Theory and Developmentally Appropriate Practice for the Young Citizen

Catalog description

This course is a study of developmentally appropriate practices for the whole child at each developmental stage including infant, toddler, preschool, kindergarten, and primary; with an emphasis on the nature and function of play. Students explore current trends in Early Childhood Education through the lens of established educational theory, early childhood learning standards, and research-based best practices in the field. Topics such as planning and assessment, emergent curriculum, Early Childhood curriculum models, environment and schedule design, and the use of centers are considered from a whole child development perspective. In this class, students explore, observe, and develop strategies to meet the social, emotional, physical, cognitive, spiritual, literacy, and executive functioning needs of diverse learners at each stage of development. Special emphasis is placed on the importance of integrated social studies, as young learners become productive citizens through playful participation in their families, schools, communities, and the world around them. Prerequisite: minimum score of 01 in 'Upper Division Status'.