Exposes students to various types of early childhood education settings. This 45 clock hour field experience is to be taken concurrently with the corresponding section of CHD-203. Course assignments include but are not limited to: Identification and discussion of various early childhood settings, learning through play, providing a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment, supporting social -emotional development, providing positive guidance, observation of developmental domains, and working with diverse families. Topics and assignments in this course support the NAEYC Standards. Students must complete specific requirements before beginning a practicum experience. (see General Course Requirements).
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
Students will discover various types of early childhood education settings.
- Introduction of different types of early childhood programs.
- Classroom management and supervision.
- Safe, healthy, learning environment for infants, toddlers, preschool and early elementary children.
- Working with diverse families.
- Social-emotional development and positive guidance.
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
- Identify and discuss the similarities and differences between the different program types.
- Discuss appropriate classroom management and supervision techniques.
- Accurately describe appropriate positive guidance techniques.
- Integrate child development, temperament, and needs to develop and maintain a healthy, safe, respectful, and supportive learning environment.
- Discuss the effect of classroom structure, space, and schedule on the behavior and interactions of children and teachers.
- Create a safe, healthy, respectful, supportive, and stimulating learning environment.
- Explain the importance of support systems for diverse families.
- Discuss a variety of early childhood program settings for children ages birth- eight.
- Observe and identify strategies used for building positive teacher-parent relationships within diverse families.
- Engage in discussions and activities designed to promote a safe, healthy, learning environment; positive guidance; and working with families.
Assessment and Requirements
Assessment of academic achievement includes:
- Verbal presentation on program differences and similarities.
- Written summary and presentation of field experience(includes program comparison of two different programs).
- Detailed observations on teacher/child and teacher/assistant relationships in the classroom.
- Early Childhood Program Quality Rating Scale.
- Observation of children's development and learning in the developmental areas (i.e. Cognitive, Physical, Language, Social).
*The following documents must be provided before starting this practicum: Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Clearance; Tuberculosis (TB) test record (must be in the last 12 months); Identification (valid driver’s license or State ID); and a HFC student ID card. Students are now required to complete fingerprinting before starting their field experience. Some practicum locations may request immunization(s), a physical exam and an ICHAT (Cleared Criminal Background Check). Students will be required to pass a criminal background check. Details are provided through the Practicum Coordinator. The student will be informed of any additional documents needed by the child care program.
Students are required to complete all scheduled practicum hours throughout the semester. Field experience hours and either the program director or the coordinating teacher's signature are required documentation.
Note: Grades for CHD-203 (lecture) and CHD-211 (field experience) are separate. It is possible to pass CHD-203 and not CHD-211-and vice versa. To successfully pass the CHD-211 field experience, students must receive a grade of C or higher.
The following NAEYC Associate Degree Standards are met by this course at the understanding or application level
1. Promoting Child Development and Learning.
1a: Knowing and understanding young children's characteristics and needs, from birth through age 8.
1b: Knowing and understanding the multiple influences on early development and learning.
2. Building Family and Community Relationships
2a: Knowing about and understanding diverse family and community characteristics.
3. Observing, Documenting, and Assessing to Support Young Children and Families
3a: Understanding the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment-including its use in development.
3d: Knowing about assessment partnerships with families and with professional colleagues to build effective learning environments.
6. Becoming A Professional
6a: Identifying and involving oneself with the early childhood field.
6b: Knowing about and upholding ethical standards and other early childhood professional guidelines.
7. Early Childhood Field Experiences:
7a: Opportunities to observe and practice in at least two of the three early childhood age groups (birth - age 3, 3-5, 5-8).
7b: Opportunities to observe and practice in at least two of the three main types of early education settings (early school grades, child care
centers and homes, Head Start programs).
No Text Required.
Outcomes
Credit for Prior College-Level Learning
A Written Essay and Oral Exam will be issued by the program director or their designee. These exams will be graded by the program director based on evaluation rubrics.
The student must contact the program director to schedule an appointment for each of the following requirements:
•Complete an Oral exam which will focus on the student’s knowledge in the six CDA Competency Areas.
•Complete a Written essay which will be a 1 ½-2 page Developmental Area essay which will focus on the student’s knowledge of the developmental areas in early childhood education, for example: Cognitive, Social, Language, & Physical. The essay will be assessed against an evaluation rubric.
If the student passes the oral exam and written essay & provides the licensure/certification requirements, they will be eligible for CPCLL for both CHD 203 and CHD 211.
If the student fails either the oral exam or written essay or both, the student will receive one more opportunity within two weeks to meet with the program director again to complete the part(s) failed.
If the student fails either part the second time, the student will be required to take both the CHD 203 and CHD 211 courses and will not be able to use his or her CDA credential alone.
Note:Because of the CDA Council's 2.0 revisions that took place in 2016, any student with a CDA not falling under the new 2.0 CDA requirements will not be considered for the CPCLL and will automatically have to register for CHD 203 and CHD 211.
Students with a current CDA Credential may request credit for prior learning. The student will be required to scan, fax, mail or hand deliver a copy of the CDA Credential to the program director. The Children and Families Program Director will verify certifications.
In order to be considered for the CPCLL, the student must complete the following:
The student must provide the Program Director with a copy of a current Infant/Toddler, Preschool, or Home Provider
CDA Credential and the following:
For students that are CDA Renewal Candidates: This is a valid CDA Credential that is stamped with “Renewal.” The Council for Professional Recognition requires the completion of 45 clock hours (4.5 CEUs) of training as part of your CDA renewal process.
- Student must provide proof of 45 clock hours (4.5 CEUs) of training in early childhood education/child development that is related to the individual's CDA setting. This may be verified through a training certificate/letter on the Organization's company letter head or the student must provide an official college course transcript showing the early childhood course taken.
- The student must provide a letter verifying 80 hours of work experience with young children or families of young children within the past year.
The student complete the Departmental Exam section of this CPCLL.
For students that are Current CDA Candidates: The valid CDA Credential does not say “Renewal.”
- The student must provide a copy of the individual's current CDA Credential.
- The student must complete the Departmental Exam section of this CPCLL
NOTE: A copy of the CDA Credential will be retained in the Department Office.
Note: Students interested in transferring into the Children and Families Program and whose CDA Credential has expired will automatically have to take CHD-203 and CHD-211. Those who took college courses to complete their CDA (specifically if expired) should contact the Children and Families Program Director to have their college transcript reviewed before registering for CHD-203 and CHD-211.