ECE 101                       INTRO TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

                        T                                  Fall

This course provides an overview of the history and philosophy of the different types of early childhood care centers and educational settings including past, present, and future programs for young children and their families. The overview will include the basic values, structure, organization and programming in early childhood settings. This course reviews the role of the early childhood professional in assessing and planning developmentally appropriate practices to serve young children. Knowledge is also gained in regard to current trends and important influences impacting program quality. Guidance and observational skills will be fostered through direct observations in field experiences.

Credit:  3 hours - Two lecture and two lab hours per week.

Prerequisite(s):  None

 

ECE 110                       CDA ORIENTATION

                                                            By Request

The purpose of this course is to provide prospective preschool CDA candidates with the foundation for preparation of the CDA (Child Development Associate) Credential program.  The course content includes explaining the steps required to compile the resource file which includes writing the autobiography, the six competency statements, and collecting the items for the resource collection.  The course content also includes a basic assignment from each of the thirteen functional areas that comprise the core of the demonstration of the teaching competencies.

Credit:  2 hours – Two lecture hours per week.

Prerequisite(s):  None

 

ECE 114                       CHILD GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

T                                  Fall

This course is designed to provide the student with an understanding of the total development of the young child. This course focuses on the physical, cognitive, language, creative, and social/emotional aspects of the young child’s development. The course content provides knowledge of the different theoretical positions and principles on child development, including Piaget, Erikson, Vygotsky, Skinner, and others. It also includes knowledge of the biological, environmental, cultural, and social influences impacting children’s growth and development from conception through age eight. Some study will include early adolescence.

Credit:  3 hours - Three lecture hours per week.

Prerequisite(s):  None

 

ECE 120           EARLY CHILDHOOD CONTINUING ED.

                                                            Spring

This course will provide general updates related to current practices provided for community families.

Credit:  .5 hours - .5 lecture hours per week.

Prerequisite(s):  None

 

ECE 127                       CHILD, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY

                                                            Spring

This course focuses on the child in the context of family and community. This course concentrates on the educator’s role in building relationships with the child’s family and community. It is designed to provide insight into parent involvement in education and to help the educator develop skills in working with parents. The course content stresses communication, diversity, parent education, professionalism, working with diverse family structures, and social policy. It specifies criteria and methods for effective ways to involve families and include them in school/family interactions. It will promote awareness and effective use of community resources.

Credit:  3 hour - Three lecture hour per week.

Prerequisite(s):  None

 

ECE 128                       CHILD GUIDANCE/DISCIPLINE

                                    Spring

This course reviews the theories and practices of effective methods of guiding children’s behavior both individually and as a group. Emphasis is applied to various techniques that promote positive and supportive relationships with and among children. The course content covers teaching behavior, environment manipulation and modification techniques based on the developmental and special needs of children.

Credit:  3 hours - Three lecture hours per week.

Prerequisite(s):  None

 

ECE 129           ASSESSMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

                                                            Spring

This course deals with authentic assessment as the core for teaching and learning in the early childhood setting. The content will cover the issues of why, what, when, and how in regards to assessment information. The processes of collecting, interpreting, and using the assessment information will also be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on assembling, organizing, and maintaining portfolios.

Credit:  3 hours - Three lecture hours per week.

Prerequisite(s)s:  None

 

ECE 130           Quality Environment in Family Childcare

                                                            By Request

This course presents principles and applications for creating quality environments in family child care settings. It considers the children, families, and care providers in this environment. This course is designed for both the working family day care provider and persons interested in entering the profession. A current provider will learn how to enhance their business. A person interested in entering the profession will learn appropriate methods for use in planning their future business. The content promotes understanding of and ability to provide quality family day care and connect this understanding to the “Family Day Care Rating Scale” (FDCRS), which can be used for tiered reimbursement in Illinois. The course may also move providers toward Illinois’ Great Start Bonus.

Credit:  3 hours – Three lecture hours per week.

Prerequisite(s):  None

 

ECE 199           EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION INTERNSHIP

                                                            Fall/Spring/Summer

The purpose of the internship is to provide on-the-job-training in early childhood education in an approved setting, practicing the principles, skills, and techniques developed in previous courses. Students will learn by applying their knowledge, developing lesson plans, and carrying out their plans in an actual center-based child care program, Head Start, or public school.

Credit:  2 hours - Ten lab hours per week.

Prerequisite(s):  All courses required for the Early Childhood Education program.

 

ECE 215                       LANGUAGE ARTS FOR THE YOUNG CHILD

                                                            Fall

This course is designed to introduce students to content and teaching methodology in the area of language arts. Emphasis is on the language arts in the early childhood discipline. The course includes a study of how the young child’s language develops. The student will learn techniques for encouraging development of language skills in the young child.

