During my time at Dakota Prairie Early Childhood, I have observed many routine
the day at the program. Directions are given clearly and at times with signs, such as
wait and stop. Choices are used to help give structure to the children, but also at times
to allows children to choose what they want to do, whether that be playing with a certain
toy or choosing a color. Redirection is also used when children are not doing the
desired action. Modeling is very important in this program. With modeling children learn
how to do tasks and how to meet expectations. Modeling is used with picture schedules
Assessment is another practice that this program relies heavily on. Children must be
screened and evaluated to determine whether they need to receive services or if they
qualify to be in the preschool setting at Dakota Prairie. After the screenings and
evaluations, teachers must create objectives and goals for each child, which are
monitored by doing objectives and observations. The teachers track development and
progress in an objective system they have created and using plus or minus signs. The
insightful can help you determine progress and what steps you as a teacher need to
My previous early childhood education and like courses have prepared me in many
ways for this practicum experience. In many courses I have learned the importance of
modeling, choices, redirecting, and giving clear instructions. Although I have learned it
in many classes, I feel it is best to be able to practice these skills in a classroom. I have
learned about a lot of these practices in the Fishback Center as an assistant teacher
and at First Lutheran as a student teacher. What I have seen at Dakota Prairie Early
Childhood Program is consistent as what I have learned as best practice from Mary
Bowne, Kay Cutler, Laura Gloege, and many other professors whose courses I have
taken. The component with all those practices is that you must speak in child friendly
The course ECE-325 was a course that really prepared me for the assessment
aspect of my experience from doing mock assessments. Although it was hard learning
about it and writing assessment materials for the first time, the class prepared me on
what the tool is, why you use it, what is included, and so forth. This semester I got to
practice writing evals, reports, progress reports, scoring BDI’s, and observing and
administering screenings and evals. The assessments aligned with what I learned in my
course, but I also learned that format and what you choose to include and do has some
ECE-325 course and for my practicum to allow me to get more familiar with
assessments and I do feel more confident in doing them myself, but also knowing that I
impact and influence my professional career greatly. I have learned in my classes how
learned not only how to apply that but all aspects of teaching. Teaching is more than
what you learn in your college classes, but also how to build relationships with each
student and how you can help each child succeed, which means differentiating and
being creative. This experience at Dakota Prairie has been such a great experience for
me and I feel that I have grown as a professional in many ways. I will use ideas, such as
a skills checklist that is aligned with age appropriateness, in my future classroom. I also
have seen many different teaching approaches between the classrooms, teachers, and
for each student. I feel that my learning with affect my personal and professional
always be changes in the profession, but the most important thing to remember is what