Professional Portfolio Development for Early Childhood Educators, Torncello, Spring 2025

Course Number:	EDX 5710 S31
Instructor:	Susan Torncello, M.Ed.
Location:	Online
Dates and Times:	Feb 22, 2025 - Jun 30, 2025. This course will meet virtually/synchronously on 1 Saturday each month and there will be a required Wednesday writing class from 6:30-9:00 on the dates below. Meeting via Zoom Writing Session via Zoom Sat. Feb. 22 9:00-2:00 Wed. March 5 6:30-9:00 Sat. March 15 9:00-2:00 Wed. April 2 6:30-9:00 Sat. April 12 9:00-2:00 Wed. May 7 6:30-9:00 Sat. May 17 9:00-2:00 Wed. June 4 6:30-9:00 Sat. June 14 9:00-2:00 writing sessions as needed tba
Credits:	3 Graduate Credits
Tuition:	$1,195. NOTE: Eligible students can apply for T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship on a first come first serv basis. Contact VTAEYC for more information at teachearlychildhoodvermontatvtaeyc.org

Course Description

The course will guide students’ understanding of all requirements of the Vt. Agency of Education’s Peer Review Portfolio process and support their writing and documentation of Early Childhood Competencies and Vermont Core Teaching Standards, as well as student teaching equivalency. Students must be eligible to meet criteria for acceptance into Peer Review, including a B.S., B.A., or B.F.A. degree, related testing requirements (Praxis Core or equivalent scores and Praxis 2 for those seeking a license Birth -Grade 3 or Grades PK-3). The course will include required essay writing in class and through assignments to meet expectations of Part I, II, III of VT. Core Teaching Standards and ECE Competencies at 0-PK & K-3 levels. Students are required to complete a draft of all required writing by the conclusion of the course.

Coursework will reflect the Code of Professional Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct for Vermont Educators and embed Vermont’s Guiding Principles for the Full Participation of Each and Every Child (see links under Resources below). Students will be shown examples of templates to inform their decision related to electronic platform choices (for creating and submitting their portfolio). Students will be guided in meeting the requirements of Peer Review’s Student Teaching Equivalency, as well as other required aspects of the portfolio as outlined by Vermont’s Agency of Education.

NOTE: The course is designed to support students’ professional portfolio development towards licensure. It is strongly encouraged that students complete a Peer Review Portfolio Clinic through the Vt. AOE before this class begins (updated information about clinics are on AOE website https://education.vermont.gov/peer-review-alternative-route-licensure Please contact instructor for more information and to ascertain that you meet the qualifications for Peer Review.

Audience: Practicing early educators (birth-grade 3) with a Bachelor’s Degree.

Course Goals & Objectives

Course Goals:

Identify and translate the knowledge gained from experiential learning
Demonstrate an understanding of the processes for identifying college-level learning, including ways to use professional literature and theoretical frameworks for analysis of evidence
Use different modes of disciplinary and interdisciplinary inquiry to explore ideas and issues from multiple perspectives
Analyze, critique, and synthesize scholarly literature
Critically reflect on experiences related to acquired knowledge
Integrate appropriate technology competence into all aspects of teaching and building an electronic portfolio with embedded video
Embed Vermont Guiding Principles for the Full Participation of Each and Every Child in all curricula planning, assessment and writing

Course Objectives:

Write a resume and complete a Competency Map that documents your professional learning;
Construct an Evidence Chart for the Core Teaching Standards as required by AOE’s Peer Review guidelines;
Document and present early childhood education training and experiences
Complete a draft professional portfolio that fulfills Vermont’s licensure criteria (with goal of April 2025 submission date to Vt. AOE);
Exhibit professional attributes and dispositions throughout the course and student teaching equivalency;
Demonstrate ongoing reflective and collegial practice;
Maintain strong ethical and professional practice with attention to punctuality and engagement (with online presence and assignments);
Develop unit and lesson plan formats that are responsive to VELS and correlated to Common Core State Standards & Next Generation Science Standards (if applicable);
Differentiate learning encounters and instructional strategies to meet the developmental needs of all learners;
Utilize authentic formative & summative assessment measures and student sampling strategies to inform child-centered curricula;
Maintain and write about exemplary ethical and professional practice.

