Course Essentials

• This course delves into the intricacies of play and how children use play to develop meaning. Emphasis is placed on play as an instructional strategy, building play into the curriculum, and choosing materials that are developmentally, culturally, and age-appropriate for children preschool through early elementary. Students are required to observe children in a group setting. 

• Advisory: ENGL C101, LIBR C100 

Below is a list of specific skills this course is designed to guide you towards obtaining. Each learning activity and assignment you complete in this course will contribute to your growth towards meeting these goals. Upon completion of the course, you will be able to:

• • Discuss how play influences children's physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development.

  • Analyze various developmental theories in terms of play and how to extend and enrich children's development of meaning.

  • Use play as an instructional strategy to enhance development by planning, implementing, and evaluating play-based curriculum and environments.

This is a zero textbook cost course, meaning no book purchases are required! We are using an online resource as our main text.

• The Powerful Role of Play in Early Education

https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/documents/powerfulroleofplay.pdf

• • Links to each chapter will be provided in the course.  I'll also provide a download option if you'd like to save it for offline reading.  

• There will also be a few readings found in PDF form and available through the course’s Canvas shell and/or links to them on the internet. Be sure to read these as well, as they will contain useful information not always discussed in the textbook chapters. They are free of cost for you, too! 

• Read the Powerful Role of Play -Introduction

• Become familiar with APA citation format

• Prepare for the Setting Goals Assignment by considering the following: 

  • Online classes require discipline and attention to detail. We are all busy, and the week can get away from us. Scheduling a specific time when you'll be "in" class is an effective strategy for success. To that end, please identify which days of the week and times you are planning to be "in" class completing readings, posting to the discussion, working on assignments, etc?

  • What are your learning goals for this class? What specific concepts or ideas are you hoping to learn, related to teaching young children (principles and practices)?

  • What specific steps will you take to meet the goals you identified above? (Think about study habits, learning behaviors, etc.)