ED 5200 - Foundations of Early Childhood

3 Credit(s)

This course provides early childhood educators an opportunity to explore historical data and emerging research on how children grow, develop, and learn from birth through grade four. Programs and curriculum models in early childhood education are analyzed and evaluated. The focus is on the development of the social child and the implications of this development for learning. Academic achievement is founded on emotional and social skills, and learning is a process that requires self-regulation, self-awareness, confidence, motivation, and problem-solving skills. Teacher candidates learn to integrate the development of social and personal skills, including getting along with others (parents, teachers, and peers), following directions, identifying and regulating one’s emotions and behavior, thinking of appropriate solutions to conflicts, persisting on task, engaging in social conversation and cooperative play, correctly interpreting others’ behaviors and emotions, and feeling good about self and others. The course centers on motor development, health, safety, and nutrition of the young child. The course also focuses on classroom organization and the establishment of an environment conducive to learning. The course celebrates diversity, motivating candidates to learn and foster partnerships with parents, schools, and community. This course is designed to prepare teachers to teach health, safety, nutrition, and physical education activities in the curriculum. This course includes a community outreach project field placement component for which students will plan, present, and evaluate developmentally appropriate lessons for young children. (Adapted from the Pennsylvania Dept. of Education’s Pre-K–4 Program Specific Guidelines, 2008.)