Great Basin College
Early Childhood Program
ECE 250
Introduction to Teaching the Young Child
Fall 2014
Credits: 3 credit course
Day & Time: Tuesdays, 4:00 – 6:45 PM
Instructor: Professor Lynette Macfarlan, M.A., Edu.
Contact Information: Phone: 753-2239
E-Mail:
Office: EIT Building, # 122
Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays: 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM
or by appointment
PREREQUISITES: None
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is an introduction and overview to the field of Early Childhood Education. The students will explore the breadth, depth, and scope of the objectives, philosophies, and curriculum of Early Care and Education programs across the spectrum. Emphasis will be placed on the role of the early childhood teacher as a professional. The students will study the components that constitute a high-quality early childhood program. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of the physical, social-emotional, creative, physical, and cognitive development of young children.
TEXT BOOK REQUIREMENT
There will be no text for this course. Handouts, lecture information, articles and current state-of-the-art resources will be provided in Webcampus. Purchase a 3 inch view-front binder to compile handouts and other course materials.
STUDENT OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this course students will: / Measurement through Assessment:1. Become knowledgeable about the profession of Early Childhood Education, including career opportunities, public policy, ethical standards, and other current issues in the ECE field. / 1st Take-Home Exam
Reflective Essay
Group Presentations (Rubric)
2. Understand the role of the ECE teacher and how that role impacts the lives of young children. Students will study the history, concepts, philosophies, and areas of development that support the importance of building a balanced and well rounded child-centered program.
/ 1st Take-Home Exam
Reflective Essay
Group Presentations (Rubric)
Observation in Preschool Classroom
3. Become knowledgeable about
child development (ages & stages), brain development, the value of play, schedules and curriculum planning, the learning environment, positive guidance, and working with families. / 2nd Take-Home Exam
Reflective Essay
Develop a Play Prop Box
Design Classroom Environment Literacy Lesson Plan (Mini Unit)
Observation in Preschool Classroom
Group Presentations (Rubric)
4. Examine the overall Early
Childhood philosophy in a
child-centered program, in which children are allowed to make choices, guidelines are clear and logical and activities are planned to meet the needs of the individual children. / 2nd Take-Home Exam
Reflective Essay
Observation in Preschool Classroom
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
The learning outcomes will be met through a variety of learning experiences to include the following:
· Guest Speakers
· Internet Research
· Lecture/Power Point
· Student Assignments
· Reflective Assessment
· Group Presentations
· Participation: Individual and Group
· Handouts and Follow-up Discussions
ASSESSMENT
· Observations
· Reflective Essays
· Take-Home Exams
· Unit Development (Rubric)
· Literacy-Based Lesson Planning
· In-class Demonstrations/Projects
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Attendance and Participation are very important since students will be responsible for lecture material, class activities, discussion, videos, audio-visual material, and information presented by guest speakers. Attendance will be taken at each class meeting. Students should plan to attend class regularly and actively participate. A portion of the final grade is based on participation. Students must contact the instructor, prior to class, if they are not able to attend.
2. Students are responsible for information and materials presented in class. In case of an absence, students should plan to get the missed information from a classmate. It is imperative that students take relevant notes during class. Class lectures will not duplicate the textbook information.
3. All required readings should be completed prior to class so that students can actively participate in class discussions.
4. Assignments must be turned in at the beginning of the class period on the day they are due. Late assignments will not be accepted unless arrangements have been made in advance with the instructor.
5. Written Assignment Requirements:
· All papers must be typed in an MLA or APA Format.
· Correct spelling, grammar and format are expected. Students are expected to use spell check and proof read all work before submitting to the instructor.
· All essays must be neat, organized and comprehensive.
· Any assignment that is more than one page must be stapled or it will not be accepted. Pages must be numbered.
· Assignments with excessive or repetitive errors must be rewritten and turned in by the following class period. This decision will be made at the discretion of the instructor. A grade will be given after the rewritten assignment is reviewed.
6. Group Projects must be presented by the entire group on the assigned day of the presentation. Members of the group who do not participate in the group presentation will not receive points for the assignment.
