Contents

EDUC 251 Advanced Practicum in Early Childhood Development

This course is designed to teach students how to implement and evaluate a quality child care program. Students are assigned to one child care setting where they will spend 10 hours per week, for a total of 120 Hours in the practicum setting. Students meet at the college every week for two hours to discuss lecture topics and classroom experiences, or to meet individually with the instructor.

Credits

5

Prerequisite

EDUC 151

Hours Weekly

1 hour lecture, 4 hours lab weekly

Course Objectives

  1. Define one’s philosophy and establish goals for an early childhood program.
  2. Organize and manage a developmentally appropriate classroom for young children on the
    level of a senior staff member.
  3. Plan and implement a developmentally appropriate early childhood curriculum on the level
    of a senior staff member.
  4. Plan and implement developmentally appropriate lessons in a variety of curriculum areas.
  5. Write two weekly lesson plans.
  6. Assess, record, and plan for the progress of an individual child in an early childhood
    program.
  7. Plan and oversee one 8-hour day as senior staff/lead teacher in an early childhood
    classroom.
  8. Work with or supervise staff to maintain high standards for the classroom and individual
    children.
  9. Plan and implement two opportunities for parental involvement/education in an early
    childhood program.
  10. Discuss and implement a variety of strategies for classroom management on the level of
    senior staff
  11. Function in a professional manner with young children and child care center staff.
  12. Identify own strengths and challenges in working with children and use structured activities
    to increase professional growth in an early childhood setting.
  13. Participate in one professional activity in the larger early childhood community.

Course Objectives

  1. Define one’s philosophy and establish goals for an early childhood program.

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Writing Assignments
    • 12 journal entries

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Rubric

    Program Goal(s)

    Degree: Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education - Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree (Transfer)

    1. Describe the theories and principles of child development and learning, and apply the theories and principles to classroom teaching.

    Degree: Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education - Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree (Transfer)

    6. Identify and explain the models of classroom and behavior management.

  2. Organize and manage a developmentally appropriate classroom for young children on the
    level of a senior staff member.

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Perform variety of classroom duties with scheduled increase in responsibilities week by week for duration of the practicum

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Checklist

    Program Goal(s)

    Degree: Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education - Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree (Transfer)

    2. Identify the policies, issues, trends, and historical events in the field of early childhood education.

  3. Plan and implement a developmentally appropriate early childhood curriculum on the level
    of a senior staff member.

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Assist on-site supervisor in developing and teaching appropriate activity plans; choose and design own lesson plans

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Checklist

    Program Goal(s)

    Degree: Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education - Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree (Transfer)

    5. Demonstrate understanding of content areas and apply developmentally appropriate approaches to enhance children’s learning and development.

  4. Plan and implement developmentally appropriate lessons in a variety of curriculum areas.

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Write and teach 4 lessons in the child care practicum setting

    Program Goal(s)

    Degree: Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education - Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree (Transfer)

    5. Demonstrate understanding of content areas and apply developmentally appropriate approaches to enhance children’s learning and development.

  5. Write two weekly lesson plans.

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Written assignment using provided format – plan and describe 2 weeks of activities in all important curriculum areas.

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Rubric

    Program Goal(s)

    Degree: Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education - Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree (Transfer)

    5. Demonstrate understanding of content areas and apply developmentally appropriate approaches to enhance children’s learning and development.

    Degree: Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education - Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree (Transfer)

    6. Identify and explain the models of classroom and behavior management.

  6. Assess, record, and plan for the progress of an individual child in an early childhood
    program.

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Observe, assess, and record progress of one infant or toddler in acquiring specific developmental skills

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Rubric

    Program Goal(s)

    Degree: Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education - Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree (Transfer)

    1. Describe the theories and principles of child development and learning, and apply the theories and principles to classroom teaching.

  7. Plan and oversee one 8-hour day as senior staff/lead teacher in an early childhood
    classroom.

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Act as lead classroom teacher for one full day

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Observation checklist

    Program Goal(s)

    Degree: Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education - Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree (Transfer)

    2. Identify the policies, issues, trends, and historical events in the field of early childhood education.

  8. Work with or supervise staff to maintain high standards for the classroom and individual
    children.

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Behave in a professional manner in all interactions with children, staff and parents in the practicum setting; seek and follow feedback from on-site supervisor

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Observation checklist

    Program Goal(s)

    Degree: Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education - Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree (Transfer)

    4. Demonstrate knowledge of supporting and empowering families and communities through respectful, reciprocal relationships.

  9. Plan and implement two opportunities for parental involvement/education in an early
    childhood program.

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Plan and execute 2 parent communication projects

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Checklist

    Program Goal(s)

    Degree: Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education - Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree (Transfer)

    7. Identify and conduct themselves as early childhood professionals who use ethical guidelines and National Association for the Education of Young Children standards related to early childhood practice, and who are advocates for sound educational practices and policies.

  10. Discuss and implement a variety of strategies for classroom management on the level of
    senior staff

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Manage specific group and classroom routines in a practicum setting

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Checklist

    Program Goal(s)

    Degree: Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education - Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree (Transfer)

    2. Identify the policies, issues, trends, and historical events in the field of early childhood education.

  11. Function in a professional manner with young children and child care center staff.

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Behave in a professional manner in all interactions with children, staff and parents in the practicum setting; seek and follow feedback from on-site supervisor

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Observational checklists

    Program Goal(s)

    Degree: Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education - Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree (Transfer)

    4. Demonstrate knowledge of supporting and empowering families and communities through respectful, reciprocal relationships.

  12. Identify own strengths and challenges in working with children and use structured activities
    to increase professional growth in an early childhood setting.

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Writing Assignments
    • Final journal entry

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Rubric

    Program Goal(s)

    Degree: Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education - Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree (Transfer)

    4. Demonstrate knowledge of supporting and empowering families and communities through respectful, reciprocal relationships.

  13. Participate in one professional activity in the larger early childhood community.

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Complete one training or professional development activity in the larger ECE community from list provided by instructor

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • checklist

    Program Goal(s)

    Degree: Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education - Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree (Transfer)

    4. Demonstrate knowledge of supporting and empowering families and communities through respectful, reciprocal relationships.