Early Childhood Reflection on Early Childhood Growth
A Reflective Educator transforms epistemology and eventually, pedagogical practice. One area of evolution is often in a realization that a conscious Educator becomes a child and education advocate. Your work in EDU 5220 then, is largely about your becoming a Reflective Educator who understands issues that directly affect educational policy and practice. To that end, you are asked to do the following:
Part I: Maintain a reflective journal in specified journal discussions here on Canvas, in which you summarize and describe how your knowledge, skills and dispositions for early-childhood pedagogy are evolving in response to your work in this course. Specifically, you should:
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o Refer to what you have gained from the assigned readings and articles
o Reflect on your own learning process in response to the class discussions, and other relevant experiences conducted in and outside the class
o Respond to any further queries posed in Canvas for each Discussion.
Part 2: Based on the above, in Assignment IV, submit a 5-7-page reflection & advocacy paper (APA professional format):
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o Summarizing your growth as an Early Childhood Educator in this course
o Stating any shifts in Pedagogical Philosophy in response to newly acquired knowledge
o Showing & describing at least one critical early childhood issue in which you might support advocacy efforts and why.
Sample Answer
Here’s a detailed outline for your 5-7 page reflection and advocacy paper, structured in APA professional format. This will guide you in summarizing your growth, articulating shifts in your pedagogical philosophy, and proposing an early childhood issue for advocacy.
Reflection and Advocacy Paper: Becoming a Reflective Early Childhood Educator
[Your Name][Your University Affiliation][Course Number and Name: EDU 5220: Early Childhood Education Policy and Practice][Instructor’s Name][Date]
Abstract
- Purpose: Briefly summarize the paper’s content, including your personal growth as an Early Childhood Educator, shifts in your pedagogical philosophy, and the specific early childhood issue you’ve chosen for advocacy.
- Keywords: Early childhood education, reflective educator, pedagogical philosophy, advocacy, [Your chosen issue, e.g., “equitable access,” “trauma-informed care”].
- (Approx. 150-250 words, on its own page after the title page)