Goal 1: 

Content Knowledge in Their Area of Emphasis 

This assignment was completed in CI 632. This assignment was used to gauge our understanding of childhood development while comparing and contrasting different theories that follow the children throughout their development.  Throughout this paper, I discuss two differnt common childhood development theories and curriculum which are followed in the early education field. These two theories are Creative Curriculum and the Reggio Emilia approach to learning. 

Knowledge and Skill in Incorporating Different Viewpoints About Content Into Their Instruction

As a teacher, it is important to remember that not everyone will see things the way you see them. One of the people who teachers will need to work closely with is their administration.  In ECE 535, I had to do an administrative clinical where I got to work closely with teachers of different ages to discuss their viewpoints on teaching and content areas. From this clinical, I got to hear and learn about different aspects of the field I would not have thought of on my own and now incorporate into my teaching style. 

Knowledge and Skill in Engaging Students in Generating and Demonstrating Knowledge

This assignment I completed in CI 633 at Marshall University. In this assignment, we had to plan an activity with a preschool class and execute it in a way to get children and their families involved. In my project, as a class we researched ways to protect a pumpkin from breaking when hitting the ground. Then children and their families made contraptions to help protect a pumpkin of their own from being dropped off a two story building. Throughout this activity, the children throughly enjoyed the overall activity and the information discussed was reflected in the contraptions they used to protect thier pumpkins. After it was over, we discussed why we thought certain materials would be better to keep items from breaking. 

Knowledge and Skill in Making Their Area of Emphasis Content Meaningful to Students

When it comes to working with young children like I do, it is hard for them to have an understanding on what is meaningful content. To them, what is important is playing and creating relationships. In CI632, that is what I focused on. In order to work with young children, you have to start by helping them develop as a person through their social, emotional, cognitive, and motor development skills. The children I was working with at the time cared about the connections they had with their teachers and peers, so that was what was meaningful to them. By taking content that was meaningful to them and putting that at the forefront, I was able to use that connction later when it came to their education.