Reflective Analysis of Portfolio Artifact Reflection & Rationale for ECED 120

NAEYC Standard:
NAEYC Standard 1: Promotion Child Development and Learning
Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs are grounded in a child
development knowledge base. They use their understanding of young childrens
characteristics and needs, and of multiple interacting influences on childrens
development and learning, to create environments that are healthy, respectful,
supportive, and challenging for each child.


Brief Description of Artifact:
The Eriksons self-study project was completed in ECED120 Child Growth and
Development course during the spring semester 2014. I researched Erik
Eriksons theory of psychosocial development and defined the eight stages of
development, putting my life experiences into each stage and predictions into the
stages I have not met.

Analysis of What I Learned:
I have learned several things by completing this project. First, I learned about
Erik Eriksons past and why he was intrigued by the human psychology and
development. Second, I learned about his theory and that every human being
pass through the eight stages throughout their lives, with events and issues that
could have a positive or negative character trait as an outcome. His theory was
inspired by Freud ideas about the structure and topography of personality. Third,
I was able to take events that happened in my life that has made me into the
person I am today. I have a better understanding of strengths, weaknesses, and
the areas I can work on to have a productive and positive future. Fourth, having
the knowledge that every human goes through these stages in their life can help
me build traits and skills in the children I work with on a daily basis. They will
have accomplishments, joy, struggles, and difficulties and with this self-study, I
will be able to help them achieve positive outcomes.

How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the INTASC Standard:
This artifact displays my competence in Standard 1 because I am more
grounded in a child development knowledge base from researching Erik
Eriksons theory and knowing all of the stages that children will pass through.
This artifact also helped me have a better understanding of multiple interacting
influences on childs development, and different ways to help build a childs
self- esteem, trust, and initiative. This artifact also bettered my knowledge of how
to create environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and
challenging for each child, by knowing that I,the teacher are setting realistic
goals, being fair, supportive, encouraging, and kind to all in my classroom.