In an essay of no more than 250 words, share your personal philosophy and professional practices as they relate to this standard and its key elements.

NAEYC Standard Four Philosophy

No more than 250 words.

Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs understand that teaching and learning with young children is a complex enterprise, and its details vary depending on children’s ages, characteristics, and the settings within which teaching and learning occur. They understand and use positive relationships and supportive interactions as the foundation for their work with young children and families.

Candidates know, understand, and use a wide array of developmentally appropriate approaches, instructional strategies, and tools to connect with children and families and positively influence each child’s development and learning.

Key elements of Standard 4

4a: Understanding positive relationships and supportive interactions as the foundation of their work with young children

4b: Knowing and understanding effective strategies and tools for early education, including appropriate uses of technology

4c: Using a broad repertoire of developmentally appropriate teaching /learning approaches

4d: Reflecting on own practice to promote positive outcomes for each child

PHILOSOPHY/REFLECTION

In an essay of no more than 250 words, share your personal philosophy and professional practices as they relate to this standard and its key elements.

This essay should document your beliefs, opinions, actions, and intentions regarding being a professional practitioner of NAEYC Standard Four in the field of early childhood education.

This essay should focus solely on the issues covered in Standard Four and should not include content meant to be covered in an essay about another standard.

In this essay, it is not enough to make generic statements that show agreement with the existence of the standard and its key elements. For example, it is not enough to say “I make sure to be reflective about my own teaching practices.” The person reading that has no way to know what that actually means. Instead, you must give specific details and examples about how you are meeting or will meet the standard in your professional work with young children. So, that looks like some version of “as a result of regular reflection about my teaching practices, I have changed “X” and done “Y” and started to “Z.”

All key elements should be addressed equally within the essay.

Professional spelling and grammar and punctation is expected. Proofreading prior to submission is essential. Use clear headings and labeling so that it is obvious which standard and key element is being discussed.

The essay should be fully and completely in your own words, with minimal use of quotation or citation.

If you do include brief quotations or need to cite the origin of an idea, APA format must be used with references to appear at the end of the essay.

If you have previously written a philiosophy statement or essay about this standard for another course or purpose, you may revise/update/polish it for inclusion in your portfolio. Note that a CDA philosophy statement would have been written at competency level one, and this is a competency level three course so additional work would be required to exhibit/discuss your abilities at competency level three.

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