specific this child while I assisted at this
facility.

Analysis of What I Learned:

Through the completion of this child case study/ portfolio I have learned how to work
collaboratively with a daycare professional (my mentor) to assess, work on and conclude developmentally
appropriate approaches in the classroom. I learned that communicating with my mentor was key for
constructing developmentally appropriate lesson plans based on data gathered from the child assessments,
completing milestones assessments and well as having the parents and families involvement to help me
create developmentally appropriate goals for their child. I was able to present myself as an early
childhood professional by making apprehensive decisions as I worked with my mentor to set goals. I also
had to work towards making those goals become a reality by engaging in one on one interaction to
support the childs growth in the various domains. In the process of constructing this case study/ portfolio
and working side by side with my mentor, I realized that by using data from developmental assessments I
am better able to adjust my classroom environment to meet the individual needs of my children.

How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the

NAEYC Standard:
My competence in this standard is proven by my ability to work collaboratively with
professionals and families of diverse needs as an early childhood professional. This child case study/
portfolio also shows my ability to combine knowledge from a variety of resources and use those resources
to help assist me in the development of appropriate approaches for teaching these children. Through this
child case study/ portfolio I am able to see my ability to learn through my mentor.