The fifth and final NAEYC standard meets the professionalism piece of the education world.  All teachers must show an awareness of their place in the early childhood field and act in an ethical and consistent manner.  Collaboration with fellow coworkers is also a sign of professionalism and shows an openness that is needed in the field.  Teachers must act as advocates for their students and be willing to use their authority to help families if deemed appropriate.

My membership in NAEYC shows that I am committed to the profession and the idea of   continuous professional development.  NAEYC aids in this development through a journal of current research in the field which I now subscribe to and read.  NAEYC also offers conferences and other opportunities to meet fellow educators and educational thinkers.  I plan to become increasingly active in NAEYC while I student teach.

This artifact fulfills Sub-Standard 5b because it shows that I know, understand, and am familiar with the NAEYC code of ethics that all teachers should follow.  These ethical guidelines are critical to ensuring the safety and welfare of all children in the care of NAEYC licensed caregivers.  The contract also demonstrates the importance of continuing professional development and a consistent thirst for knowledge and new field-related information.   

After teaching my read-aloud lesson based on “Hey, Little Ant!” by Phillip and Hannah Hoose, my host teacher filled out a reflection form and discussed her responses to the form’s questions with me.  This was very helpful because I was able to see minor errors I made in my instruction and will be able to correct these mistakes in future lessons I teach.  I was glad my host teacher took time to discuss my lesson and implementation with me.  I will definitely take her advice to heart as I teach other lessons.

My reflection on the implementation of my American Sign Language lesson plan shows that I take time to combine research-based and thoughtful observation of my lessons into a cohesive and accurate self-evaluation of lessons that I teach.  This standard is important because it ensures that educators are using the material they learned in college, as well as the new research constantly being released, to keep their practices fresh and current.  In this lesson, I used reflection as a tool to improve future lessons.

My letter to members of the Ithaca Board of Education shows my achievement of Standard 5E through its carefully worded and thought out arguments in favor of keeping Ithaca’s pre-kindergarten program.  During a time of financial stress when the program was in serious jeopardy, I used statements backed by research and educational theory I learned in my education courses to present a through and persuasive argument on behalf of children and the teaching profession.