Early Childhood Education Certificate

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MIDDLESEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE Strategies STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS ADVISING GUIDE: for Success Early Childhood Education Certificate

The Early Childhood Education Certificate is for students that want the courses to be Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) teacher, lead teacher and director certified. In addition to ECE courses, students will need practical early childhood experience in a licensed childcare center. Students who enroll in the certificate program have a degree in an area other than education, or are certified in education in another country, or want to learn more about teaching in a preschool classroom setting. Students can cater their educational certificate needs by taking three elective courses in either: Infant and Toddler Program Planning, Child Care Administration, Health and Safety, Young Children with Special Needs, or Guiding Children’s Behavior. At the completion of the certificate, students are required to complete a Supervised Field Practicum and Seminar, which requires teaching 150 hours in a licensed or NAEYC Accredited Center. Early Childhood Education Certificate classes can be used towards credits in the Early Childhood Education degree program. Students who want to teach in public or private elementary school in grades K-2 will need to complete a two-year degree in either the Early Childhood Education degree or Early Childhood Education Transfer programs. Any student wanting to teach grades 1-6 should choose Elementary Education Transfer as their major.

EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS INSIDE THIS GUIDE WITH ACADEMIC ADVISING Throughout each semester, meet with your advisor so that Exploring Your Options he/she can guide you through a self-exploration process that will help Personality Inventory you identify your academic and career interests. Career Path Beginning of Semester: ___ Schedule an appointment to meet with your academic advisor Transfer Path during the ﬁrst few weeks to discuss future plans and how a Psychology Degree can help you achieve your goals. ___ Explore your personal interests by completing Focus2, an online career assessment tool: https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/careerservices/focus2.aspx Mid-Semester: ___ Schedule an appointment with academic advisor review your academic progress, Focus2 results and create an academic plan in Degree Works. Before Semester Ends: ___ Schedule an appointment to discuss and register for the classes you will take the following semester. (Early November for spring, Early April for fall and summer) ___ Visit the Academic Career & Transfer Center or call 1-800-818-3434 to schedule an appointment.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM OUTCOMES Graduates of the program are prepared to: Interpret and analyze information in order to engage in critical thinking and problem solving; Communicate, use information and technology in the classroom; Demonstrate social responsibility

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Sponsored by the Title III grant: Strategies for Success: Increasing Achievement, Persistence, Retention and Engagement, 2008-2013. STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS ADVISING GUIDE: Early Childhood Education Certificate

IS THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CERTIFICATE THE RIGHT FIT FOR ME? To decide if the Early Childhood Education Certificate is right for you, answer the following questions: Do you enjoy working with younger children and children to age 8? ___Yes ___No Early Childhood Education Certiﬁcate Teachers can work with children from as young as 8 weeks to 8 years of age.

Do you want to teach in a preschool, Kindergarten to grade 2? ___Yes ___No Early Childhood Education Certiﬁcate majors like to teach with this age group. Early Childhood Education Certiﬁcate classes are in Child Growth and Development, Program Planning and Environments, and Curriculum, and three elective early childhood classes. If a student wants to teach grades K, 1, or 2, you can choose either Early Childhood or Early Childhood Transfer.

Do you like working holidays like Columbus Day or President’s Day? ___Yes ___No Some childcare centers close only on the ten major holidays, while public schools are closed.

Do you like to plan and research different lesson ideas? ___Yes ___No Teachers are required to plan their own lessons in the different content areas by using the Infant and Toddler Experiences and Preschool Learning Experiences.

Do you like to work with children with special needs? ___Yes ___No Many early childhood classrooms have children with diagnosed and undiagnosed special needs.

Do you want to teach in your own preschool classroom? ___Yes ___No Early childhood certificate teachers are certified by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). Students need four courses plus classroom experience to be lead teacher certified and are then able to teach in their own preschool classroom.

Are you responsible, dependable and rarely call in sick? ___Yes ___No Children’s lives are built on routines and they depend on early childhood teachers to be reliable, dedicated, and committed to their job.

Do you like to take trainings and courses to further your education? ___Yes ___No Early Childhood Education teachers are required to take courses and attain professional development points each year to maintain certiﬁcation in the ﬁeld.

Do you have patience, understanding, compassion, and a desire to make a difference in someone’s life? ___Yes ___No

If you answered yes to all the above questions, then you should be an Early Childhood Education Certificate major!

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CAREER THE CAREER PATH There are many and varied options to consider within the Early Childhood Education degree. Here are some of the CRIMINAL OFFENDER RECORD common career pathways: INFORMATION (CORI) CHECKS: Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) licensed Preschool In order for a student to be eligible to Teacher or Lead Teacher participate in an academic, community Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) licensed Infant and or clinical program that involves Toddler Teacher or Lead Teacher potential unsupervised contact with children, the disabled, or the elderly, Home Visitor the student may be required to undergo Child Development Associate (CDA) a Criminal Offender Record Information Family Child Care Provider (CORI) check. Students found to have certain criminal convictions or pending Career Planning Actvities: criminal actions will be presumed ___ Work with advisor to discuss MassTransfer, Articulations and ineligible to participate in such transfer agreements activities. ___ Visit your selected campuses in person. Every college looks good online or in a glossy photo, but you can get a better feel when you visit ___ Meet with transfer counselor to identify transfer scholarships ___ Research admissions requirements and deadlines MCC ADVISING RESOURCES at 4-year colleges and universities Career Services: https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/careerservices THE TRANSFER PATH Transfer Services: TRANSFER The Early Childhood Education Certificate is a path for https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/transfer learning about early childhood education programs. Early MassTransfer: Childhood Education Certificate courses taken can be used a credit https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/transfer/ towards the Early Childhood Education degree. An Early Childhood masstransfer.aspx Education degree is required for any transfer program. Students Financial Aid: desiring an Early Childhood Education degree are encouraged to https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/financialaid meet with Early Childhood faculty. Foundation Scholarships: https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/foundation/ Transfer Planning Activities: scholarships ___ Work with Advisor to discuss MassTransfer, articulations and College Board Match Maker: transfer agreements https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search ___ Visit your selected campus in person. Every college looks good online or in a glossy photo but you can get a better feel when you visit ___ Meet with transfer counselor to identify transfer scholarships ___ Research admissions requirements and deadlines at 4-year colleges and universities

Sponsored by the Title III grant: Strategies for Success: Increasing Achievement, Persistence, Retention and Engagement, 2008-2013.