EP002

©2014 Walden University 1

EP002: Plans Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum Plan developmentally appropriate curriculum in alignment with professional standards.

Assessment Rubric

0 Not Present

1 Needs Improvement

2 Meets Expectations

3 Exceeds Expectations

Sub-Competency 1: Analyze how indicators of effective curriculum and learning standards inform the development of effective early childhood curriculum.

Learning Objective 1.1: Explain how indicators of effective curriculum are reflected in the early childhood curriculum.

Response is incoherent or missing.

Response vaguely or partially explains how indicators are reflected in the learning experiences.

Response clearly and logically explains how at least three indicators are reflected in the learning experiences. Response is supported by a variety of relevant examples from the learning experiences and the indicators of effective curriculum.

Demonstrates the same level of achievement as “2,” plus the following: Response clearly and logically explains how more than three indicators are reflected in the learning experiences.

Learning Objective 1.2: Explain how learning standards inform the planning of effective and developmentally appropriate curriculum.

Explanation is incoherent or missing.

Response vaguely or partially explains how learning standards inform the planning of effective and developmentally appropriate curriculum.

Response clearly and logically explains how learning standards and curricular goals inform the planning of effective and developmentally appropriate curriculum. Response is supported by a variety of relevant examples from the teacher interview and relevant learning standards.

Demonstrates the same level of achievement as “2,” plus the following: Response synthesizes information from the teacher interview and learning standards to inform the development of the learning experiences.

Learning Objective 1.3:

Response is incoherent or missing.

Explanation is vague. Response clearly and logically explains how

Demonstrates the same level of achievement as

©2014 Walden University 2

0 Not Present

1 Needs Improvement

2 Meets Expectations

3 Exceeds Expectations

Explain how knowledge of children and families informs effective curriculum.

knowledge of children and families informed the development of the learning experiences. Response is supported by a variety of relevant examples from the learning experiences and the interview with the early childhood teacher.

“2,” plus the following: Response is supported by logical connections to the professional knowledge base.

Sub-Competency 2: Analyze learning experiences designed to promote learning in all content areas.

Learning Objective 2.1: Explain how planned learning experiences promote language and literacy as part of an effective early childhood curriculum.

Explanation is incoherent or missing.

Response vaguely or partially explains how the learning experiences promote language and literacy.

Response clearly and logically explains how the learning experiences promote language and literacy. Response is supported by a variety of relevant examples from the learning experiences and logical connections to the professional knowledge base.

Demonstrates the same level of achievement as “2,” plus the following: Response includes a compelling rationale for the learning experiences for the specific classroom context.

Learning Objective 2.2: Explain how planned learning experiences promote math, science, and technology learning as

Explanation is incoherent or missing.

Response vaguely or partially explains how the learning experiences promote math, science, and technology learning development.

Response clearly and logically explains how the planned learning experiences promote math, science, and technology learning. Response is supported by a

Demonstrates the same level of achievement as “2,” plus the following: Response includes a compelling rationale for the learning experiences

©2014 Walden University 3

0 Not Present

1 Needs Improvement

2 Meets Expectations

3 Exceeds Expectations

part of an effective early childhood curriculum.

variety of relevant examples from the learning experience plans and logical connections to the professional knowledge base.

for the specific classroom context.

Learning Objective 2.3: Explain how planned learning experiences promote learning in the arts as part of an effective early childhood curriculum.

Explanation is incoherent or missing.

Response vaguely or partially explains how the planned learning experiences promote learning in the arts.

Response clearly and logically explains how the planned learning experiences promote learning in the arts. Response is supported by a variety of relevant examples from the learning experience plans and logical connections to the professional knowledge base.

Demonstrates the same level of achievement as “2,” plus the following: Response includes a compelling rationale for the learning experiences for the specific classroom context.

Sub-Competency 3: Analyze learning experiences designed to promote development across developmental domains.

Learning Objective 3.1: Explain how planned learning experiences promote social, emotional, and physical development as part of an effective early childhood curriculum.

Explanation is incoherent or missing.

Response vaguely or partially explains how the planned learning experiences promote social, emotional, and physical development.

Response clearly and logically explains how the planned learning experiences promote social, emotional, and physical development. Response is supported by a variety of relevant examples from the learning experience plans and logical connections to the professional

Demonstrates the same level of achievement as “2,” plus the following: Response includes a compelling rationale for the learning experiences for the specific classroom context.

©2014 Walden University 4

0 Not Present

1 Needs Improvement

2 Meets Expectations

3 Exceeds Expectations

knowledge base.

Sub-Competency 4: Analyze effective assessment strategies.

Learning Objective 4.1: Describe how assessment strategies inform the early childhood professional’s understanding of children’s learning and development.

Description is incoherent or missing.

Response vaguely or partially describes how assessment strategies used in the learning experiences inform an understanding of children’s learning and development.

Response clearly and logically describes how assessment strategies used in the learning experiences inform an understanding of children’s learning and development. Response is supported by a variety of relevant examples from the learning experience plans and logical connections to the professional knowledge base.

Demonstrates the same level of achievement as “2,” plus the following: Response includes a compelling rationale for the use of specific assessment strategies within the classroom context.

