ED 523 - Early Childhood Development to Grade 4

3 Credit(s)

In this course, students use typical developmental milestones in an effort to understand and evaluate atypical development. Students become acquainted with the prenatal and early developmental genetic and environmental influences that contribute to atypical developmental outcomes, the methods of assessment and instruction used by early intervention providers, and the legal and practical practices associated with these methods. The course focuses on how candidates use their understanding and knowledge about the complex characteristics of children’s families and communities to create and sustain respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and engage families, and to involve families in their children’s development and learning. An understanding of family values, community supports, evidence-based practice, and functional behavioral assessments are used to show how educators must include a view of the whole child when designing appropriate and effective instruction. This course contains a field experience component in the community. (Adapted from the Pennsylvania Dept. of Education’s Pre-K-4 Program Specific Guidelines, 2008.)