Reference no: EM132304933

Leadership Journal: Leadership Competencies

To prepare for this journal read Howard Gardner's Five Minds for the Future. You will specifically reflect on each competency within the source:

A disciplined mind

A synthesizing mind

A creative mind

A respectful mind

An ethical mind

Throughout your program you have discussed, and will continue to discuss, the importance of becoming a 21st-century educator. Equally important is preparing your students for being 21st-century learners.

One way to do both is through reflective guidance in what Howard Gardner describes as the "Five Minds for the Future." According to Gardner (2008), the "Five Minds are competencies which young people and the society need in the twenty first century going forward" (p. 2). For your leadership journal, reflect on each of these competencies as a leader in the field of early childhood education.

Part 1: Content/Course Reflection

How will you prepare those children, their families, and the staff in your care in each competency? Be sure you provide specific details on each competency.

If you were to add a sixth competency, what would it be and why?

Part 2: Program/Personal Reflection

How does each competency influence you as a leader personally? Be sure you provide at least one example for each competency.

How does your understanding of each of these competencies positively impact your ability as a leader to evaluate curriculum materials and models and ensure alignment with standards?

Integrative and Critical Thinking Expectations (demonstrated within the content of the journal):

Connections to Experience : Meaningfully synthesizes connections among experiences both within and outside of coursework to deepen understanding of fields of study and to broaden own points of view.

Reflection and Self-Assessment : Envisions a future self and possibly makes plans that build on experiences that have occurred across multiple and diverse contexts.

Research and Resource Expectations:

Sources are not required for your journal assignments. However, if you need to cite information, you must cite in APA format and include a reference page.

Writing and Formatting Expectations :

Professional Reflective Voice : Journals may be written in a less formal, but still professional voice (avoids casual language). First person voice is encouraged.

Organization : Demonstrates logical progression of ideas.

Syntax and Mechanics : Writing displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

APA Formatting : Papers are formatted properly and all sources (if used) are cited and referenced in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Suggested Assignment Length:Two to three double-spaced pages, not including title and reference pages.

Next Steps: Review and Submit the Assignment

Review your assignment with the Grading Rubric to ensure you have achieved the distinguished levels of performance for each criterion and submit in Waypoint for evaluation no later than Day 7.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your journal entry.

Assignment: Balanced Literacy Presentation

As you read this week, successful balanced literacy programs are "balanced with a combination of explicit instruction, small group and whole-class literacy activities, and independent reading and writing opportunities" that might also include several instructional approaches (Kostelnik, Soderman, Whiren, & Rupiper, 2015, p. 373).

According to the article Balanced Literacy: Practical Strategies to Help You Build a Truly Balanced Classroom Literacy Program, in a truly balanced literacy program, how you teach is as important as what you teach (Strickland, n.d., para. 1). For this assignment you will present your plan for how you will incorporate a balanced literacy approach in your classroom or school. Depending on your future career path, you can choose who your intended audience is.

You can present to your staff, to parents, or even to the board of education. You will present your plan in the form of a PowerPoint presentation. This assignment can be added to your overall portfolio at the conclusion of your degree program.

To prepare for this assignment, read the article Balanced Literacy: Practical Strategies to Help You Build a Truly Balanced Classroom Literacy Program and pages 5-12 of the joint position statement Technology and Interactive Media as Tools in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth Through Age 8 (Strickland, n.d.; National Association for the Education of Young Children & Fred Rogers Center, 2012).

Screencast and Jing  revise directions. Your presentation should be a five- to six-slide PowerPoint that you will narrate. Here is a great video to show you how!

Be sure to include the following in your presentation:

Evaluate the key considerations in a balanced literacy approach.

Describe the instructional approaches you will use to teach (e.g., reading, writing, speaking and listening, and language on a daily basis, etc.). Provide a rationale.

Support how your plan aligns with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) or your individual state standards. Use cited evidence from Common Core State Standards Initiative or your state education website to support this portion of your assignment.

Justify how your plan explicitly incorporates language across the curriculum. Include strategies for teaching students with limited English proficiency.

Explain how your plan incorporates the 21st-century requirement for children to be technoliterate. Cite evidence from the joint position statement of the Technology and Interactive Media as Tools in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth Through Age 8 to support this section of your paper.

Research and Resource Expectations:

Source Requirement:

At least two scholarly peer-reviewed or credible sources. Please use the MAECEL Source Guide if you need assistance with how to locate scholarly peer-reviewed or credible sources.

Writing and Formatting Expectations:

Title Page: Must include a separate title page with the following:

Title of paper

Student's name

Course name and number

Instructor's name

Date submitted

Academic Voice: Content development is used (avoids casual language, limited use of "I", it is declarative).

Purpose and Organization: Demonstrates logical progression of ideas.

Syntax and Mechanics: Writing displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

APA Formatting: Papers are formatted properly and all sources are cited and referenced in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.