NORTHWEST-SHOALS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

NORTHWEST-SHOALS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

General Course Syllabus

TITLE OF COURSE: Introduction to Early Care and Education (CHD100)

DIVISION: Social Science

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course introduces students to the child education and care profession. It is designed to increase understanding of the basic concepts of child development and the developmental characteristics of young children. This course is the foundation for planning appropriate activities for children and establishing appropriate expectations of young children. This class also offers an opportunity to study the developmental domains (social, emotional, cognitive/language, and physical). Course includes observations of the young child in early childhood settings

HOURS:

Credit: 3 Contact: 3

Lecture: 3 Clinical: 0

Lab:

PRE-REQUISITES: None

CO-REQUISITES: None

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK(S): Herr, Judy, Working With Young Children and Student Activity Guide

GENERAL EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVE(S): This course in Introduction to Early Care and Education will assist students will assist students in achieving the following General Educational Objective of the college:

Objective 2: Associate degree graduates should be able to analyze points of view and develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.

This course emphasizes these Industry/Professional Competencies that are in support of this objective:

Explain ethical guidelines and other professional standards related to early childhood practice.
Explain the major influences on child development.
Identify behaviors that are associated with the domains of child development.
Describe social and emotional development of young children.
Identify environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for all children.
Recognize developmentally appropriate and inappropriate practices.
Recognize positive guidance in early childhood settings.
Explain the importance of lesson plans.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: To provide students with the basic skills necessary for successful preschool teaching which include:

1. To establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment

2. To advance physical and intellectual competence

3. To support social and emotional development and provide positive guidance

4. To establish positive and productive relationships with families

5. To ensure a well-run, purposeful program responsive to participant needs

6. To maintain a commitment to professionalism

METHODS OF EVALUATION:

A. Four major examinations will be administered. Each exam will account for 20% of final grade. Project assignments and activity guide will account for the remaining 20% of final grade

Evaluation of General Educational Objectives:

All associate degree graduates should be able to analyze points of view and develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. Project assignments and student activity guide will be used to assess this objective.

Use of Findings: Assessments are reviewed each semester course is offered. After review of course assessment materials, any appropriate changes will be made. (Details of assignments can be found on back page of syllabus)

Grading Scale: A (90-100), B (80-89), C (70-79), D (60-69), F (59 and below) A student who suspects that he/she is failing this class is encouraged to meet with the instructor

OUTLINE OF COURSE TOPICS:

ETHICAL GUIDELINES AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF THE CHILD CARE PROFESSION

· Responsibilities of child care and education providers

· Professional organizations

- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

- Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR)

- Other state legal requirements

· Legal, ethical, and professional standards

· Continuing education for child care and education providers

CONCEPTS OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT

· Developmental domains

· Influences on development

- Biological factors

- Environmental factors

- Interrelationship of the domains

· Developing self-concept

· Social and emotional development

· Cognitive and physical development

- Sensory explorations

· Physical

- Principals of motor development

- Gross motor

- Fine motor

- Sensory motor

- Facilitating and nurturing sensory/motor development

· Environmental influences on development

· Creating supportive environments

- Developmentally appropriate practice NAEYC Guidelines

- Age appropriateness

- Individual appropriateness

- Cultural appropriateness

· DAP activities

- Curriculum

- Adult child interactions

- Relationship between home and school

Developmental observations

· Positive guidance

- Basic concepts of behavior

- Definitions

o Guidance

o Discipline

· Understanding children's behavior

- Awareness of behavior

- Components of age appropriate behavior

· Positive ways to guide children's behavior

- Importance of appropriate rules and limits

LESSON PLANNING FOR EARLY CHILD CARE EDUCATION

· Importance of lesson planning

· Components of a lesson plan

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT POLICY: It is the policy of Northwest-Shoals Community College to comply with the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act. Any student covered under this act needing and desiring reasonable accommodations for this class should notify Linda Waide at 331-5321. See NWSCC catalog for additional details.

ATTENDANCE POLICY: Because class attendance is considered to be essential to the accomplishment of course objectives, excessive absences are discouraged. At no time should a student miss more than 20% of the class meetings for a course. These absences also include any absences accrued during late registration. Failure to adhere to the 20% policy may result in a failing grade based on academic performance. Students should discuss with the instructor what is considered “excessive” for a particular course. Any variation of this policy must be approved through the Chief Instructional Officer. A student who is absent due to required participation in a school activity must be allowed to make up work, according to guidelines issued by individual instructors.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY: A student who is unable to complete a course is expected to withdraw from that course by the end of 60% of class meetings. A student who withdraws by the date published in the schedule will receive a grade of “W” for the course. This withdrawal is done only by student request. The grade of “W” is allowed regardless of the student’s grades to the point of withdrawal.

After the designated date of class withdrawal, the approval of the Chief Instructional Officer is required prior to allowing a student to withdraw. The determination of “WP” (withdrawal passing) or “WF” (withdrawal failing) will be made by the instructor for the course and is based on the student’s grades to the point of withdrawal.

