Fundamentals of Early Childhood Education, Current Edition, Morrison, Prentice Hall

DESCRIPTOR TEMPLATE

Discipline: Child Development Sub-discipline: Early Childhood Education General Course Title: Principles and Practices of Teaching Young Children Min. Units: 3

General Course Description: An examination of the underlying theoretical principles of developmentally appropriate practices applied to programs, environments, emphasizing the key role of relationships, constructive adult- child interactions, and teaching strategies in supporting physical, social, creative and intellectual development for all young children. This course includes a review of the historical roots of early childhood programs and the evolution of the professional practices promoting advocacy, ethics, and professional identity.

Number: ECE 120 Suffix: N/A Any rationale or comment: N/A Required Prerequisites or Co-Requisites: None Advisories/Recommended Preparation: None

Course Content:  Current and historic models, influences, and approaches in the field of early childhood  Delivery systems (nonprofit, profit, publicly funded, alternative payment/voucher)  Program types (family child care, centers, after school programs, license-exempt; infant/toddler, preschool, school-age)  Licensing and regulation (e.g., Title 22, Title 5, Fire Code), and personnel requirements  NAEYC Code of ethics  Attention to developmental needs of children of different ages (infant/toddler, preschool, school-age)  Addressing the needs of the “whole child” (physical, cognitive, social-emotional)  The importance of developmentally, culturally, linguistically appropriate practice.  Applying developmentally-appropriate practices to normative and atypical development  Play as a vehicle for development and learning  Characteristics of an effective teacher in an early childhood setting  Importance of positive teacher-child relationships and interactions  Collaboration and partnerships with families, colleagues, and health care professionals  Positive guidance strategies  Essentials of program planning  The interrelationship of planning, observation, and assessment  The influence of environment on behavior and learning (environment as third teacher)  Quality indicators (e.g., accreditation)  Career options/paths  Professional organizations and ongoing professional development 2

Course Objectives: At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to: 1. Interpret best and promising teaching and care practices as defined within the field of early care and education’s history, range of delivery systems, program types and philosophies and ethical standards.

2. Develop one’s teaching philosophy and professional goals.

3. Assess early childhood settings, curriculum, and teaching strategies utilizing indicators of quality early childhood practice that support all children including those with diverse characteristics and their families.

4. Examine the value of play as a vehicle for developing skills, knowledge, dispositions, and strengthening relationships among young children.

5. Examine a variety of guidance and interaction strategies to increase children’s social competence and promote a caring classroom community.

6. Analyze the relationship between observation, planning, implementation and assessment in developing effective teaching strategies and positive learning and development.

Methods of Evaluation: 1. Exams (objective and essay) that demonstrate the students' ability to define socialization theories and processes.

2. Research papers, essays and group projects that demonstrate student's ability to use the media to identify a specific issue, evaluate available resources that currently help resolve that problem, and develop possible advocacy strategies to help eliminate the problem in the future.

3. Instructor assessment of participation in classroom discussions, presentation of media examples, and critique of volunteer/community service work.

Sample Textbooks, Manuals, or Other Support Materials Beginnings & Beyond: Foundations in Early Childhood Education, current edition; Gordon & Browne, , Delmar Cengage Learning

Who Am I in the Lives of Children?, current edition; Feeney, Christiansen & Moravcik, , Pearson Higher Ed

Fundamentals of Early Childhood Education, current edition, Morrison, Prentice Hall

California State Preschool Learning Foundations, Available at: http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/documents/preschoollf.pdf 3

California State Infant/Toddler Learning & Development Program Guidelines, Available at: http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/documents/itguidelines.pdf

FDRG Lead Signature: Date: April 27, 2011 [For Office Use Only] Internal Tracking Number