Prior to beginning work on this assignment,
• Read the position statement NAEYC Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation.
Early childhood programs have numerous curriculum options which may contribute to a need to support teachers and staff in a curriculum context they are not familiar with. Therefore, as you prepare to support protégés, you can refer to the National Association of the Education of Young Children’s core standards for professional development to promote the use of best practices. These six core standards briefly describe what early childhood professionals should know and be able to do. After reading each of the NAEYC Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation. focus on the first standard.
STANDARD 1. PROMOTING CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING
For this assignment, you will compile a set of early learning resources that align with
Standard 1 of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The focus is on compiling a list of applicable resources to support targeted learning outcomes for professional development goals in early childhood education. Additionally, you will analyze effective systems and management practices to support personnel development and contribute to high-quality program outcomes. You will once again consider how you can assist one of your peers based on your Week 1 elevator pitch and their want ads. While you are not responding directly to them or sharing this list of resources with them, begin by
• Identifying professional development goals: The specific professional development goals should be related to promoting child development and learning in the context of early childhood education. Consider how these goals align with your selected peer’s current role or future aspirations in the field.
• Compiling early learning resources: Make a list of a diverse set of early learning resources, including scholarly articles, books, research papers, and online resources that directly align with NAEYC Standard 1 and support the identified professional development goals. If the goal is unclear, consider asking the peer for clarity in the weekly discussion forum or through the lens of a leader create a mock goal based on their need.
• Summarizing resources: Write about each resource, emphasizing its relevance to Standard 1 and how it contributes to achieving the specified professional development goals.
Next, create a digital or physical “learning adventure kit.” Get creative; this can be anything but a paper. It can be in either of these two formats:
• Digital kit: Use a platform such as Canva or Adobe Spark to design an interactive digital presentation. Include vibrant visuals, graphics, and engaging layouts. OR
• Physical kit: If possible, identify physical items that represent different resources. This could be books, articles, or relevant objects to make it more enjoyable. Introduction letter: Start with a personalized letter explaining the purpose of the kit, expressing your belief in their potential, and encouraging them on their learning journey.
Resource Map: Create a resource map for your kit, keeping the following in mind:
• Digital kit: Design an interactive map with links that lead to various resources. It could resemble a treasure map with labeled destinations.
• Physical kit: Include a physical map or guide that indicates the order in which the resources should be explored.
Mix of resources: Use various types of resources, such as the following:
• Articles and books: Provide links or physical copies of key articles and books that align with the theme. o For assistance on providing links to copies of resources that you find within the library, refer to the webpage How do I share a link to an article that I found in Library OneSearch?.
• Videos and podcasts: Embed or share links to insightful videos or podcasts relevant to the topic.
• Interactive tools: Include links to online quizzes, self-assessment tools, or interactive websites that enhance learning.
Reflection tools: Integrate reflection prompts or journaling tools throughout the kit. Encourage your mentee to reflect on how each resource relates to their personal or professional journey.
Inspirational quotes: Include applicable motivational quotes related to the theme. This can serve as inspiration and a reminder of their capabilities.
Check-in points: Incorporate suggested check-in points or milestones. This could be a scheduled meeting to discuss progress or a reflection prompt encouraging them to share insights.
Encouragement Tokens: Use positive reinforcements such as these to encourage your mentee:
• Digital kit: Include virtual stickers or GIFs expressing encouragement.
• Physical kit: Add small encouragement tokens like sticky notes with positive affirmations.
Closing message: Conclude the kit with a closing message, reiterating your belief in their growth and expressing your availability for any questions or discussions.
The Through the Lens of a Leader project
• must be 12 double-spaced slides or equivalent in length (not including title and references slides) and formatted according to APA Style. as outlined in the Writing Center’s resource
• must utilize academic voice.
o Review the Academic Voice. resource for additional guidance.
• must include an introduction paragraph.
o Your introduction paragraph needs to end with a clear thesis statement that indicates the purpose of your paper. o For assistance on writing Introductions & Conclusions and Writing a Thesis Statement., refer to the Writing Center resources.
• must use at least 5 to 8 credible sources in addition to the course text.
o The Scholarly, Peer–Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources. table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source. o To assist you in completing the research required for this assignment, refer to this Quick and Easy Library Research tutorial, which introduces the University of Arizona Global Campus Library and the research process, and provides some library search tips.
• must document any information used from sources in APA Style as outlined in the Writing Center’s APA: Citing Within Your Paper. guide.
• must include a separate references page or slide or screen that is formatted according to APA Style as outlined in the Writing Center. o Refer to the APA: Formatting Your References List. resource in the Writing Center for specifications.