ECED - Early Childhood Education

The focus of this course is to overview the historical and theoretical foundations of Early Childhood and to introduce the role of philosophies in decision-making processes. An emphasis on Developmentally Appropriate Practices(DAP) is accompanied by exploration of professional ethics, program types, career choices, child care regulations, and policies.

This course overviews developmental concepts and theories as applied to early learning classroom and realworld contexts. Investigation includes physical, social, cognitive, emotional, moral, and spiritual domains. Field experiences required. Prerequisite: ECED-101

This course examines the appropriate use of assessment and observation strategies to document development, growth, play, and learning when joined with teachers, professionals, and primary care providers in promoting a child's success. Recording strategies, rating systems, portfolios, and multiple assessment instruments and tools are explored. Child observations are conducted and analyzed. Field experiences are required. Prerequisites: GEN-111, ECED-101, ECED-120, and ECED-105

This course explores the importance of designing a developmentally appropriate environment for young children by analyzing how to integrate an appropriate daily schedule, determining curricula model use, and selecting appropriate material use that promotes positive child development and learning. The course also emphasizes the positive techniques used in effectively guiding and disciplining young children's behavior.

This course prepares teacher candidates for success in leading, managing, and teaching in early learning environments. The course introduces teacher candidates to the laws, regulations, standards, policies and procedures, and early childhood curriculum related to child health, safety, and nutrition. The key components that ensure physical health, mental health, and safety for both children and staff are identified along with the importance of collaboration with primary care providers and health professionals. There is a focus on integrating these concepts into everyday planning and program development. Prerequisite: GEN-111 and ECED-101

Participants will research and explore complex current regional, state, national, and global sociopolitical issues surrounding Early Childhood. Prerequisite: ECED-101, ECED-105

Examination of the historical evolution of the family, the role family involvement plays on child development, and the development of communication strategies provides a framework for building effective and reciprocal home-school relationships and partnerships. Field experiences required.

This courses focuses on the ages and stages of early literacy (reading, writing, listening, speaking) development and the fostering of language-rich environments. Field experiences required.

This course prepares teacher candidates for success in planning and teaching in the early childhood classroom, ages birth through eight. Emphasis is placed on appropriate content knowledge and teaching strategies that incorporate information related to child development, learning theories, and the use of assessment and standards in the early childhood years. Teacher candidates explore various models of instruction as they develop lesson plans and activities that are appropriate for young children.

This course examines the developing child in societal context, focusing on interrelationships among the young child, primary care providers, school, and community. The course further emphasizes historical and cultural factors which influence primary care providers and the process of socialization for young children.

This course explores research-based principles and practices for cultivating literacy and assessments during the early childhood years (birth through age eight) with developmentally appropriate methods. Resources available to substantiate literacy and assessments proficiency in young children are presented.

This course examines current issues facing the early childhood education professional in understanding diversity as it impacts the early childhood environment. The course addresses various aspects of diversity represented within a classroom including racial, ethnic, linguistic, biographical, and cultural diversity, as well as physical, developmental, and cognitive diversity. Challenges and opportunities associated with the diverse needs of the individual learner are presented. Factors of working with and supporting diverse populations of young children and their families are discussed, including relevant teaching methods and materials.

This course examines components needed to operate and manage an early childhood program by exploring state regulations and federal mandates, including IDEA and FERPA. Operational duties covered include managerial setup of the learning environment, creating policies and procedures, financial management, and basic record keeping. The course also explores team building and collaborating with primary care providers and staff.

This course overviews the care, development, management, and learning of infant/toddlers. Field experiences are required.

This course overviews the care, development, management, and learning of preschool-age children. Field experience are required.

This course overviews the care, development, management, and learning of primary-grade children. Field experiences are required.

This course provides an application of a pedagogical foundation for the candidate to further influence early learning.

This course explores the design and purpose of infant/toddler environments to promote growth across developmental domains. Key concepts include health and safety practices, care-on-demand philosophies, and nurturing principles. Field experiences required.

Curriculum planning, developmentally appropriate instructional approaches, data collection and analysis, and management strategies are key elements to this course focusing on infant/toddler learning. Field experiences required.

This course explores the design and purpose of literature-rich preschool environments to promote growth across developmental domains. Key concepts include designing and managing play-based learning settings. Field experiences required.

Curriculum planning, developmentally appropriate instructional approaches, data collection and analysis, and management strategies are key elements to this course focusing on preschool learning. Field experiences required.

This course examines a broad understanding of early childhood development through the study of major concepts, theories, and processes related to the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, physical, and moral development of children ages birth through eight years. Emphasis is made regarding development during the earliest years, particularly brain development that results in learned speech, gross and fine motor movements, basic hygiene, and cognitive reasoning. In addition, program candidates study strategies to create instruction that is responsive to early learners' differences and promotes cultural responsiveness with all stakeholders associated with young children.

