Early Childhood Education - ECE

This course is an introduction and overview of the field of Early Childhood Education (ECE). Topics include: a history and theoretical foundation of early care and education, types of early childhood programs and settings, an overview of child care licensing and regulation, professional development in ECE, working with families, designing the classroom environment, ethical conduct, daily schedules, curriculum planning, positive guidance, child development, components of the early care and education system, and current trends and issues in ECE. The course also emphasizes the importance of developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) in the field.

This course will explore key components of social emotional learning and development in children birth through age eight. Coursework will focus on the study and use of positive techniques to effectively support child behavior in early childhood settings in order to help children build positive self-concepts and individual strengths within the context of appropriate limits. The study includes uses of direct and indirect guidance techniques.

This course is a study of young children with differing physical, social/emotional, language, and/or cognitive abilities. Students are introduced to typical and exceptional development, specific developmental disabilities, as well as strategies for including all children in early care and education programs. Adaptive teaching approaches to support children with differing abilities, working with families of exceptional children, and behavior and classroom management strategies are also explored.

This course focuses on professional issues in Early Childhood Education including knowing about and upholding ethical guidelines and other professional standards related to early childhood practice; involvement in the early childhood field through professional organizations and activities; principles of effective leadership and advocacy for young children and for the early childhood profession; and public policy at the local, state, and national levels to support early childhood education in appropriate ways.

This course focuses on effective, positive communication skills to enhance family-teacher relationships in early childhood education programs. Students will learn formal and informal verbal and written communication strategies. Daily interactions, newsletters, phone conversations, informational bulletin boards, record keeping, family conferences and home visits will be introduced as methods of communication.