Welcome to CLDDV 101

Introduction to Early Childhood Studies

Spring 2012, Section 1366

Wednesday Evenings, 6:00-9:05 PM

Muir Hall, Room 163

Professor /

Pam Guerra-Schmidt

Office Phone / (209) 575-6345
Office Hours / Tuesday 2:30-5:00 PM (Contact Colleen Norby at 575-6343 or norbyc@mjc if you want to set up an appointment during the Tuesday office hours)
Wednesday 9:05-9:35 PM (Sign up on white board before class, during break, or after class)
Please call or email (through Blackboard), if unable to meet during these times to schedule an appointment
Office Location / Modesto Junior College, West Campus
2201 Blue Gum Avenue

West Campus, Muir Hall, Office 157

Email address in Blackboard / Please utilize mail feature in Blackboard to send email communications (log in and then click on “Mail”, create message)
Instructor Email Address /
Web Page /
FAX / (209) 575-6989

Required Text to Purchase

/ Editors: Copple and Bredecamp
Title: Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs, Serving Children from Birth through Age 8

Supplemental Readings

/ (Posted on Instructor Web Site)
  • Guides to Speech & Action
  • Journal Articles & PowerPoint Lectures on Educational Philosophies
  • Journal Article(s) & PowerPoint Lectures on Adult Learning Styles
  • Journal Article(s) & PowerPoint Lectures on Positive Discipline

Required Supplies /
  • Number 2 pencil with eraser

Scantron Form 882 E (Package of 3)

Keep scantrons in a place where they will not become bent or damaged. All quizzes, mid-term exam, and final exam are done on a scantron.

  • Three Hole Paper Folder (for portfolio)
  • Five Tabbed Dividers (for portfolio)
  • Print your most current transcript BEFORE signing up for the next semester’s courses.

Required TB clearance /
  • Copy of TB clearance more recent than February 2012 is due by January 25 or student will be dropped from course.
  • Copy must include date of test and date read.
  • Is copy of TB clearance dated more recent than February 2011 already on file in Child Development Office? If yes, just submit a paper stating this to professor by January 25.
  • Health Services: No charge at MJC Health Services; must be tested on either a Monday or Tuesday between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM; student must return later in week for test to be read at Health Center. Students may utilize services from personal physician or County Health Department.
  • East Campus: (209) 575-6037, Morris Memorial Building 108
  • West Campus: (209) 575-6360, Yosemite Hall 114

Required Internet Access / Use of Blackboard will be utilized for maintaining points for each assignment along with posting mid-term and end-of-term points and grades. Class resources and assignments will be posted on professor web site; please check frequently – at least once a week. All assignments will be turned in as word processed (typed) paper copies in class.
Any assignment submitted through Blackboard on or before the due date and up to seven days after the due date will receive a 20% deduction in possible points.
East Campus Computer Labs:
Center for Learning Assistance (CLA)Founders Hall 105, (209) 575-6475
Library Computer Lab North Reading Room, Library 116 (209) 575-6230
Tutoring Center, Library Basement Room 10, (209) 575-6839
Writing Center, Founder’s Hall 224, (209) 575-6682

West Campus Computer Labs:

Center for Learning Assistance (CLA)Sierra Hall 214 (209) 575-7847
Tutoring Center, Yosemite Hall, 118, (209) 575-7731
Writing CenterYosemite Hall 235, (209) 575-7847
Please note: Computer Labs open Fall & Spring Semesters ONLY. Internet-accessible computer stations are available to students to assist with coursework. Assistants are available at all times. Qualified staff is available to assist students with Microsoft Office software applications.
County libraries have free computer/Internet access.
Online Help Desk (Computer Questions including those associated with utilizing Blackboard) (209) 575-7800 or (209) 575-7900