NORTHWEST-SHOALS COMMUNITY COLLEGE SPECIFIC COURSE SYLLABUS

Syllabus Schedule For: CHD 100-Introduction to Early Care and Education of Children

Telecourse

Term Beginning: June 1, 2006 Term Ending: August 11, 2006

Instructor: Diann Durdunji Office Phone: 331-5450__________________

June 5: Distance Learning Orientation -- Shoals Campus, Bldg 121, Rm 147; 5:00pm

June 6: Distance Learning Orientation -- P.C. Campus, Bldg 307, Rm AV2; 5:00pm

CLASS SCHEDULE SUMMER 2005:

Dates:	Video:	Corresponding Chapter:
	Episodes 1-4
June 7-20	Early Care & Education	Chapters 1&2
	Observation	Chapter 3
	Play	Chapter 20
	Language Development	Chapters 4, 19&21
1st assignment, video evaluation & Exam 1 to be completed by June 20^th Make appointment with testing lab: 331-5482 (Shoals) or 331-6228 (P.C.)
	Episodes 5-10
June 21-July 5	Toddlerhood: Physical & Cognitive Development	Chapter 5
	Toddlerhood: Emotional Development	Chapter 6
	Preschoolers: Physical & Cognitive Development
	Preschoolers: Social / Emotional Development Learning Environment	Chapters 8-12
	Curriculum	Chapter 17&18
2^nd assignment, video evaluation & Exam 2 to be completed by July 5^th. Make appointment with testing lab
	Episodes 11-15
July 6-July 18	Teacher / Child Interaction	Chapter 13-16
	Diversity Independence & Individuality
	Diversity Contrasting Perspectives
	Diversity and Communication
	Diversity and Conflict Management
3^rd assignment, video evaluation & Exam 3 to be completed by July 18^th Make appointment with testing lab
	Episodes 16-26
July 19-29th	MATH: One to One Correspondence, Comparing	Chapter 22
	Sets and Classification
	Shape; Parts & Wholes
	Space; Measurement
	Numbering & Counting; Numerals
	SCIENCE: Animals	Chapter 23
	Plants
	The Human Body
	Weather, Light & Shadows	Chapters 24-32
	Motion & Machines
	Water & Sand
Final assignment completed workbook video evaluation and Exam MUST be completed by August 3^rd. Make appointment with testing lab Summer workshop at the Shoals campus can be attended for extra credit. Call 331-5351 for details BEFORE Monday August 1^st.

	PROJECT ASSIGNMENTS:	DUE DATES:
1.	Type a three to five page paper on why you are interested in teaching young children and include an explanation of the importance of NAEYC to early childhood practice. Visit the NAEYC website for information. Find out what DAP is and give a brief explanation. Download the Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment NAEYC website and summarize. Code of Ethical Conduct should be handed in with assignment.	June. 20th
2.	Arrange a visit to a family childcare home. This site must be approved by the instructor and the director of the center should sign observation form for verification of visit (copy of verification form located on website). Ask for a daily schedule and a menu plan. Do not observe during naptime. Observation should last at least 2 hours. Make sure to wear your student ID. Describe the environment. Observe and document the effect of the environment on the children. Observe and document positive guidance techniques used. Be objective. Type up your observations and hand in any paperwork obtained from the home during your visit.	July 5th
3.	Visit a local library or preschool and find 3 children’s picture books designed to help young children express their feelings in positive ways. Record the names of books and authors. Type a one-page summary of each of these books and explain activities you would use in the classroom to support these books. Be specific! List objectives, materials, preparation, procedure, etc. for your activities,	July 18^th
4.	Observe in the NWSCC Child Development Center for at least 2 hours. (Call for an appointment: 331-5258 or Phil Campbell 331-6203) Teacher should sign observation for verification of visit (copy of verification form found on website). Do not observe during naptime. Make sure you sign-in and record observations according to guidelines outlined in the Observation video and your text. Ask about the curriculum and observe the environment. Notice the types of play in which children are engaged. Type-up your findings. Remember to wear your ID.	July 29^th
5.	Student Activity Guide due	July 29^th
6.	Video evaluation forms are due as stated. These forms can be downloaded from the course website: http://nwscc.edu/childdevelopment/DistanceCourses.html

OTHER IMPORTANT CLASS INFORMATION

· There will be at least two Discussion Board assignments for you to complete using WebCT

· There will be an assignment to complete under Assignments on the WebCT student page

· There will be a student/teacher chat each week on Wednesdays from 2:00-3:00 unless otherwise stated by the instructor

This is a Telecourse in which no class attendance is required. However, this class probably requires more initiative and persistence on your part than a traditional setting. YOU MUST REGULATE YOUR TIME! If you have any questions regarding assignments or material, please contact me. I will be happy to assist you in any way possible. You may e-mail assignments to:

durdunji@nwscc.edu Office: Child Development Center, phone: 331-5450.