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Early Childhood Education

Syllabus

Course Essential Questions:

  • What is the purpose of early childhood education and programs and how do they support young children?
  • How do the stages of child development inform best practices around interaction with young children?
  • What are the different roles and responsibilities of early childhood education staff and administration?
  • How do current and local trends and issues play a role in Early Childhood Education and programming?

Course Objectives:

  • Identify the stages of development from infancy through kindergarten.
  • Learn about appropriate communications strategies with young children.
  • Evaluate various classroom management techniques and safety protocols.
  • Discuss the impact that culture, race, religion, ability, and gender play in caregiving.
  • Explore strategies for building relationships with families, communities, and other early childhood professionals.

Week 1: Getting Started

Weekly Learning Objectives

  • Understand the rules and policies of the course, and expectations of a contributing member of the class.
  • Begin to build community by sharing important and interesting information with the teacher and classmates.
  • Develop skills for navigating the course environment and using the various course tools.
  • Reflect on what you know about Early Childhood Education and childhood development.

Week 2: What is Early Childhood Development?

Weekly Learning Objectives

  • Find your cooperating teacher.
  • Describe how the environment shapes a child’s development.
  • Learn the importance of building caring relationships.
  • Select a career opportunity that interests you in the field of early childhood education.

Week 3: Characteristics of Quality Early Childhood Program

Weekly Learning Objectives

  • Explore the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) guidelines for a quality early childhood program.
  • Identify how you would create an early childhood environment that promotes positive relationships.
  • Design ways to share core beliefs with your early childhood community.
  • Interview a parent of a young child.

Week 4: Infant and Toddler Development

Weekly Learning Objectives

  • Explain the typical stages of development for infants and toddlers.
  • Share activities on how parents and providers can promote healthy development.
  • Align standards with age-appropriate learning activities.

Week 5: Preschool and Kindergarten Development

Weekly Learning Objectives

  • Describe the typical stages of development for Preschool and Kindergarten age children.
  • Interview a preschool or daycare provider to learn more about typical growth and development.
  • Generate a lesson that will support a particular area of growth in a Preschool or Kindergarten aged child.
  • Prepare for your first classroom visit and observation.

Week 6: Classroom Management: Infants and Toddlers

Weekly Learning Objectives

  • Research and build strategies to support classroom management.
  • Create a visual schedule of a daily routine.
  • Assess and comment on your classmates developmentally appropriate activities from Week 5.
  • Conduct your first classroom visit and observation (in Week 6 or 7).

Week 7: Classroom Management: Preschool and Kindergarten

Weekly Learning Objectives

  • Develop a list of classroom rules and a rationale.
  • Create, share, and critique attention grabbers with your classmates.
  • Plan a morning meeting.
  • Conduct your first classroom visit and observation (in Week 6 or 7).

Week 8: Classroom Management: An Inclusive Environment

Weekly Learning Objectives

  • Investigate the importance of an inclusive environment on young children.
  • Share your classroom visit observations with your classmates.
  • Analyze your learning experience from the first 8 weeks.

Term 2: Weeks 9-15

Week 9: DAP: Nurturing Physical Development

Weekly Learning Objectives

  • Examine NAEYC’s guidelines on Physical Development.
  • Explain the importance of wellness in an early childhood education program.
  • Create activities to promote Physical Development.
  • Design ways to encourage proper nutrition by healthy lunches.
  • Investigate outdoor safety on playgrounds.
  • Prepare a communication with your cooperating teacher.

Week 10: DAP: Nurturing Cognitive Development/Language Development

Weekly Learning Objectives

  • Investigate and report on NAEYC’s guidelines on Cognitive and Language Development.
  • Analyze appropriate age level books for infants through kindergarten.
  • Build an activity to promote cognitive and language Development.
  • Visit a playground and complete a safety checklist.

Week 11: DAP: Nurturing Social Emotional Development

Weekly Learning Objectives

  • Explore and identify nurturing social/emotional development.
  • Share and critique icebreakers that promote socio-emotional learning.
  • Create a socio-emotional center for a classroom.
  • Investigate and report on indoor safety.
  • Prepare for your second classroom visit.

Week 12: Building Relationships with Families

Weekly Learning Objectives

  • Analyze the role families play in growth and development.
  • Investigate the importance of building positive relationships with families.
  • Design a family night activity to facilitate family engagement.
  • Identify common family crises and develop an action plan.
  • Create a list of indoor safety procedures.
  • Conduct your 2nd classroom visit (Weeks 12 or 13).

Week 13: Building Relationships with Community Members and EC Professionals

Weekly Learning Objectives

  • Detail how to promote strong relationships within a community.
  • Explore the community-based programs in your area.
  • Develop a safety in the classroom correspondence.
  • Interview a professional in the field that interests you.
  • Conduct your 2nd classroom visit (Weeks 12 or 13).

Week 14: Building an Inclusive Environment

Weekly Learning Objectives

  • Develop accommodations and create an inclusive classroom environment.
  • Differentiate the 13 disability categories provided under IDEA.
  • Share favorite lesson plans with classmates.
  • Identify a career that interests you.

Week 15: Building Your Future: Farewell and Next Steps

Weekly Learning Objectives

  • Share and apply what you learned this semester.
  • Say our goodbyes.
  • List future goals and aspirations.
  • Reflect on what you learned in this course.
  • Complete a VHS Learning Survey.