Course Objectives

1. Utilize observational techniques to explore and adapt educational environments and assess their
effectiveness.
  1. Identify the historical roots of early childhood education.
  2. List different program types, delivery systems, and licensing and regulation structures in early
childhood and intervention program settings.
  1. Demonstrate awareness of developmental ages and stages.
  2. Define developmentally, culturally and linguistically appropriate practice for the typically or
atypically developing child.
6. Describe why access to play is important for all children and ways of using a play-based
curriculum as a vehicle for developing skills, dispositions, and knowledge.
7. Describe adaptations (programmatic, curricular and environmental strategies) needed to support
children with diverse abilities and characteristics.
8. Identify and compare effective policies, practices, and environments in early childhood and
intervention program settings.
9. Describe the characteristics of effective relationships and interactions between early childhood
professionals including interventionists, children, families, and colleagues, and examine the
importance of collaboration.
10. Describe the relationship of observation, planning, implementation, and assessment in effective
programming.
11. Identify principles and practices promoting positive classroom guidance, communication, and
problem solving skills.
12. Develop strategies to maintain communication and access with English language learning
families and children.
  1. Explain child development as a profession, including ethics, and professional organizations.
  2. Compare and contrast theoretical perspectives.
  3. Develop a professional philosophy.
  4. Demonstrate a professional commitment to confidentiality and the need for a safe, secure, and
nurturing environment for the child and family.
17. Demonstrate process of curriculum development for young children with disabilities or other
special needs.
Student Learning Outcome: By the end of the semester, each student will demonstrate an ability to make connections between philosophies, classroom models, and developmentally appropriate practice while constructing a vision of education and being an early childhood educator.
Assessment: After lecture, text, media presentations, guest speakers, discussion, and group activities, each studentwill write a philosophy statement.
Extra Credit Assignments (due within 7 days of activity/assignment)
The maximum amount of extra credit that can be earned is approximately 2% of the total points offered. Extra credit is not a guaranteed offering of this course and is assigned randomly when offered. Students are welcome to explore any formal presentations offered in the community that relate to the course objectives and share the information with the professor for possible consideration; activity must be open to all students in this class. Late assignments are not accepted for extra credit regardless of the reason. If class was missed when the extra credit assignment was offered, additional time is not granted to complete the assignment.
When attending a presentation or activity, students must turn in a paper with the date, time arrived, time departed, name of presentation, location of the presentation or activity, name of the presenter or activity organizer, topic of the presentation or activity, and two paragraphs on what you learned from the presentation or activity. All extra credit assignments must be word processed (type written.)
Students can receive extra credit for utilizing the Writing Center. See section title, ‘Recommendation for Student Success’ for details.

Final Exam

Each student is required to take the final exam regardless of the grade earned up to that point in the course. Any student who does not attend the final exam will receive an “F” grade in the course. Late work is not accepted for the final exam.
Exception: In the event of an emergency where the student cannot be present for the final exam, the student must call before the final exam, regardless of the reason, to set up a time within 24 hours (if possible) to complete the final exam. If the student is not able to call before the final exam, it is acceptable for a friend or family member to call before the final exam. MJC does allow for an incomplete to be awarded to a student in the event of an emergency at the end of the semester.

Grading

Final grade is a total of all points earned. It is in the best interest of your grade to attempt and submit each assignment. (90% of total points possible is an “A”; 80% of total points possible is a “B”; 70% of total points possible is a “C”; 60% of total points possible is a “D”; and 50% or less of total points possible is an “F.”
IMPORTANT: Keep all of your returned papers, quizzes, and tests until a grade is posted on your student record on PiratesNet. By tallying your points from each graded assignment, you can track your own grade.
Child Development majors are required to pass this course with a “C” grade or better to use the course for graduation, certificates, and the Child Development State permits.

Holidays

There are currently no scheduled holidays on Wednesday evenings.
Late Work
All assignments in this course except for the final exam and the weekly quizzes are accepted up to 7 days late. Work that is accepted late receives a 20% reduction in points regardless of the reason. Exception: Late points are not deducted, if you have a doctor’s note referencing your ill health stating that you could not be in class on the day the assignment was due. Late work is not accepted after the final class session.
Note: If the seven-day late grace period falls on a holiday and the college is closed, then the late grace period is extended to the next class session.
Make-up Testing for Mid-term and End-term Exams
To be eligible to make-up an exam, student must contact professor BEFORE 6:00 PM on day of exam and leave message on either voice mail or email. In this message clearly state the day and time you want to meet during the professor’s regularly scheduled office hours; the day and time must be set before the exams are passed back to students the following week. Exception: if the student states in the phone call that s/he will be providing a doctor’s note referencing his/her ill health stating that s/he could not be in class on the day the exam was given or the week after the exam was given. In this situation, then the exams will be handed back to the class approximately two weeks after it is administered.
Weekly Quizzes may NOT be made-up if missed
Approximately 10 of the 16 weeks, one quiz will be given during the class session; each quiz is approximately 5 points. After the tenth week of the semester and in order to accommodate students who have missed only three class sessions, three additional quizzes will be facilitated during the class session. All students are eligible to take the additional three quizzes