Course Schedule

Personalized Learning Plan submitted by March 16th
EC Competency Map completed by March 31st
Student Teaching Equivalency Plan due March 31st
1st draft of EC Competencies completed by April 13th
Core Teaching Standards Evidence Chart completed by May 8th
1st draft of Core Standards writing (with evidence) by June 22nd
3 lesson plans (that you’ll use in your Portfolio) – standards-based with assessments completed by June 30th
1 unit plan with AOE requirements included - completed by June 30th
Required video clips (should be identified but not complete)

Week 1: Creating a professional learning community; introductions

Overview of the course in relation to AOE Peer Review requirements
Begin developing a shared EC Competency Map
Guest presenter: former Peer Review Candidate – now licensed
Assignments:
- Complete Personalized Learning Plan
- Begin working on EC Competency Map

Week 2: EC Competency writing: share & critique examples

Break-out groups: give peer feedback
Guest: representative from AOE Peer Review
Lesson planning – in relation to Portfolio requirements
Integrating Technology: Electronic Portfolio templates; use of technology with young children
Sharing/presenting professional resources (tba)
Assignments:
- Submit completed Competency Map
- Submit plan for Student Teaching Equivalency
- Continue draft writing – submit to Susan for feedback

Week 3: Wrapping up the EC Competency draft writing – outstanding questions

Introduce the Core Teaching Standards & required writing format for Vermont Licensure Portfolio; introduce Part III
Time for “practicing” writing to the required format – share with peers
Guest: another successful Peer Review candidate – licensed teacher
Sharing/presenting professional resources
Assignment:
- Submit draft writing of all EC Competencies
- Begin working on cohort Evidence Chart

Week 4: Collaborate on Cohort Evidence Chart; work on personal Evidence Chart

Deep dive into writing!
Introduce VT Licensure rubrics
Sharing/presenting professional resources
Break-out groups to share/critique draft writing
Assignment:
- Submit personal Evidence Chart
- Submit draft of Part III

Week 5: Delve into Part II requirements:

Video tape
3 lessons and unit plan
Critique and “score” writing (self-assess & complete one on peer writing)
Sharing/presenting professional resources
Uploading final writing to a Portfolio Template

Required Texts

There are no required texts, however, it is strongly encouraged that students complete a Peer Review Portfolio Clinic through the Vt. AOE before the class begins (updated information about clinics are on AOE website).

Advancing Equity in ECE Position Statement

https://www.naeyc.org/resources/position-statements/equity

Peer Review – Alternative Paths to Licensure

https://education.vermont.gov/peer-review-alternative-route-licensure

Agency of Education Peer Review Handbook

http://education.vermont.gov/documents/educator-quality-peer-review-handbook

Vt. Agency of Education Code of Professional Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct for Vermont Educators https://education.vermont.gov/sites/aoe/files/documents/Rules%20Governing%20the%20Licensing%20of%20Educators%20-%20Effective%20June%2011%2C%202021.pdf

Vermont Guiding Principles for the Full Participation of Each and Every Child https://fpg.unc.edu/sites/fpg.unc.edu/files/resources/presentations-and-webinars/Vermont%20Guiding%20Principles%20AOE-BBF-HMGV_2.pdf

Other Suggested Readings/Texts:

Bredekamp, S (2017). Effective Practices in Early Childhood Education. Upper Saddle River, N.J. Pearson

NAEYC: https://www.naeyc.org/ site offers a plethora of resources to support your professional development and writing

University of Vermont. How to Cite Sources in APA Style https://library.uvm.edu/research/citations_style_guides_and_information_management/apa_style/print_sources

AOE Online Licensing System for Educators https://alis.edlicensing.vermont.gov

TBA: Resources will be shared by all participants throughout the course, resulting in a course Annotated Bibliography

For additional course information

Susan Torncello (802) 238-7958

For additional registration information

Center for Schools Team

(802) 468-1325