Childcare, Development, and Education

EXPLORING CHILDHOOD (FC950)

Grades 10, 11, 12; 5 credits; One Year Elective

This course provides the student, who is interested in pursuing a related career or who enjoys the enthusiasm and innocence of children, with the opportunity to interact with preschool-age children in a classroom setting. High school students will be challenged better to understand the development of young children, themselves, their relationships with their parents and their future parenting styles. Students will learn how to plan age-appropriate activities to foster positive self-esteem, understand social/emotional growth, promote language acquisition, plan for both small and large motor development, and enhance conceptual skill development of the preschool-age child. The high school students become the teachers and create interesting activities for young children who are learning to interact with others, explore their environment and build self-confidence. Through interaction and observation, students develop insight into behavioral situations typical of early childhood and gain an understanding of the sequential development of children’s physical, emotional, intellectual, and social skills and the importance of the parent’s nurturing role.

INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATION (FC951)

Grades 11, 12; 5 credits; One Year Elective; Prerequisite: Application may be required.

Students who are interested in becoming teachers, administrators, guidance counselors or community leaders will benefit from taking this college level elective. The primary goal of this course is to encourage academically able students who possess exemplary interpersonal and leadership skills to consider teaching as a career. An important secondary goal of the course is to provide these talented future community leaders with insights about teachers and schools so that they will be civic advocates of education. Students will be eligible to earn 3 college credits through Rider University.