Observational Sites

Observational assignments for this course MUST be done in a licensed center-based children’s program with preschool aged children (3-5 years of age) who are exhibit typical development. The classroom must have at least 14 children enrolled.
Observations must be completed during the preschool session and not during the before or after school care.
Although it is possible that some of these programs run a “preschool” program, the following are NOT acceptable as observation sites: special education classrooms, family child care homes, crisis centers, faith based nursery programs connected to the religious/spiritual services, family events, or play dates.
Please do NOTobserve children with atypical development.
Participation Policy
Students are expected to attend all class sessions while arriving on time and staying for the duration of the class session. Students who miss more than three class sessions or the combined time of three class sessions due to absences, late arrivals, or early departures will be dropped from the class.
Research suggests that students who attend class are more successful than students who do not attend! Class participation is a crucial component of this course. It is strongly encouraged that each student connects with at least one other student in the course to exchange phone numbers and/or email addresses. In the event that a student misses a class session, it is most helpful to contact another student from this class to discuss the missed class session along with meeting with the professor during office hours.
QUIZZES
EXPLANATION HERE TYPICAL 5 POINTS A QUIZ BUT OCCASIONALLY WILL GIVE 10 POINTS AND THAT IS A BONUS FOR THAT EVENING’S CLASS

Student Conduct/Academic Ethics

Students are held accountable for Modesto Junior College’s Student Code of Conduct. In this course, students are expected to share ideas, suggestions, resources and information, and are expected to work together cooperatively and respectfully in a group format to complete tasks. One class goal includes the creation of a safe, nurturing environment where a sense of a caring and supportive community is felt throughout the semester. Respectful attentiveness (staying awake) is expected.
Cell Phones: Please turn off cell phones and pagers; if you forget to turn off your cell phone and it rings, please promptly turn it off. If you have a possible family emergency, inform the professor and then please sit in the front row of the course, put your phone on silent mode, and leave the room to answer it; if all seats in front row are filled, please share with professor to select another location. Students who are not sitting in the front row and who have cell phones out of backpacks/purses will be excused for one class session; students excused for using a cell phone in the class are required to discuss and agree to the cell phone policy with the professor before returning to the next class session.Computers: Students using laptops are required to sit in the front row; computers may only be utilized for note taking in this course. Students who are using the laptop for other purposes other than note taking will be excused for one class session; students excused for using a computer for other purposes than note taking in the class are required to discuss and agree to the computer policy with the professor before returning to the next class session.Sharing Stories: Students are encouraged to share only one story about family, friends, teaching, etc. during the course of a lecture. Questions are encouraged; if you find that you have lots of questions during lecture, you are encouraged to send the questions through email, phone, or schedule time during office hours.
Cheating and plagiarism will result in an “F” grade on that specific assignment. This will apply to all persons involved. Cheating is the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for academic work through the use of dishonest,deceptive or fraudulent means.
Plagiarism is representing the work of someone else as your own and submitting it to fulfill academic requirements. Please write all of the papers in your own words. If you copy parts of sentences or whole sentences without quotes and without citing the source, the paper will receive 0 (zero) points. A thesaurus may be helpful while finding new words to paraphrase what has been stated in the article or text. Please cite work that you want to quote; see professor or a librarian at MJC for acceptable guidelines for citing work.
My role, as your professor in this class, is to provide a theoretical framework, activities, and assignments for you, the students, as you increase your ability to become critical thinkers while developing understanding, knowledge, and skills. I look forward to the discussion and feedback we will share. In addition, I encourage you to see your colleagues and classmates as valuable resources for your learning.

