Early Childhood Development and Developmentally Appropriate Practices
This course provides a framework for understanding early childhood development and the role of early childhood educators in understanding individual development through authentic and other forms of assessment for children aged birth to 5 (including those with special needs) and their families. The course prepares candidates to understand and assess children's development, as well as to participate in developmentally appropriate assessment, select classroom environments, curriculum, and interventions/instructional strategies for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. This course emphasizes that practices are only developmentally appropriate when families are included in these processes. Students will gain knowledge and skills required to serve as inclusive educators and assessment leaders in early childhood and special education.
Outcomes: Candidates will understand that effective educators enact principles of social justice in the school and community by focusing on the intellectual, social and emotional development of all students, promoting human rights, reducing inequalities, and increasing the empowerment of society's most vulnerable groups; Candidates will understand that effective educators engage in collaborative relationships with fellow teachers, school personnel, administrators, students, families and communities and promote collaboration among students to ensure the academic success, and social and emotional well-being of all students; Candidates will understand that effective educators use research and evidence-based practices to design instruction that includes the alignment of goals, objectives, assessments and instructional strategies to meet the individual needs of students; Candidates will understand that effective educators use data to drive instruction and assess teaching and learning effectiveness; Candidates will understand that effective educators apply knowledge of policy and local, state, national, and international educational contexts to advocate with and for students and families; Candidates will understand that effective educators apply deep understanding of both content and pedagogy to provide developmentally appropriate instruction to all students; Candidates will understand that effective educators hold high expectations and build on the assets of diverse students (including, but not limited to race, ethnicity, culture, language, SES, immigration status, exceptionality, ability, sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity); Candidates will understand that effective educators explicitly integrate the teaching of reading, writing, communication and technology across content areas; Candidates will understand that effective educators create and support safe and healthy learning environments for all students; Candidates will understand that effective educators utilize information from theories and related research based practices when making decisions and taking action in their professional practice; Candidates will understand that effective educators maintain and utilize global perspectives and international-mindedness when engaging in teaching, learning and leading, including the awareness and application of the social, cultural, inter-cultural and linguistic facets of student achievement.
Outcomes: Candidates will understand that effective educators enact principles of social justice in the school and community by focusing on the intellectual, social and emotional development of all students, promoting human rights, reducing inequalities, and increasing the empowerment of society's most vulnerable groups; Candidates will understand that effective educators engage in collaborative relationships with fellow teachers, school personnel, administrators, students, families and communities and promote collaboration among students to ensure the academic success, and social and emotional well-being of all students; Candidates will understand that effective educators use research and evidence-based practices to design instruction that includes the alignment of goals, objectives, assessments and instructional strategies to meet the individual needs of students; Candidates will understand that effective educators use data to drive instruction and assess teaching and learning effectiveness; Candidates will understand that effective educators apply knowledge of policy and local, state, national, and international educational contexts to advocate with and for students and families; Candidates will understand that effective educators apply deep understanding of both content and pedagogy to provide developmentally appropriate instruction to all students; Candidates will understand that effective educators hold high expectations and build on the assets of diverse students (including, but not limited to race, ethnicity, culture, language, SES, immigration status, exceptionality, ability, sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity); Candidates will understand that effective educators explicitly integrate the teaching of reading, writing, communication and technology across content areas; Candidates will understand that effective educators create and support safe and healthy learning environments for all students; Candidates will understand that effective educators utilize information from theories and related research based practices when making decisions and taking action in their professional practice; Candidates will understand that effective educators maintain and utilize global perspectives and international-mindedness when engaging in teaching, learning and leading, including the awareness and application of the social, cultural, inter-cultural and linguistic facets of student achievement.