Portfolio Standard 1

InTASC Standard One:  Learner Development

The teacher understands how learners grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences.

Name of Artifact:  Child Profile Summary

Date:  December 8, 2015

Course:  EDUC 121:  Child and Adolescent Development

Brief Description:  This artifact consists of a summary of three observations of an eight year old male elementary school subject.

Rationale:  As a teacher, I need to understand how learners grow and develop and be able to recognize development varies individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas. By observing individual traits, I will be better able to develop appropriate and challenging learner experiences as well as manage the classroom environment appropriately. 

Portfolio 5---Child Profile Summary

Age of child: 8 years

Gender: Male

     On October 19, November 16, and November 27, 2015, I observed and studied an 8 year old male elementary school student. A typical eight year old will demonstrate concrete operational behavior and will be just learning how to function as a group player (Michelle Anthony, 2015). At eight a child will be shedding their preschool and early elementary school bodies and will be increasingly graceful, able to run and turn directions, corners, and changing speed with ease and fleetness of foot (www.webmd, 2015). Academically this is the age where children start to read more for pleasure and learning. Language is refined and becomes eloquent in complete sentences. An eight year old also has a complete understanding of the concept of money (scholastic.com, 2015).

    This eight year old subject was a joy to spend time with as he described his likes and dislikes and honestly described what he felt were his strengths and weakness. He patiently and respectfully interacted with peers, parents, and others. This young man is popular with peers and family members alike. He is even tempered and can control his behavior well. He is empathetic as shown in helping his mother and Grandmother with chores. He also cheerfully and willingly cooperated in assisting me with my homework for this assignment. His attention span seems good at around 30-45 minutes for an activity and he transitions from one activity to another without assistance.      

     Even though he stated that reading wasn’t his favorite activity, he cheerfully found a book from the library and read out loud and was able to comprehend and enjoy what he was reading. He proudly stated that he was smart in school. He calculated the money owed in a transaction accurately and efficiently and understands the concept of delaying gratification in order to save for something bigger.  

     This subject is physically active and one of his favorite classes is physical education.  He is anxiously waiting for the time that he will be able to sign up for the wrestling team at school. He is graceful in his movements and can run very fast while changing speed and direction according to age standards.      

     This subject lives in a small rural town and lives in a two parent household. He is the second youngest of five boys. His extended family lives nearby and he has frequent contact with the rest of the family of aunts, uncles, and cousins in addition to grandparents. With all the nurture available to the subject in addition to the subject’s delightful nature, there should be little problem in navigating the adolescent ways physically, academically, or socially. 

         

Works Cited

Michelle Anthony, P. (2015, 12 1). emotional-lives-8-10-year-olds. Retrieved from scholastic.com: http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/stages-milestones/emotional-lives-8-10-year-olds

PBS.Org. (2015, 10 20). Retrieved from PBS.Org: http://www.pbs.org/parents/childdevelopmenttracker/eight/index.html

www.webmd. (2015, 10 20). Retrieved from WebMD: http://www.webmd.boots.com/children/guide/childhood-milestones-age-8