Fundamentals Course revised 7/15.

Fundamental Modules

Explanation of the CDA competency goals and the Fundamentals learning objectives are on page 5-6 of this document.

In addition to the assignments listed, there are two required assignments that are due at the discretion of the instructor: a project or presentation, and the observation of the practitioner.

Module
(see also course objectives) / CDA & Core Competencies Covered 1 / Assignment Due2
Module 1
Introduction to Fundamentals for Early Childhood Professionals
Intro to NL Core Competencies and Career Ladder
Safe Environments
Intro to Developmentally Appropriate Practice,
Objectives 1, 3 & 4 / Northern Lights) Core Knowledge areas Healthy and Safe Environments: A. Healthy Environments, B. Safe Environments
Child development: A. How children develop
CDA Competency Goal1:To establish and maintaina safe, healthy, learning environment / Reflection/writing
This class session will introduce thecourse requirements and forms. Itwill also briefly introduce developmental milestones, Developmentally Appropriate Practice andhighlight important safety procedures in working with young children in group settings (safe sleeping practices, shaken baby prevention, injury prevention and emergency preparedness).
Module 2:
The Early Childhood Learning Environment
Objectives 3 & 4 / Northern Lights Core Knowledge areas
Teaching and Learning: A. Interactions, B. Learning Environment
Child Development: C.Individual Differences
CDA Competency Goal 1 To establish and maintain a safe, healthy, learning environment / Reflection/writing
This session will focus on creating inclusive and welcoming environments for all children and families.Room arrangement, selecting materials, learning centers, safety considerations as well as evaluation and assessment of the environment will be addressed. Outdoor play areaswill also be discussed.
Module 3: Part A
Child Development:
Emotional development
Introduction to Observation and Recording Behavior
Objective 1 / Northern Lights Core Knowledge Areas: Child Development: A. How Children Develop. B. Influences on Child Development
Teaching and Learning: A. Interactions, D. Assessment
CDA Competency Goal 3
Tosupport children’s social and emotional development and provide positive guidance; / Reflection/writing
This session will discussmilestones in the emotional development of young children.Activities will include how and when children develop self-control and appropriate responses to typical developmental stages.The role of observing and recording children’s behavior is introduced.
Module 3: Part B
Child Development: Emotional Development (continued) and the
Influence of Culture
Objectives 1 / Northern Lights Core Knowledge Areas:
Child Development: A. How Children Develop, B. Influences on Child Development
Teaching and Learning: A. Interactions, D. Assessment
CDA Competency Goal 3
Tosupport children’s social and emotional development and provide positive guidance; / Reflection/writing
1st written observation of a child
This session will continue to look at the emotional development of young children. Activities will focus on how culture and other characteristics influence emotional development. Additional methods for observing and recording children’s behavior will also be addressed.
Module 4:
Child Development:
Cognition and Intellectual Development
Objective 1 / Northern Lights Core Knowledge Area:
Child Development: A. How Children develop
CDA Competency Goal 2 Steps to advance children’s physical and intellectual competence / Reflection/writing
2nd written observation of a child
This sessionwill focus on cognitive development. Activities and discussion focus on developmental milestones and braindevelopment. Strategies that children use to organize information, learn new concepts and develop the variety of skills we associate with intelligence will be covered.
Module 5:
Child Development:
Language and Literacy
Objectives 1, 3 & 6 / Northern Lights Core Knowledge Areas:
Child Development: A. How children develop
Teaching and Learning: A. Interactions, C. Curriculum and Content
CDA Competency Goal 2to advance children’s physical and intellectual competence / Reflection/writing
First reaction paper
This session will identify milestones related to typical language and literacy development. It will also discuss how language and communication are related. Students will learn strategies for encouraging communication with children and how literacy supports communication.
Module 6
Health and Nutrition
Objective 4 / Northern Lights Core Knowledge Areas
Healthy and Safe Environments: A. Healthy Environments, B. Safe Environments C. Nutrition D. Physical Activity
CDA Competency Goal 1:Planning a safe and healthy learning environment / Reflection/writing
In this class session, students will learn common causes of injuries and illness as well as injury and illness prevention. Students will be learn how nutrition and physical activity relates to healthy child development and learn how to communicate and encourage the components of a healthy lifestyle to families.
Module 7: A
Child Development:

Social Skills and a Sense of Oneself

Objectives 1 6 /

Northern Lights Core Knowledge Areas:

