CHS
001
Introduction
To Early Childhood Education
Course Description:
This foundation
course explores the field of early childhood education from historical and
social perspectives.
It focuses on the roots of early childhood education as a profession and
its growth over the past 100 years.
Students will participate in the Child Studies Department’s Child
Development programs on campus and gain pre-professional field experience in
working with young children within an emergent play based curriculum model.
Text:
Text book information is coming
Instructor:
Katherine Moore-Wines
Course
Objectives:
1)
Identify and analyze the philosophy of developmentally appropriate
practices in early childhood education.
2)
Have knowledge of the Developmental Interactivist Approach to Early
Childhood Education
3)
Observe and analyze young children’s behaviors.
4)
Identify issues and problems associated with children in group settings.
5)
Observe and analyze teacher’s behaviors in relation to children’s
behavior.
6)
Have Knowledge and understanding of the function and use of curriculum
materials and equipment.
7)
Have Knowledge of the preparation and arrangement of curriculum materials
and equipment for learning experiences to expand and be responsive to the
child’s developmental needs.
8)
Have knowledge and usage of professional vocabulary in early
childhood education.
Course
Outline:
I.
Historical Perspectives and Influences in Early Childhood Education
a)
John Dewey and the Progressive Education Movement
b)
Lucy Sprague Mitchell and the Developmental Interactionist Approach
c)
Jean Piaget and the Constructivist Approach
d)
NAEYC and the Developmentally Appropriate Practice Guidelines
e)
Loris Malagucci and the Reggio Emilia Approach
II.
The Developmental Interactionist Approach
a)
Profiles of Child Development for ages 2 through 5 year olds
1)
the meaning and function of children’s behavior
b)
the function of the environment in development
c)
the function and influences of teacher’s behaviors on children’s
behavior and development
d)
identify and analyze differences in children
1)
strategies for dealing with children’s individual differences
a)
cultural
b)
linguistic
c)
developmental
III.
The Value of Play
a) The function and importance of play in guiding children’s
behavior and planning curriculum
Outline
of Scheduled Lab Content:
Students are assigned to assist the
Child Development Center staff with the supervision and education of young
children in one of the three West Valley College Child Development Center
classrooms. Children range in age
from 2 to 7 years of age. A typical
lab session may include:
I.
Under direction of lab instructor, assist WVC Child Development Center
staff in the implementation of the early childhood curriculum including:
a) preparation, set up, and clean-up of
the classroom environment
and curriculum activities
b) assist staff with the implementation
of early childhood activities
in language, literacy, blocks, art, music, movement, nature,
ecology, dramatic play, and various field trips
c) guided interaction with children in
small group activities indoors
d) guided interactions with children in
small group activities outdoors
e) assist with the supervision of
children engaged in daily routines
such as snacks, meals, hand washing, toileting, naptime,
transition from home-to-school
II.
Record keeping and Documentation of Lab experiences;
attend staff meetings
Students will participate in the photo, video, and
written documentation of their experiences throughout the semester. The Lab
instructor will videotape each student in the implementation of an educational
experience with a small group of children.
Students will keep detailed journals of their experiences.
Students are required to complete timesheets and engage in a variety of
routine record keeping tasks in the classroom.
West Valley College 
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