This course provides an overview of the planning and preparation of a developmentally appropriate curriculum for young children. It includes a critical examination of principles underlying curriculum development and program planning for young children. The course covers basic components of this curriculum including media and technology.

This course presents methods best suited for educating young children who have exceptional learning needs, whether through disabilities or high/gifted abilities. Legal foundations, policies, data-driven decision making and procedures are examined, as well as lesson planning, how to identify types of learning needs, evidence-based instructional strategies, and strategies to assess growth in these children.

This course focuses on the appropriate use of assessment and observation strategies to document development, growth, play, and learning to join with primary care providers and professionals in promoting children's success. Recording strategies, rating systems, portfolios, Response to Intervention, and multiple assessment tools are explored. This course requires field experiences.

This course overviews the intersection of special education and early childhood practices including planning, management, family support, early intervention, and law.

This course provides a foundation for teaching reading (focusing on decoding and fluency) and language structures (grammar, spelling), including the use of scientifically based reading research.

This course focuses on the development of reading comprehension and writing skills in young children based on scientific reading research (SBRR). This course requires field experiences, and is part of the Reading Minor block. Prerequisite: ECED-325

This course focuses on developing best practices in curriculum, instruction, and assessment for the teaching of literacy (reading, writing, listening, speaking) in grades K-3. Field experiences required.

This course provides an expanded view of reading instruction, including comprehension strategies, content area literacy, and reading intervention. Field experiences required.

This course explores techniques and methods of using literature to teach reading to early learners. Quality children's books from various genres are presented, along with historical and contemporary publishing trends. Prerequisite: ECED-330

This course focuses on play as the principle medium of children's learning and development of visual and performing arts. A teacher's role in facilitating and supporting developmentally appropriate activities for birth through age 8 settings is examined.

This course teaches basic concepts and principles related to the mathematical understandings of young children. Numeracy, hands-on construct exploration, comprehension of computation foundations, and the relationship of math with literacy are integrated with appropriate developmental milestones when utilizing instructional strategies with young children.

This course examines the role of technology for early childhood in the 21st century and provides a comprehensive study of the use of technology to support learning domains. Top findings and statistical trends regarding children's habits and effects of media usage on development, health, and behavior will be analyzed. The course further emphasizes technology issues in education as related to technology aids for the exceptional learner, English language learner and family outreach, diversity and bias in the media, home applications, and digital citizenship.

This course focuses on developing best practices in curriculum, instruction, and assessment for the teaching of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in grades K-3. Field experiences required.

This course focuses on developing best practice in curriculum, instruction, and assessment for the teaching of Social Studies (History, Civics/Government, Geography, and Economics) and Fine Arts (Dance, Music, Drama, and Visual Arts) in grades K-3. Field experiences required.

This course includes theory, pedagogy, and related research on multiple aspects of early learner diversity, with emphasis on developing appropriate culturally responsive and inclusive environments for young children. Sociocultural and political issues are examined with respect to their impact on children's development.

The focus of this course is the development and utilization of developmentally appropriate management strategies in grades K-3 determined by data, philosophy, and ethical, current practices.

This course addresses the importance of strong literacy support between the family, school, and community in support of student reading achievement. It examines the notion of family-school-community partnerships and evaluates the effectiveness of current partnerships in the student's community. Students effectively communicate with parents/caregivers, daycare programs, community members, and local libraries to provide appropriate supports, books, activities, and resources. Students will develop criteria to assess effective partnerships as they observe and evaluate home-, day care-, community-, and/or library-based programs/activities for P-3 readers.

This course examines social, emotional, and behavioral interventions and how they relate to student growth in the classroom. Worldviews and the impact of the teacher's role on social, emotional, and behavioral interventions are also analyzed. This course considers the importance of and how to identify appropriate resources that provide intervention services for students. This course requires field experiences.

This course examines the issues involved with administering an early childhood program, including program and staff planning and evaluation, center operations, fiscal responsibility, ethical principles, professionalism and advocacy for children.

Internship focuses on the role and types of advocacy in early childhood, engaging in servant leadership practices and exploring wrap-around support services for families with young children. Field experiences required.

This course examines strategies for the integration of specific subject content using pedagogical methods of teaching within an early learning setting. A strong emphasis is placed on child-initiated and culturally inclusive approaches with differentiation and technology. This course requires field experiences.

A seminar stressing a professional examination of principles of classroom instruction and management, certification, job search procedures, interviewing strategies, mock interviews, accountability, and current issues in education. Activities relate theory to practical experience. An emphasis is placed upon the individual's refinement of reflective analysis skills regarding instructional/managerial strategies. Prerequisite: All core courses in the major of Early Childhood Education must be completed prior to taking this course.

Student teaching is a demonstration of practical applications of program knowledge, skills, and dispositions in facilitating P-3 students' learning. A supervised field experiences required.

This one-workshop course provides an orientation to the Early Childhood degree program (A.S.) including key resources available to support students as they pursue their degree. University requirements, key tools for success, learning management system tutorials, and introductory activities for the program are included.