Enhancing Future Prospects: Reflective Writing in the Education Domain

This essay presents a reflective analysis on enhancing future prospects within the domain of education, specifically focusing on early childhood studies. It emphasizes the importance of understanding state licensure requirements and the need for specific competencies such as adaptability, mentorship, leadership, and patience for aspiring teachers. The reflection aligns personal competencies with the standard of promoting child development and learning, highlighting its potential for future professional development, research opportunities, and contributions to children's education. The author aims to enhance skill sets for career progression and remain collaborative in the field of education.

Running head: EDUCATION 1
Reflective writing on enhancement of future prospects

EDUCATION 2
Table of Contents
Part 1: Domains and Competencies.................................................................................................3
Standards for initial licensure programs......................................................................................3
Competencies required................................................................................................................3
Part 2: Reflection.............................................................................................................................3
References........................................................................................................................................5

EDUCATION 3
Part 1: Domains and Competencies
Standards for initial licensure programs
According to Darling-Hammond (2017), each state has different licensing requirements.
The license requirements comprise of the state statutes, regulations and the rules. Generally,
most state licensure applications must be completed by the institution by filling a form which
verifies that the candidate has completed state approved teacher preparation program. Many
colleges offer for initial licensure in Special Education, Elementary Education, and principal
preparation programs (Schaaf, Williamson & Novak, 2015). It is also important for the
candidates to research on their state requirements prior to enrolling to any program as it would
help any specific objectives upon completion. As mentioned earlier every state has a different
requirement, therefore it is important to know if the institutions are providing regional
accreditation, institutional or a state approved program. The domain selected is teaching by
receiving experience of credential in early childhood studies. There are a number of standards for
initial early childhood professional preparation programs. For accomplishing this report, the
initial Standard of promoting child development and learning is highlighted. The teachers
applying in early childhood degree programs are prepared understand the child development
knowledge base (Epstein, 2018). This requires to understand the needs and characteristics of
young children and the factors that influence on their overall development and learning. The
standard also focuses on creating healthy, respectful, and supporting environment for young
children which would require the teachers to inculcate such competencies and skills to manage
the children.
Competencies required
The candidates aspiring to become future teachers in elementary education or for special
education, require certain competencies and skills to bring justice to the key elements of the
standard. The first competency would be adaptability. As different children have different ways
of learning, the candidate needs to focus on practicing in a classroom setting. The second
competency would be becoming a mentor to the students. Teachers are one of the most
consistent mentors in a child's life thereby being a good role model is more important. Third,
leadership is one of the most important skills a teacher must have in order to guide the students.
Fourth, having patience is the single most important skill to address the lack of inherent respect
for authority in students.

EDUCATION 4
Part 2: Reflection
In this following report I have selected the domain of teaching and decided align my
competencies with it. As opined by Dar (2018), teaching is one of the noblest professions who
have professional responsibilities to teach the students. This is followed by certain specialist
competencies and skills to establish effective learning environments. I decided to align my
competencies in the domain of teaching in order to develop my professional practice in the future
as a teacher for young children. I selected the standard of promoting child development and
learning because the standard will provide me to understand development from the early basics.
Also this standard would help me to observe, interview, and create teaching lessons for children.
I am going to utilize this standard for future prospects for professional practice as a teacher. This
will provide me with ample research opportunities in the form of fellowships and research
scholarships in the future. I would like to enhance my skill sets for my overall professional
development and career progression. This will keep me focused in being collaborative and
contributive to children education.

EDUCATION 5
References
Dar, R. A. (2018). Qualities of Effective Teachers. International Journal of Advanced
Multidisciplinary Scientific Research (IJAMSR) ISSN: 2581-4281 Vol, 1, 82-87.
Darling-Hammond, L. (2017). Teacher education around the world: What can we learn from
international practice?. European Journal of Teacher Education, 40(3), 291-309.
Epstein, J. (2018). School, Family, and Community Partnerships, Student Economy Edition:
Preparing Educators and Improving Schools. 4th ed. Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
Schaaf, M., Williamson, R., & Novak, J. (2015). Are Midwestern School Administrators
Prepared to Provide Leadership in Special Education?. Mid-Western Educational
Researcher, 27(2).