Early Childhood Education

This course provides students with an overview of the development of children birth through age three. Students will explore physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and linguistic growth, as well as factors that affect learning and development. Emphasis will be placed on the role of family and community partnership in effective care-giving programs. Students will also design developmentally appropriate curriculum, including observation and formal and informal assessment techniques. Students will demonstrate understanding of the Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale (ITERS) by performing an evaluation in an infant/toddler classroom setting. Students will participate in a minimum of 50 hours of required field experience. Prerequisite: None Semester hour(s): 4 Lecture/Lab Hours: 4 lec/week

This course provides an overview of the theory and principles of human growth and development from conception and prenatal development through age 8. Content includes an in-depth study of the inter-relatedness of physical, social/emotional, cognitive, language and aesthetic aspects of development. Development is studied in the context of family, gender, culture, language, ability, socio-economics, diversity and society. Current research and major developmental theories are examined with an emphasis on the implications for early childhood professional practice. Students are required to complete 3 observations at an approved preschool site. Prerequisite: None Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) ECE 912 Semester hour(s): 3 Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec/week

This survey course provides an overview of early childhood care and education including historical and cultural perspectives, organization, structure, programming, and evidence-based practices. Professional and evidence-based practices of highly qualified early childhood educators are outlined with an emphasis on their ability to enhance development and learning of each and every child between the ages of birth and eight. Considerations for diversity of culture, language, race, socio- economic status, gender, ethnicity, and ability will be included. Students will spend a minimum of 15 hours of observation in diverse early childhood settings. Prerequisite: None Semester hour(s): 3 Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec/week

This course focuses on the child in the context of family, school, and community. An analysis of the contemporary American family will be discussed, with emphasis on the individual family interactions within the larger societal context. The course will examine the interplay of diverse cultures, lifestyles, language, and communication with the role of school and other community institutions. Students will gain an understanding of their professional role in supporting practices that strengthen respectful family/child relationships through effective use of community and family resources. Prerequisite: None Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) ECE 915 Semester hour(s): 3 Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec/week

Students will be introduced to the perspectives, concepts, and methods of language and literacy development in young children. Students will focus on the speech and language development of young children ages 0-8, as well as the practices to individualize teaching to support language and literacy development in a diverse classroom. Typical and atypical language development; the diverse factors that influence language and literacy development; developmentally appropriate methods, materials, and environments; and supporting English language learners will be emphasized. Prerequisite: None Semester hour(s): 3 Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec/week

This course is an exploration of early mathematical content and concepts that are relevant to young children ages 0-6. Students will learn what mathematics looks like during the early years and learn strategies to recognize and promote mathematical understanding in young children. Particular emphasis will be on the following concepts: numbers, measurement, shapes, patterns, spatial relations, analysis of data. Prerequisite: None Semester hour(s): 3 Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec/week

This course provides an overview of the health, safety and nutritional needs of young children and early childhood practices to ensure the health and well-being of each child in a group setting. Content includes roles and responsibilities of adults in meeting children's diverse needs, the promotion of healthy life style practices, understanding common childhood illnesses and injuries, meeting health, nutrition and safety standards, and planning nutritious meals that are appropriate for each child. Prerequisite: None Semester hour(s): 3 Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec/week

This course focuses on authentic, alternative, classroom-based assessment on young children and how to appropriately use standardized test information. The course will further provide the student with the knowledge and skills to interpret and use the information gained to plan curriculum that is responsive to and supportive of children's learning and development. Students will have the opportunity to engage in assessment processes through means of classroom observations, providing each student with a stronger understanding of child development skills. Students learn about and explore a variety of age, individually, linguistically and culturally appropriate formal and informal assessments to gather and share information on each child's skills, abilities, interests and needs, birth through age 8. This class requires a 20 hour observation clinical component. Prerequisite: None Semester hour(s): 3 Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec/week

A supervised field experience designed to utilize and develop the student's learned training and educational skills in a chosen field. All students are required to spend at least six hours per week at a career education site as agreed upon with the advisor for a total of 90 hours minimum. Prerequisite: Students may register for practicum only with the consent of the SVCC practicum coordinator and the student's assigned academic counselor. Completion of first and second semester courses in the ECE suggested program required. Semester hour(s): 3 Lecture/Lab Hours: 6 lab/week

The principles involved in planning, implementing, and evaluating developmentally appropriate, evidence-based curriculum for young children are studied. The course focuses on relationships among developmental theory, philosophy, practice, and development of curriculum based on the needs and interests of young children including those who are culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse. The analysis of a wide range of early childhood curriculum models is emphasized. Field experiences are required. Prerequisite: None Semester hour(s): 3 Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec/week