Sub-Competency 5: Analyze the vital role of play in promoting children's learning and development as part of an effective early childhood curriculum.

Learning Objective 5.1: Explain how play is incorporated in learning experiences as part of an effective early childhood curriculum.

Explanation is incoherent or missing.

Response vaguely or partially explains how the planned learning experiences incorporate play.

Response clearly and logically explains how the planned learning experiences incorporate play and why play is a vital component of a developmentally appropriate curriculum. Response is supported by a variety of relevant examples from the learning experience plans and logical connections to

Demonstrates the same level of achievement as “2,” plus the following: Response includes a compelling rationale for the use of play to support the curricular goals in the specific classroom context.

©2014 Walden University 5

0 Not Present

1 Needs Improvement

2 Meets Expectations

3 Exceeds Expectations

the professional knowledge base.

Sub-Competency 6: Analyze methods for differentiating learning experiences to meet the needs of individual children.

Learning Objective 6.1: Describe strategies used to differentiate learning experiences to meet the needs of individual children.

Explanation is incoherent or missing.

Response vaguely or partially describes strategies used to differentiate learning experiences to meet the needs of individual children.

Response clearly and logically describes at least two strategies used to differentiate learning experiences to meet the needs of individual children. Response is supported by a variety of relevant examples from the learning experience plans and is supported by logical connections to the knowledge base.

Demonstrates the same level of achievement as “2,” plus the following: Response clearly and logically describes more than two strategies used to differentiate learning experiences to meet the needs of individual children.

PS001: Written Communication: Demonstrate graduate-level writing skills.

Learning Objective PS 1.1: Use proper grammar, spelling, and mechanics.

Multiple major and minor errors in grammar, spelling, and/or mechanics are highly distracting and seriously impact readability.

Multiple minor errors in grammar, spelling, and/or mechanics are distracting and negatively impact readability.

Writing reflects competent use of standard edited American English. Errors in grammar, spelling, and/or mechanics do not negatively impact readability.

Grammar, spelling, and mechanics reflect a high level of accuracy in standard American English and enhance readability.

Learning Objective PS 1.2: Organize writing to enhance clarity.

Writing is poorly organized and incoherent. Introductions, transitions, and conclusions are

Writing is loosely organized. Limited use of introductions, transitions, and conclusions provides

Writing is generally well- organized. Introductions, transitions, and conclusions provide

Writing is consistently well-organized. Introductions, transitions, and conclusions are used

©2014 Walden University 6

0 Not Present

1 Needs Improvement

2 Meets Expectations

3 Exceeds Expectations

missing or inappropriate. partial continuity. continuity and a logical progression of ideas.

effectively to enhance clarity, cohesion, and flow.

Learning Objective PS 1.3: Support writing with appropriate resources.

Writing does not integrate appropriate resources and content in support of ideas and argument.

Writing loosely integrates some appropriate resources and content in support of ideas and argument.

Writing sufficiently integrates appropriate resources (which may include peer-reviewed resources) and content in support of ideas and argument.

Writing effectively integrates appropriate resources (which may include peer-reviewed resources) and content to support and expand upon ideas and arguments.

Learning Objective PS 1.4: Apply APA style to written work.

APA conventions are not applied.

APA conventions for attribution of sources, structure, formatting, etc. are applied inconsistently.

APA conventions for attribution of sources, structure, formatting, etc. are generally applied correctly in most instances. Sources are generally cited appropriately and accurately.

APA conventions for attribution of sources, structure, formatting, etc. are applied correctly and consistently throughout the paper. Sources are consistently cited appropriately and accurately.

Learning Objective PS 1.5: Use appropriate vocabulary and tone for the audience and purpose.

Vocabulary and tone are inappropriate and negatively impact clarity of concepts to be conveyed.

Vocabulary and tone have limited relevance to the audience.

Vocabulary and tone are generally appropriate for the audience and support communication of key concepts.

Vocabulary and tone are consistently tailored to the audience and effectively and directly support communication of key concepts.

PS004: Collaboration: Use collaborative skills and tools to work effectively with diverse stakeholders to achieve a common goal.

Learning Objective PS 4.1: Explain how compromise, mutual respect, and shared responsibility help

Explanation is missing. Response includes an explanation of how compromise, mutual respect, and shared responsibility help diverse stakeholders achieve a

Response includes a clear and complete explanation of how compromise, mutual respect, and shared responsibility help diverse stakeholders

Response includes a cohesive analysis with examples explaining how compromise, mutual respect, and shared responsibility help diverse

©2014 Walden University 7

0 Not Present

1 Needs Improvement

2 Meets Expectations

3 Exceeds Expectations

diverse stakeholders achieve a common goal.

common goal, however, the explanation is unclear or incomplete.

achieve a common goal. stakeholders achieve a common goal.

Learning Objective PS 4.2: Apply collaboration skills to create workable solutions to complex problems.

Application is missing. Response applies irrelevant collaboration skills or the collaboration results in inappropriate or unrealistic solutions.

Response generally applies relevant and appropriate collaboration skills to create workable solutions to complex problems.

Response comprehensively applies appropriate collaboration skills to create workable solutions to complex problems.