Credit:  3 hours - Three lecture hours per week.

Recommended:  Students are encouraged to take ECE 101-Introduction to Early Childhood Education, ECE114-Child Growth and Development and ECE 126-Curriculum for Preschool Programs prior to enrolling in this course.

 

ECE 216                       ART/MUSIC ACTIVITIES

                                                            Fall

The purpose of this course is to provide knowledge and application of practices that promote creative activities appropriate for the young child. The course reinforces the importance of specific curriculum criteria for activity selection. The student will learn methods to use to encourage self-expression and participation for integration in program planning.

Credit:  3 hours - Three lecture hours per week.

Recommended:  Students are encouraged to take ECE 101-Introduction to Early Childhood Education, ECE114-Child Growth and Development and ECE 126-Curriculum for Preschool Programs prior to enrolling in this course.

 

ECE 217                       SCIENCE/MATH ACTIVITIES

                                                            Fall

The purpose of this course is to provide knowledge and application of practices that promote science and math activities appropriate for the young child. The course reinforces the importance of specific curriculum criteria for activity selection.  The student will learn methods to help the young child gain an understanding of the natural world through increased interest, curiosity, and exploration.  Students will become acquainted with basic mathematics and science concepts.

Credit:  3 hours - Three lecture hours per week.

Recommended:  Students are encouraged to take ECE 101-Introduction to Early Childhood Education, ECE114-Child Growth and Development and ECE 126-Curriculum for Preschool Programs prior to enrolling in this course.

 

ECE 218                       HEALTH, NUTRITION AND SAFETY

                                                            Fall

This course is intended to provide knowledge and application of practices about current concepts in the areas of health, safety, and nutritional needs and their relationship to the young child in a group setting. It is also intended to help adults learn how to assist young children to develop good habits and attitudes to assume the lifelong responsibility for their own well-being. The course content studies the basic factors that affect the health of children, including nutritional needs for development, hygiene, childhood diseases, first aid/safety, physical health, mental health, dental health, arrangement of indoor/outdoor environments, and health status screening procedures.

Credit:  3 hours - Three lecture hours per week.

Recommended:  Students are encouraged to take ECE 101-Introduction to Early Childhood Education, ECE114-Child Growth and Development and ECE 126-Curriculum for Preschool Programs prior to enrolling in this course.

 

ECE 219           INFANTS/TODDLERS-CURRICULUM/ TEACHING

                                    Fall

This course is intended to provide knowledge in all facets of growth and development in the first three years of a child’s life. The student will learn teaching activities to foster the optimum growth and development of infants and toddlers. The course content studies adult strategies necessary to enhance child development according to how the infant’s psychological world differs from that of older children and adults.

Credit:  3 hours - Three lecture hours per week.

Recommended:  Students are encouraged to take ECE 101-Introduction to Early Childhood Education, ECE114-Child Growth and Development and ECE 126-Curriculum for Preschool Programs prior to enrolling in this course.

 

ECE 220                       HEADS UP!  READING

                                                            By Request

This course will present the researched-based principles and practices for providing children, birth through age 5, a strong foundation in early reading and writing within a developmentally appropriate approach.  The purpose of this course is to prepare current or future early childhood teachers and caregivers to enhance the early literacy outcomes of young children by improving teachers’ knowledge of early literacy development, and their skills in teaching early literacy to young children.

Credit:  3 hours – Three lecture hours per week.

Prerequisite(s):  None

 

ECE 221                       CHILD CARE CENTER ADMINISTRATION

                                    Spring

This course offers an examination of current trends in organizing and administering a child care center. This includes administration skills, policy formation, personnel selection and supervision, budgeting and record-keeping, purchasing and facilities, state licensing standards, program evaluation techniques, staff training, and community resources.

Credit:  3 hours - Two lecture and two lab hours per week.

Prerequisite(s):  Can only be taken in the student’s final semester.

 

ECE 222                       CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

T                                  Spring

The purpose of this course is to provide students with the realization that children’s literature is to provide enjoyment and entertainment as well educational value. It will strive to encourage students to help children develop a love of literature and, therefore become lifelong readers of books. Course content will stress that “the love of reading is caught, not taught.”  Course content will provide information that will allow future educators to provide children with appropriate reading models and exposure to well written, appropriate literary works. This course will deal with content (knowledge of children’s books) and with method (how to use those books with children).

Credit:  3 hours - Three lecture hours per week.

Prerequisite(s):  None