Portfolio Development for Early Childhood Educators, Torncello, Fall 2025

Course Number:	EDX 5710 S17
Instructor:	Susan Torncello, M.Ed.
Location:	Online
Dates and Times:	Oct 11, 2025 - Jan 31, 2026. This course will meet virtually/synchronously via Google Meets on the following dates: Sat. Oct. 11th 9:00-2:00; Thurs. Oct. 30th 6:30-9:00; Sat. Nov. 15th 9:00-2:00; Thurs. Dec. 4th 6:30-9:00; Sat. Dec. 13th 9:00-2:00; Thurs. Jan. 8th 6:30-9:00; Sat. Jan 17th 9:00-2:00; Thurs. Jan. 22nd 6:30-9:00; Sat. Jan. 31st 9:00-2:00
Credits:	3 Graduate Credits
Tuition:	$1,195. NOTE: Eligible students can apply for T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship on a first come first serve 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.

Audience: Practicing Early Childhood Educators 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
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

Course Objectives:

Develop and use organizational tools (Competency Map, Evidence Chart) for the Core Teaching Standards and Early Childhood Competencies, as required by AOE’s Peer Review guidelines;
Document and present early childhood education professional development and experiences in written format and through photographs & video;
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;
Complete a draft professional portfolio that fulfills Vermont’s licensure criteria (with goal of April 2026 submission date to Vt. AOE)

Course Schedule

Course Schedule:

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:
- Begin working on personal EC Competency Map
- Read Peer Review Handbook; come to next class with 3 related questions
- Due Nov. 2: Personalized Learning Plan; Student Teaching Equivalency

Week 2: EC Competency writing: share & critique examples

Break-out groups: give peer feedback
Lesson planning – in relation to Portfolio requirements
Integrating Technology: Electronic Portfolio templates; use of technology with young children
Sharing/presenting professional resources (tba)
Assignments:
- Due Nov. 16th: completed Competency Map
- Continue draft writing – submit to Susan for feedback
- Due Dec. 7th: submit draft of all Competencies

Week 3: Introduce the Core Teaching Standards & required writing format for Vermont State

Colleges Licensure Portfolio; introduce Part III

“Practicing” draft writing to the required criteria/format – share with peers
Begin collaborating on cohort Evidence Chart
Sharing/presenting professional resources
Guest: another successful Peer Review candidate – licensed teacher
Assignment:
- Begin working on personal Evidence Chart
- Due Jan. 11th : submit personal Evidence Chart

Week 4: Deep dive into writing!

Introduce VT Licensure rubrics
Requirements of Part II
Sharing/presenting professional resources
Break-out groups to share/critique draft writing
Guest: representative from AOE Peer Review
Assignment:
- Due Jan. 25th: Submit draft of Part III
- Continue writing (focus on Part II)

Week 5: Fine tuning Portfolio requirements

Sharing personal examples: 3 lessons and unit plan
Options for presenting video-tape
Sharing Part I (Standard 1) draft writing
Critique and “score” writing (self-assess & complete one on peers’ writing)
Sharing/presenting professional resources
“How to” Upload final writing to a Portfolio Template
Assignment:
- Due Feb. 8th: 3 lesson plans; 1 unit plan
- Due Feb. 15th: draft Analyses of 10 Standards

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