Early Childhood Education

Helps students acquire various communication skills to enhance parent/caregiver relationships. Covers interpersonal communication, listening skills and cooperative problem solving.

Provides parents and teachers various formal and informal methods to enhance their observation and assessment skills. Discussion includes methods for use with developmentally delayed children.

Examines the health and nutritional needs of young children. Develops skills in menu planning, selecting safe equipment and toys, routines to ensure good health and policies on illness.

Helps students choose equipment and materials to create a physical environment which is responsive to the infant/toddler total development. Staff considerations and time schedules will be explored.

Surveys books for use with preschool children. Includes techniques of storytelling and reading to children.

Emphasizes activities and materials for developing auditory and visual perception and other reading readiness skills in the preschool.

Outlines activities and materials for teaching music in the preschool, including songs, dances and rhythm activities.

Describes activities and materials for teaching art in the preschool, including creative development and enjoyment of art through various materials and activities.

Provides information about infectious diseases and first aid measures in the child care setting. Course content will include recognizing communicable and acute illnesses, management of accidents and injuries, preventive measures, health education, current research, and community resources.

Surveys the characteristics and specific needs of special children. Emphasizes teaching and behavioral management as well as available support services.

Studies effective communication with children in guiding behavior. Emphasis will be placed on techniques which help children build positive self-concepts and individual strengths within the context of appropriate limits and discipline. The study includes uses of direct and indirect guidance techniques as well as introduction to guidance systems.

Prerequisites: ECE 251 or consent of instructor Allows students to work directly with young children under supervision of a master teacher for three hours per week per credit. Students will contract with the instructor and supervisor for completion of projects. Projects will be related to such areas as routines in the preschool, advanced curriculum planning and implementation, or communication techniques with parents. Lesson plans will be completed and carried out with children.

Prerequisites: ECE250 Studies principles and practices in supervision and management of preschool and child care centers, including program planning, organization, budgeting, personnel records, relationships with community resources, regulatory agencies and working with parents.

Introduces students to early childhood education. This course includes the history of child care, regulations, types of programs, legal issues, professional opportunities and current trends and issues. Emphasis is placed on the role of the preschool teacher in enhancing the social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth of preschool-aged children.

Prerequisites: ECE 250 Considers methods of planning and teaching curriculum for children 3-5 years old. Included will be curriculum development, children's play, lesson planning, and daily scheduling. Emphasis will be on curriculum development for children 3-5 years old in areas such as art, science, literature, music, language arts, block, dramatic play, etc.