PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENT #1: Advocacy Project You will identify an authentic educational issue important to the children and

families in your field site. It could be a new school policy, state mandate or federal issue i.e. reduced services for special needs children. You will research both sides of the issue and generate a letter to a policy maker who could be influenced by your argument. Use the persuasive essay outline to craft your argument. Leader in Me, 7 Habits - A whole-school transformation model that acts like the operating system of a computer it improves performance of all other programs. Based on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The Leader in Me produces transformational results such as higher academic achievement, fewer discipline problems, and increased engagement among teachers and parents. Better yet, The Leader in Me equips students with the selfconfidence and skills they need to thrive in the 21st century economy. The Leader in Me is a process for teaching students personal leadership and 21st century life skills, such as goal setting, time management, teamwork, problem solving, respecting diversity , and life balance. The process:

Develops the whole child and sees each child as having unique gifts Is founded on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and other proven leadership principles and tools Creates a sustainable, safe-and-friendly school culture Provides world-class professional development for teachers and administrators Increases parents satisfaction and involvement Is implemented in a way that teachers do not see it as one more thing, but as a better way of doing what they were already doing Impacts students of diverse backgrounds, regardless of race, intelligence, or economic upbringing.

We are promoting Habit 1 with the proactive way of thinking rather than reactive way. We are also centering on Beginning with the end in mind which will help the students make goals and strive to meet them. The 3rd Habit teaches us to Put first things first which emphasizes placing priority on our work. Habit 4 promotes the Think Win-Win with helping us when working with others and their feelings. Habit 5 focuses on Seeking first to understand, then to be understood. Its important to remember to listen first before responding. Habit 6 teaches the principle of Synergize and how we can work together in cooperation. Sharpening the saw is what Habit 7 represents with ways to renew our bodies, minds, hearts and souls in order to be more effective. The students have done an excellent job at learning the habits, now we will focus on living the habits so that our words and actions match the habits. We hope you take the time to visit the website: www.leaderinme.org to research the parental resources available to you in efforts to support your children. We look forward to this year as we are developing leadership qualities in each child. Persuasive Essay Outline I. Introduction:

a. Get the readers attention by using a "hook." b. Give some background information if necessary. c. Thesis or focus statement. II. First argument or reason to support your position: a. Topic sentence explaining your point. b. Elaboration to back your point. III. Second argument or reason to support your position: a. Topic sentence explaining your point. b. Elaboration to back your point. IV. Third argument or reason to support your position: a. Topic sentence explaining your point. b. Elaboration to back your point. V. Opposing Viewpoint: (This is optional, however highly recommended, so that the reader will know you have considered another point of view and have a rebuttal to it.) a. Opposing point to your argument. b. Your rebuttal to the opposing point. c. Elaboration to back your rebuttal. VI. Conclusion: a. Summary of main points or reasons b. Restate thesis statement. c. Personal comment or a call to action. The Edge Academy exists to provide superior academic instruction to disadvantaged children in Akron. The ultimate outcome of the Edge Academys effort is the development of world-class citizens.

5200:420 Advocacy Project/Portfolio Artifact Upload to TK20 Name: _________________________________________________ Date ________________________________________________________ Standards Addressed: 5a,5d and 5e Assessment Type: Advocacy Project DOES NOT YET MEET EXPECTATIONS Assessment Title: Informed Advocacy Course: 5200:420 INTEGRATED PRIMARY CURRICULUM MEETS EXPECTATIONS EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS SCORE

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Standard 5: Becoming a Professional 5a.Professional EC involvement Introduction
The candidate does not demonstrate beginning identification with and involvement in the early childhood field. As a result, candidates work has no, hook, background information or thesis statement.

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The candidate demonstrates beginning identification with and involvement in the early childhood field. The candidate demonstrates understanding of her own emerging professional roles and the possibilities, opportunities, and challenges within the early childhood field through hook, background information and/or thesis statement. Candidate demonstrates the ability to construct and apply knowledgeable, reflective, and critical perspectives on her field. Candidate demonstrates critical thinking about the issues in the field and an understanding of the value of dialogue in resolving differences. The candidate demonstrates development of early childhood advocacy skills. Candidates work shows essential knowledge of the central policy issues in the field, as seen in her discussions of ethical and societal issues in early education. One or two well developed points or three articulated points to support argument. Writing is substantially free of spelling, grammar, and mechanics errors. Occasional errors are usually not distracting and rarely affect readability. Recommendations are double-spaced, 1inch margins, 12 standard font and most are supported by best-practices, DAP, Code of Conduct or cited research.

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The candidate demonstrates extensive, well-formed identification with and involvement in the early childhood field. Candidates work shows a clear sense of belonging to a distinctive profession with multiple roles that early childhood professionals may assume. She articulates well-developed introduction with hook, background information and thesis statement.

5d.Integrating multiple perspectives Opposing viewpoints 5e.-Engaging in Advocacy Supporting articulated position

Candidate does not demonstrate ability to construct and apply knowledgeable, reflective, and critical perspectives. Candidates work lacks understanding of the fields central issues, standards, and research findings. Candidate does not demonstrate development in advocacy skills. Candidates work lacks essential knowledge of the central policy issues in the field, limited ability to discuss ethical and societal issues and/or lacks elaboration to support and/or explain position. There are noticeable errors in spelling, grammar, and/or mechanics. The text is readable in some places and distracting or difficult to understand in others. Recommended actions do not meet formatting guidelines or are not supported by best practice research.

The candidate demonstrates ability to construct and apply extensive knowledge, reflective, and critical perspectives on her field. Candidates work shows indepth, complex understanding of the fields central issues, standards, research findings and effects on children. Candidate demonstrates development of extensive early childhood advocacy skills. As a result, candidates work shows in-depth knowledge of the central policy issues in the field, as reflected in her complex examination of ethical and societal issues in early education. Three well developed points to support argument with elaboration supported by current best-practices, DAP, Code of Conduct or cited research. Citations supporting recommendations are formatted in APA 6.0. Writing contains rare and minor errors that are not distracting and do not impact readability. Reflection is double-spaced, 1-inch margins, 12 standard font.

Mechanics and conventions