Student Success/Support Services

Accommodating and supporting the needs of each student as an individual, so that the student successfully completes the course is an important goal. It is the student's responsibility to communicate these needs to the professor. Please make contact as often as needed in order to have your questions, concerns, and suggestions addressed utilizing e-mail, phone, office hours, and/or a meeting may be scheduled with the professor.
Please provide letters of accommodations from Disability Services within the first week of the course.
Getting through college takes a lot more than just studying. MJC offer tools and success strategies to ensure you make a seamless transition to college life. From study skills and tutoring to health services and counseling, our services will help ensure nothing gets between you and your educational goals!
You can explore other resources available to you by visiting the MJC Website, Student Services, See Web page -
Modesto Junior College offers the following resources to support student success:
  1. CLDDV-48/Fundamental Skills Child Development Majors This course provides support for writing assignments in child development courses. See instructor by second week of the semester for help to enroll in this course or contact the instructor, Sheila Rogers at or at PiratesNet enroll or add name to wait list; if wait listed show up on time to first class session (Spring: CLDDV-48A, Section 2910, West Campus, Muir Hall, Room 155, Thursdays, 10:05 AM – 12:10 PM, January 26 – March 15)
  2. California Early Childhood Mentoring Program is facilitated through MJC’s Child Development Department. A mentor can provide weekly support to students for assignments and for help in working with children. Please see professor for a referral.
  3. Center for Learning Assistance (CLA) East: Founders Hall Rm. 105 (209) 575-6475; West: Sierra Hall 214. (209) 575-7847 Open Labs - The CLA provides reading, writing, and grammar assistance with self-paced computer modules that support Literature and Language Arts courses. An open computer lab for completing assignments and studying is available. See Web page.
  4. Child Development Training Consortium (CDTC)Book loan and tuition reimbursement. Do you work in a licensed program with children ages 0-5, kindergarten, before/after school or off-track care? Are you a licensed day care provider? Do you provide child care in an adult education setting, at a private school site, in a facility where parents are on-site or a co-op? All of the above qualify you to become a Participant in our Child Development Training Consortium grant. CDTC Profile to be completed by first month of semester-DUE BY FEBRUARY 13. . See Web page to fill out Participant Profile
  5. Child Development Training Consortium (CDTC)Permit Application Stipends and Live Scan Reimbursement funds are available. Permit forms are available online. See Web page - Child Development Permit Stipends
  6. Counseling Center East:Morris Memorial Rm. 103 (209) 575-6080 Counselors provide help to transfer and non-transfer students with academic, career, and personal counseling. If you have 15 or more units you must have an Educational Plan in place. Don’t have one? Call the Counseling Center to schedule an Educational Planning session with a counselor or enroll in a Guidance course. If you are a prospective student who needs help, stop by the Counseling Center to find out how you can get started at MJC. See Web page.
  1. Disability Support Programs & Services (DSPS) (209) 575-6225 or 575-6296 TTY: 575-6863; East - Journalism Bldg., Room 152. Counseling, academic advisement, educational and career planning. Assistance with accommodations, learning disability assessment, accommodated testing, high tech/resource labs with adaptive equipment, magnification machines, reading screens and assistance with alternate media requests. See Web page.
  2. Emergency Locator Service (209) 575-6700 If you have children; elderly parents or another situation that someone may need to contact you, you must have a form on file in the Student Development Office in order for staff to contact you. New forms are required every semester.
  3. Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS)/ Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE) (209) 575-6251 East: Morris Memorial Rm. 112 Counseling, academic advisement, educational and career planning, economic and academic support services for economically and educationally disadvantaged students. The CARE Program for single parent/TANF recipients. See Web page.
  4. Library Recorded Message hours/information:(209) 575-6868 Reference: (209) 575-6230East: Learning Resource Center/LibraryBuilding Books, periodicals, DVD’s, videos, online databases, research help, computer labs, study areas & study rooms. See Web page.
  5. Online Help Desk (Computer Questions including those associated with utilizing Blackboard) (209) 575-7800 or 575-7900
  6. Testing Center West: Yosemite Hall 147, (209) 575-7728 Administers MJC assessment tests for math, English & reading; ability to benefit test for financial aid students; typing tests & US Constitution certificates provided as well as proctoring services for students taking distance classes for a fee. Obtain test dates & results online at: or call 575-6026 for test dates. Evening testing is available. See Web page.
  7. TRIO/Student Support Services East:Library Basement Room 40, 575-6189 Federally funded program designed for first generation college students to promote student success. Program provides academic and personal counseling, tutoring, cultural activities, career advising and assessment. See Web page.
  8. Tutoring Center East: Library Basement Room 10, (209) 575-6839 West: Yosemite Hall 118, (209) 575-7731 Free tutoring in various subject areas for students seeking extra help with academic work. Computers with Internet access available for research. See Web page.
  9. Veterans OfficeEast:Morris Memorial Rm. 104, (209) 575-6017 Assists Veterans with educational benefits, referral resources in obtaining counseling/referrals. Veterans may turn in BOGW Fee Waiver applications here as well. See Web page.
  10. Writing Center (East: Founder’s Hall 224, (209) 575-6682, West: Yosemite Hall 235, (209) 575-7847 Extra credit (up to 5 points) on any writing assignment will be received when using the writing center. To verify work at Writing Center, student completes a form at the writing center that will be mailed to lab professor’s office. Open To:Any student needing assistance with writing. Work with a tutor on any aspect of writing, ranging from talking about ideas and assignment expectation to assistance with proofreading. Schedule an appointment to see a tutor, or use a computer. Call for more information. Hours are subject to change, and sometimes the Writing Center is open evenings. See Web page.