Standard 1: Promoting Child Development and Learning
1a. Know and understand children’s characteristics and needs
1b. Know and understand the multiple influences on development and learning
1c. Use developmental knowledge to create healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environments

Promoting child development and learning to me is a very important characteristic. This particular detail in Early Childhood encompasses all of the important values of a child from their influences to what they will do when you influence their work or play time. A child’s needs in and out of the classroom are an important value in life. When inside of a classroom you always want to be on top of things especially when you are looking for ways to promote learning in your classroom. As a teacher you especially want to be on the lookout for developmental influences and hindrances in your classroom. While within this standard you also want to be able to acknowledge your students strive to learn and develop and never try to prevent them from discovering something on their own. I believe that in order to create a safe, healthy and learning environment one must be able to get down on a child’s level of play to be able to understand how things can influence that child. At this point in time I am not working with children on a personal level such as in a day care or School system but I do work very closely with all of the young children at my church and interact closely with any child that I come into close contact too or that reaches out to me. I find that children are at their most influential when they are depending solely upon you as their caretaker for the time being.

Artifact 1:
This is the Littlest Angels Child Care Center where I am doing half of my practicum evaluation.

Artifact 2:
Tornado in a Jar
Need: tall plastic jar (pop bottle), 4 to 6 small