Competition Guidelines for the State of California

SkillsUSA Competition Guidelines for the state of California Early Childhood Education Contest

Purpose: To evaluate a contestant's ability to plan and present appropriate activities for preschool age children (3-5y ears) and demonstrate a general knowledge of quality childcare.

Schedule:  Day 1: Written Test, Lesson Plan Write-up, book choice and interview  Day 2: Lesson Demonstration (prearranged time) and book reading demonstration

Clothing Requirements:

. Black dress slacks (not jeans or denim material) . Pantyhose . Plain short sleeve white polo or official SkillsUSA white polo . Black shoes (closed toe and heel) . Black socks . No other attire will be allowed . Please cover all visible tattoos . No piercing other than ears

Materials:

Supplied by the Technical Committee  A large assortment of real-life materials to assist them in the execution of the lesson plan. (For example, sea shells, seeds, nuts and bolts, bells, recyclable materials and various curriculum materials….nothing preassembled.  All tools of the profession such as felt tip markers, crayons, scissors, rulers, pens, pencils, tape, rubber bands, paint…*At the national level this would be supplied by the contestant

Supplied by the contestant:  Resume-1 page Contest Rules

With assorted materials, as would be readily available in a child-care facility, the contestant will develop a lesson plan and "teacher made" project to assist them in teaching a basic concept for one of the areas from a given list of curriculum areas for a mixed group of preschool children age 4. Plan is to be closely tied to "Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth Through Age 8", Third Edition, by Bredekemp &Copple.

The curriculum areas are: Food and Nutrition, Language Arts, Math, Music & Movement, Science and Social Studies.

The contestant will complete a lesson plan outline after viewing the materials and selecting a curriculum area. Submit lesson plan after materials are prepared for presentation. The contestant will have 1 hour to prepare the lesson plan which will be presented the following day.

The contestant will have 15 minutes to view and select needed materials.

The contestant will develop a written plan for a lesson that includes the following components: A. Curriculum Area B. Objective or purpose (skills or concepts) C. Description of activity D. Materials or supplies needed

The contestant will have up to 1 hour to write, plan, and prepare their lesson. (plan outline to be provided).

After concluding the lesson write-up and choosing the book for demonstration, the contestant will be given a 5-7 minute interview on early childhood education and preschool teaching in the classroom. The contestant will be asked six questions.

On the second day of the competition the contestant will give a 5-7 minute demonstration of the lesson plan in front of a panel of judges. The contestant will demonstrate the lesson as though a child was present. The judges will not interact.

Note: There will be a penalty of 5 points deducted for each 30 seconds or fraction thereof under 3 minutes and over 4 minutes.

Judges will have 1-2 minutes after contestant presentation to ask any questions related to preschool teaching of each contestant.

On the second day of the competition the contestants will demonstrate a book reading, using attention getting techniques, and read the book to an imaginary group of children in front of the panel of judges. The total length for this activity is 3-5 minutes. The contestant will chose one book from five to choose from.

Time penalties apply with a 1-minute warning. The book need not be finished. Visual aids cannot be used for book presentation.

Note: There will be a penalty of 5 points deducted for each 30 seconds or fraction there of under 3 minutes and over 4 minutes Written Test (60 minutes)

1. 50 questions in the area of child development will be given. 2. Questions will be selected from Developmentally Appropriate Practices by Bredekamp in areas of program Management, Health and safety, Intellectual Development, Physical Development, Guidance, Relationships with Families professionalism, Language and Communication, Creativity, Culturally Relevant Education, Observation, Special Needs and Curriculum planning

Resume evaluation- will be handed back to students

Note: Competitors are to introduce themselves only by contestant Number, not by Name or School.

*All national scoring rubrics will be used.