Course Title
Course Description:
This course actively involves the student in planning and teaching a preschool for three to five year olds. Using their background experience from the Child Development course as a foundation, students will plan lessons and implement activities in art and science. Students will be introduced to the different forms of formal observations and produce a portfolio of their lesson plans Students will have an opportunity to job shadow in the elementary schools. Students interested in early childhood or elementary education, psychology, social work or parenting will find the useful and interesting.
Enduring Understandings:
Unit 1: My Role in Early Childhood Education
The rewards and drawbacks of working in early childhood
Qualities needed to work in early childhood professions
The career possibilities in early childhood
Training and requirements for careers in early childhood
Qualities of a strong early childhood curriculum
Creating lesson plans
How children learn
Effective teaching techniques
Effective observations
Principles used in planning early childhood environments
The purpose and kinds of learning centers
How to choose equipment, materials and toys wisely
Unit 2: Establishing Schedules, Routines and Guidance Appropriate for Preschool Children
What a schedule is and considerations when developing one
Why and how certain common routines are incorporated in the daily schedule
Why and how transitions are used
Goals of classroom guidance
Effective techniques for communicating with young children
Positive discipline vs. punishment
Effective and ineffective discipline methods
Guiding emotional, social and moral development
What children understand in Piaget’s preoperational period
How caregivers should react to preschooler’s language development
How to develop a preschooler’s self-esteem
Unit 3: Art, Language Arts, Music, Gross Motor, Science, and Math Curriculums for Early Childhood Education
Goals of an art curriculum
Stages of artistic development
Plan and lead art activities for preschoolers
Process over product
Promote development of language skills
Assess suitability of books
Read effectively to preschoolers
How dramatic play encourages growth in all developmental areas
How children benefit from puppets
Create and act out a story with a puppet
The benefits of music
How basic skills and concepts are reinforced through music
How science and math activities benefit children
The teacher’s role in making science and math interesting and enjoyable for children
Plan and lead science activities for preschoolers
Unit 4: Portfolio Development
What a portfolio is
Content of a portfolio
Process of developing a portfolio
Quality vs. quantity in portfolio high standards
Becoming portfolio conscious
Essential Questions:
Unit 1:
What are the rewards and drawbacks of working in early childhood?
What are the qualities of a strong curriculum?
How do children learn?
Why do child care professionals observe and record children’s behavior?
What are the methods for recording observations?
What principles should be used in planning early childhood environments?
What is the purpose of learning centers?
Unit 2:
Why is a set schedule and common routines incorporated in the preschool’s daily schedule?
What are effective techniques for communicating with young children?
In what ways can caregivers guide children’s emotional, social and moral development?
What do children understand in Piaget’s preoperational period?
What is your role in developing a preschooler’s self-esteem?
Unit 3:
What are the goals of an art curriculum?
What are the stages of children’s artistic development?
What is an emphasis on process over product?
How can the preschool environment promote the development of language skills?
How do you effectively read a story to preschoolers?
How does dramatic play encourage growth in all developmental areas?
How does music benefit children?
How are basic skills and concepts reinforced through music activities?
How do science and math activities benefit children?
How can a teacher make science and math activities interesting and enjoyable?
How do gross motor activities benefit all areas of development?
How is safety insured during gross motor activities?
Unit 4:
What is a portfolio?
How do I develop a portfolio?
How can I design my portfolio for use after high school?
Course Academic Vocabulary:
Unit 1 and Unit 2:
Curriculum Developmentally Appropriate Active Listening
I-Message Positive Discipline Redirection
Self-Discipline
Unit 3 and Unit 4:
Process vs. Product Sensory Table Cooperative Play
Dramatic Play Parallel Play Facilitate
Lesson Plan Manipulatives Open-Ended Questions
Teachable Moments Thematic Unit Portfolio
Resume
Course Units / Topics of Study:
Unit 1: My Role in Early Childhood Education
Unit 2: Establishing Schedules, Routines and Guidance Appropriate for Preschool Children
Unit 3: Art, Language Arts, Music, Gross Motor, Science, and Math Curriculums for Early Childhood Education
Unit 4: Portfolio Development