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS
Students will be graded on the basis of accuracy, completeness, and the degree of excellence in carrying out the required assignments.
· Exams: Two take-home exams will be administered during the course of the semester. The exams will include short-essay questions and project-based activities. Details will be discussed in class.
100 points each = 200 points
· Floor Plan ~ In-Class Activity: Following a comprehensive study of classroom environments, a detailed floor plan of a preschool classroom will be designed in small groups. Materials will be provided.
50 points per student
· Classroom Observation: Each student will observe at the Mark H. Dawson Child and Family Center Lab School for a minimum of 3 hours. The attached observation form must be completed and turned in by the specified due date. 75 points per student
· Reflective Papers:
§ Autobiography (2 typewritten pages): 25 points
§ The Grandpa Tree (2 typewritten pages): 25 points
· Play/Prop Box: Students will study the “Art of Play” in support of age-appropriate curriculum development. In alignment with the Nevada Pre-K Content Standards, students will create a Play and/or Prop Box that will engage children through a hands-on approach while reinforcing two or more of the following developmental areas: Cognitive, Social, Emotional, Creative and/or Physical. 25 points
· Mini-Literacy Unit: Students will acquire the skills to develop age-appropriate lesson plans. After several in-class lesson planning sessions, each student will develop a set of high-quality, comprehensive lesson plans supported by the Nevada Preschool Content Standards. Example lesson plans will be presented in class prior to the submission date. 100 points
· Participation and a Positive Interactive Attitude: These points are essential for receiving an “A.” Students who do not officially withdraw from the class will receive an “F.” Students who miss more than 2 classes will automatically be dropped from the course. Participation: 65 points; Timeliness/Disposition: 35 points = 100 points
COURSE POINT SYSTEM
Students are encouraged to make an appointment with the instructor at any time during the semester to discuss grades, questions, or concerns about the course. Constructive recommendations are welcomed!
Assignment / Worth / Your ScoreExam # 1 / 100 points
Exam # 2 / 100 points
Play/Prop Box / 25 points
Floor Plan / 50 points
Classroom Observation / 75 points
Reflective Papers:
Autobiography –25 pts., Grandpa Tree - 25 pts. / 50 points
Lesson Plan Development (Mini Unit) / 100
Participation/Attendance / 65
Timely Submission of Assignments/Positive Disposition / 35
Total / 600 points
Grade / Percentage / Points
A / 90 - 100 % / 540 – 600
B / 80 - 89% / 480 – 539
C / 70 - 79% / 420 – 479
D / 60 - 69% / 359 – 419
F / 0 - 59% / 0 – 358
Calculate your letter grade at any time by dividing the total points accumulated by the total points possible to calculate the letter grade
For Example: 540 = .9 or 90%
600
90% of Total Possible = A.
ADA ACCOMMODATIONS
Great Basin College supports providing equal access for students with disabilities. An advisor is available to discuss appropriate accommodations with students. Please contact the ADA officer in Elko at 753-2271 at your earliest convenience to request timely and appropriate accommodations.
TEXTING POLICY
· If a student leaves to answer a text or a cell phone call, they will be asked to retrieve their books and leave the classroom for the duration of the class period.
· Texting is not allowed at any time in the classroom. This policy is not negotiable.
· Students MAY NOT use texting grammar when writing college-level papers. Papers written in texting grammar will result in a failing grade.
PLAGIARISM
Policy of Academic Integrity: GBC subscribes to the traditional policy of academic integrity: students are expected to be honest. Students are expected to do their own work. Students who plagiarize or commit academic dishonesty are violating the standards of academic integrity and are subject to
consequences ranging from failing the assignment and/or course to dismissal from the institution.
Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s word, ideas or data as one’s own. When a student submits work that includes the words, ideas, or data of others, the source of that information must be acknowledged through complete, accurate, and specific references; and if verbatim statements are included, through quotation marks as well. In academically honest writing or speaking, the students will acknowledge the source whenever…
· another person’s actual words are quoted.
· another person’s idea, opinion or theory is used, even if it is completely paraphrased in the student’s own words.
· facts, statistics, or other illustrative materials are borrowed, unless the information is common knowledge.
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