Reflective Analysis of Portfolio Artifact

Rationale/Reflection
NAEYC Standard:
STANDARD 2. BUILDING FAMILY AND COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS
Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs understand that successful early childhood education
depends upon partnerships with childrens families and communities. They a) know about, understand, and value
the importance and complex characteristics of childrens families and communities. They use this understanding to
b) create respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and empower families, and c) to involve all families in
their childrens development and learning. (NAEYC, 2010)
Brief Description of Evidence:
During the fall semester of 2012 during my ECED 233-Emerging Literacy course, I created two Family
Literacy packets. One packet was developed for toddlers and two year olds and the other was developed for
preschool aged children. The purpose of each packet was to actively involve children and their families in activities
which would promote literacy. Each packet contained an age appropriate childrens book, a newsletter, and an
activity kit. The newsletters contents included empowering information for families such as; What is early
literacy? and how to promote early literacy with their child through everyday activities. Information on other
books written by each author was provided so that families could take advantage of their community library to
check out other books. The activity included in each packet reinforced the subject of the book and provided an
opportunity for parents and children to review and recall the book while creating an art project.
Analysis of What I Learned:
Through completion of this project I learned that not all families have the resources available to promote
literacy in their home. Through this artifact I have learned how to empower parents with resources that will allow
them to become actively involved in increasing their childs literary skills. Children are actively involved in their own
learning by recalling the story and completing the activity included in the kit. I learned through developing this
artifact that a continuing reciprocal relationship with the childs family provides families the support that is needed
to work together as a team towards the same goals for their child.
How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the NAEYC Standard:
This project shows that I understand that not all parents may know what steps they can take to further
their childs learning. The literacy packets empower them with the information necessary to do so. All families are
encouraged to visit their community libraries to build upon what the Family Literacy packet has started. Through
the literacy packets the childs preoperational stage of development (Piaget) is being nurtured by involvement with
parents, grandparents and guardians who are actively involved in their childs development and learning.