Early Childhood Education
Course Description
Designed as a career training program, this course prepares students to work with young children in a variety of settings. Students will have an opportunity to observe and participate in classrooms within the community, including a student operated preschool program, to provide hands-on learning experiences. The student will plan and supervise instructional activities within each lab setting. Students will be evaluated on lab work as well as classroom assignments. Students will be working to complete their portfolio portion of the CDA (Child Development Associate) Credential. Articulated and direct credit can be earned if student receives a B or better each semester and has less than 5 absences. In addition, each college has their own requirements that students must meet.
Recommended Prerequisite: Child Development & Psychology
Recommended Psychology as a prerequisite or take concurrently
Course Objectives
Students will:
● Demonstrate the use of technology to efficiently complete tasks within the workplace.
● Develop and justify a personal career plan based on interest, aptitudes and life goals.
● Acquire awareness of the structure and future trends within the field of early childhood.
● Perform basic communication; computation, problem solving, conflict resolution and human relation skills necessary for child care related fields.
● Identify entrepreneur opportunities continuing education/training and lifelong learning.
● Demonstrate competencies in leadership and teamwork skills.
● Model adjustments to change by demonstrating flexibility.
● Analyze the relationship between personal and work issues and how they impact each other.
● Be actively engaged in a two or three day per week field experience
Professionalism
When in their field placements all students must sign in and out of the front office daily and wear an identification badge. The student is given the honor of being an authorized person to interact with students.
Interactions with children/students must be appropriate at all times. The students will look up to the Early Childhood students and imitate them. Behavior and attire must be professional and suitable for role modeling students with whom you will interact. Clothing must be neat, clean and appropriate. School staff at both the sending and the receiving school, are authorized to establish rules and regulations governing student appearance and to make judgments relative to same.
On Preschool days all students are expected to wear their Preschool t-shirt (provided by the program), jeans (with no holes) or other dress pants (NO YOGA PANTS), closed toe or heel shoes (NO FLIP FLOPS OR SANDALS OR SLIPPERS).
Highlander Preschool
Students in this course participate in a preschool offered to children in our community. Students will create lesson plans, set up, and run activities with the children. Students will have a chance to engage children in large muscle play and encourage fine motor skills growth.
The preschool runs in our classroom on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students will lesson plan on Mondays and Wednesdays. On Friday we have a debriefing session and hear from students who are working in the field of their preschool placement.
Dismissal: Certain violations of the student code of conduct, excessive absences, failure to perform duties to the requirements of the supervising teacher, abuse of driving privileges and other behaviors that fail to live up to the expectations of an appropriate role model may result in immediate removal from placementand/or without credit from Early Childhood Education.
Placement
Students in this course will have the opportunity to work alongside a Preschool teacher in the Howell area. Students will be assigned a preschool to attend throughout the week.
Students are expected to arrive at the placement on time and engage children through a variety of activities.
On Fridays, students will share with classmates and discuss the events of the week.
Post-Secondary Credit
Ferris State University, Central Michigan University, Baker College, Davenport University
High School Credit
4th Year Math, Visual Performing Applied Arts, 2nd Year Global Language, 3rd Science
Build Leadership Skills and Travel Opportunities
Students in this class are able to join our Howell High Chapter of FCCLA. See Mrs. Brinker for more information.