This course provides a study of the techniques used in art, music, storytelling and dramatic activities with young children, birth through age eight, with emphasis on interdisciplinary learning. Students plan, implement and evaluate experiences that will contribute to the creative, motor, affective, perceptual, cognitive and aesthetic development of the young child.
This course examines child development from conception to age eight by considering the complex interaction between heredity and environmental factors. Children's physical, social, emotional and cognitive development are discussed as well as the implications for developmentally appropriate practice. It includes the theories of Erikson, Piaget and Vygotsky. Students will be required to participate in field experience assignments in a child care setting for up to 10 hours.
This course is designed for the early childhood professional to develop basic knowledge, skills and positive dispositions needed to work in partnership with families and other professionals in order to gather data that documents the developmental progression, individual needs and progress toward learning within the classroom. An understanding of goals, benefits of documentation and other effective assessment strategies will be discussed. Up to 10 hours of observation in a childcare or VPK center is required.
This course provides child guidance and group management techniques to foster the development of self-esteem, self-control and social skills in young children. Positive reinforcement and problem resolution will be emphasized when discussing child play problems. Students will be required to participate in field experience assignments in an early childhood setting.
This course will explore developmentally appropriate practices for inclusive preschool settings. Participants will develop a framework for planning, implementation, organization and evaluation of activities in content areas such as art, math, science, music, language arts and play. The course will emphasize high-quality, developmentally appropriate practices aligned with state and national standards and guidelines. Students will be required to participate in field experience assignments in a child care setting for up to 10 hours.
This course will serve as a vehicle to deepen student knowledge of infant/toddler development by becoming familiar with play-based curriculum designed to provide caregivers with explicit ideas for creating loving, playful and stimulating experiences for young children from birth through age three. Students will be required to participate in field experience assignments in an infant toddler setting for up to 10 hours.
This course provides a comprehensive overview of the nutrition, health and safety needs of young children. It is designed to give future and current teachers practical and easy-to-understand information that will prepare them to serve diverse young children and their families in the preschool or early elementary school setting.
This course will focus on children with special needs in early childhood settings. Based on a developmental perspective, course content includes the various areas of exceptionality in terms of causes, characteristics and general intervention, strategies for adapting the learning environment, modifying instruction and making curriculum accessible to all children through inclusion of those with special needs. Attention will be given to state and federal legislation, the referral process, community resources and effective ways to work with families. Note: This course was formerly listed as EEX 2010 and is the required course for Early Childhood Education students. This course is not intended for students pursuing K-12.
This course presents developmentally appropriate music and movement experiences for young children. Students will be involved in singing, creating, listening to and learning about making music and encouraging children to move to music. Students will develop an understanding of the importance music plays in the early childhood curriculum and how to incorporate it into the daily routine to accomplish a variety of curriculum goals.
Choose nine credits from the following list:
This course describes how children acquire language and literacy and how teachers can design classrooms to promote oral and written language development. The course will stress planning for individual children, including children with special needs and English language learners as well as understanding the importance of the child's family in language and literacy development. Up to 10 hours of field observation is required.
Students will be introduced to the theory of the Montessori method, including evolution, relationship to Piaget, Erikson, Kohlberg, Vygotsky and others, Montessori's definition of sensitive periods of development, the role of teacher as directress, the importance of the prepared environment and the process of normalization will be discussed so that the student will gain an appreciation of the Montessori philosophy and method of teaching.
Upon completion of this course, students will understand how to guide and encourage learning by ensuring that the environment is rich with materials and equipment that invite active exploration. Various curriculum approaches will be reviewed with a concentration in creating lesson plans and activities that are appropriate for children under the age of eight years of age. Students will develop a framework for planning, implementation, organization and evaluation for activities in content areas such as art, math, science, music, language arts and active play. The course will emphasize intentionality in teaching using high-quality, developmentally appropriate practices aligned with state school readiness standards. Up to 10 hours of observation in a group care setting is required.
In this course, guided readings, culturally diverse group activities and guest speakers from a variety of community resource agencies will broaden students' horizons regarding the diverse characteristics that make up a family. Students will explore how a child's development and learning is influenced by the family and the community where they live. The student will design and implement family involvement activities following research-based best practices. Community field experiences are integrated into the course (up to 10 hours).
