ECED& 105 - Introduction to Early Childhood Education

1. Explain current theories and ongoing research in early care and education as it applies to children, families, and early childhood programs.
2. Describe how children learn and develop through play and the role of play in early childhood programs.
3. Observe an early childhood environment and identify examples of best practice.
4. Document the importance of reflective thinking, meaning making, and decision making to the roles a teacher performs.
5. Compare early learning program models.
6. Explain the importance of building partnerships with families and strategies for working effectively with families from a variety of cultural, linguistic, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
7. Identify appropriate guidance and discipline techniques used in family and early learning settings.
8. Describe the observation, assessment, and teaching cycle used to plan curriculum and activities for young children.
9. Apply the professional code of ethics for early care and education to resolve a dilemma.
10. Describe major historical figures, advocates, and events shaping today’s early childhood education.
11. Document an understanding of the professionally defined characteristics of continual lifelong learning and sources for ongoing professional development that are involved in early childhood education.
12. Document how professionally defined practices provide teachers with guidance on how to foster children’s learning, design high-quality classroom environments, develop curriculum, and document children’s growth and learning.