Standard 8: The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.
1. The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies and makes learning accessible to all learners.
Evidence 1: Infant and Toddler Development, PSY-2020, Community College of Vermont, Summer 2003, Transcript
Description: This course provided a study of development from conception through age two. Cognitive, social, emotional, and physical aspects of development were studied. Developmental theories and their practical application were studied.
Analysis: Throughout this course I was introduced to different developmental domains and the many theorists who's research and findings have helped to shape the field of infant and toddler development. One of the main requirements of this class was observation in an early childhood setting, and then using those observations to point to various theorists and theories. I most enjoyed learning about Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development and how it relates to infants as they develop specific schemas. As infants grow, they use these schemas to learn about new objects placed within their environments.
Evidence 2: Development of the Young Child Age 3-5, PSY-2025, Community College of Vermont, Fall 2003, Transcript
Description: This course provided a study of development of the young child from ages three to five. Cognitive, social, emotional and physical aspects of development were studied. Developmental theories and their practical application were studied.
Analysis: This course was structured in the same manner as the Infant and Toddler Development class that I took. We were reintroduced to many of the same theorists and their theories as we delved into the developmental tasks of children between the ages of three and five. We spent a great deal of time in this class learning about Lev Vygotsky and his theory of Social Development. Vygotsky believed that social interaction played a fundamental role in the development of cognition, and we were introduced to the idea of a zone of proximal development. In essence what the child can learn with the help of teachers and other children is far greater than what the child can learn by his/herself.
Evidence 3: Level I Fundamentals: Introduction to Child Development Theories Workshop, October 2012,Professional Development Certificate
Description: This session covered developmental milestones, temperament, learning styles & an introduction to theories of child development.
Analysis: When I returned to teaching after finishing my under graduate degree, I decided that a refresher course in child development would be helpful. I was reintroduced to all of the same theorists and theories as in the other courses mentioned, but we spent most of our session discussing Abraham Maslow and his Hierarchy of Needs. Maslow's theory began when working with Harry Harlow on his baby attachment theory. Maslow noticed that some needs took precedence over others. I find this to be quite true. If a student comes to school without having eaten breakfast, his/her ability to participate during morning meeting is going to be slightly different than a student who has eaten a good breakfast.
2. The teacher encourages learners to develop deep understanding of content areas, makes connections across content, and applies content knowledge in meaningful ways.
Evidence 1: Vermont Early Learning Standards
Description: The Vermont Early Learning Standards were created to provide guidance for families, teachers and administrators. The VELS describe guiding principles that serve as the core for making informed decisions about what is developmentally appropriate for young children.
Analysis: The Vermont Early Learning Standards aid me in planning developmentally appropriate curriculum that spans the many content areas within the field of Early Childhood Education. This resource also aids in building connections across content areas through providing lists of materials to place in different areas of the classroom.
Evidence 2: God Made Me Special Lesson Plan
Description: Children are introduced to this lesson about how we are all the same yet different.
Analysis: This lesson illustrates that we all have commonalities and differences, but that we are each special. Through our many weeks of learning about the creation of the world and all things on it, children are able to develop a deeper understanding of all of God's creations.
Evidence 3: Sorting Documentation Panel
Description: I typed this description to place on a documentation panel when my students were learning about sorting.
Analysis: The ability to classify objects based on specific characteristics is an important skill for young children to be introduced to and be allowed to develop a deep understanding of. Throughout our course of study, children learned that sorting is not only an important math skill, but is also an important life skill.