Child Development: A. How Children Develop, B. Influences on Child Development, Individual Difference
Teaching and Learning: A. Interactions, C. Curriculum and Content, D. Assessment
Families and Communities: A. Relationships
CDA Competency Goal 3
Tosupport children’s social and emotional development and provide positive guidance / Reflection/writing
second reaction paper
This session will explore how children form a sense of themselves. The concepts of attachment and resiliency will be addressed. The class will address positive guidance, coping with transitions and other strategies that support children’s social development and developing sense of self.
Module 7: Part B
Child Development:
Social Skills and Understanding Others
Objective 3 / Northern Lights Core Knowledge Areas(codeCOV):
Child Development: A. How Children Develop, B. Influences on Child Development, C. Individual Variance
Teaching and Learning: A. Interactions, C. Curriculum and Content
Families and Communities: A. Relationships
CDA Competency Goal 3
Tosupport children’s social and emotional development and provide positive guidance; / Reflection/writing
In this class session students will learn strategies to support the development of positive social skills in children. Conflict resolution and social development milestones will also be discussed, including supporting children with challenging behaviors.
Module 8: Part A
Child Care Licensing Regulations
Objectives 1, 4 & 7 / Northern LightsCore Knowledge Areas:

Healthy and Safe Environments: A. Healthy Environments and Health Needs, B. Safe Environments

Professionalism and Program Organization A. Professionalism, B. Working with Staff and Colleagues, C Program Organization and Administration
Child Development A. How Children Develop, B. Influences on Child Development, C. Individual Variance
Teaching and Learning: B. Learning Environment
CDA Competency Goal 1:Planning a safe and healthy learning environment
CDA Competency Goal 5to ensure a well-run purposeful program responsive to participants / Reflection/writing
This 2 hour interactive presentation by the Child Development Division Licensing Unit will provide a review of the Vermont child care regulations and discuss how they are linked to developmentally appropriate practice. This hands-on workshop uses case scenarios to help participants develop strategies to apply child care licensing regulations. The other hour of class will follow up on material covered in earlier classes.
Module 8: Part B, C
Basic Specialized Services
Objectives 1,4 & 7 / Northern Lights Core Knowledge Areas Basic Specialized Care
Child Development: A. How Children Develop, B. Influences on Child Development, C. Individual Variance
Families and Communities: A. Relationships, B. Communication
Professionalism and Program Organization A. Professionalism, B. Working with Staff and Colleagues, C Program Organization and Administration
CDA Competency Goal 1:Planning a safe and healthy learning environment
CDA Competency Goal 3
Tosupport children’s social and emotional development and provide positive guidance; / Reflection/writing
This 6 hour session is an introduction for early childhood providers who plan to support children and families who require additional support(as identified by the state of Vermont). It is required for all programs wishing to attain the "Basic Specialized Child Care Provider" status. Basic Specialized Services training is essential for serving children who have been victims of abuse or neglect. Topics covered include: typical child development, the impact of stress and abuse on development, red flags, working with families and the system, as well as mandated reporting responsibilities.Working with children with special needs is also touched upon.
Module 9
Communication: Building Relationships with Families
Family Centered Practice
Objective 2 / Northern Lights Core Knowledge Areas:
Families and Communities: A. Relationships, B. Communication
Professionalism and Program Organization: B. Working with Staff and Colleagues
CDA Competency Goal 4 to establish positive and productive relationships with families / Reflection/writing
This module focuses on creating an environment that promotes and encourages respectful communication with colleagues and families. Family-centered practice is defined and how adults change and develop is addressed.Students will also learn how to approach families and how to discuss difficult topics
Module 10: Part A
Professionalism
Objective 5 / Northern Lights Core Knowledge Areas):
Professionalism and Program Organization: B. Working with Staff and Colleagues
CDA Competency Goal 6 to maintain a commitment to professionalism / Reflection/writing
This session will focus on your professional development and growth. Ethical practices and workplace communication will be discussed. Students will learn the components of and begin to outline their own IndividualProfessional DevelopmentPlan (IPDP), and will receive more information about the Child Development Associate Credential (CDA).
Module 10: Part B
Professionalism
Positive Work Environments
Objective 5 / Northern Lights Core Knowledge Areas:
Professionalism and Program Organization: B. Working with Staff and Colleagues
CDA Competency Goal 6 to maintain a commitment to professionalism / Reflection/writing
Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP)
Portfolio
This session will continue the topics covered in Module 10: Part A. As the last class of the series, there will also be a review of selected topics covered in previous modules, with an emphasis on reflection and continuing to apply topics covered in the Fundamentals course to workplace experiences and situations. Final evaluations will be completed and collected.

CDA Competency Goals: The six Competency Goals are defined in more detail in the 13 Functional Areas, which describe the major tasks or functions that a caregiver must complete in order to carry out the Competency Goal. The Functional Areas can be found at this link.

:

Goal I. To establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment

Goal II. To advance physical and intellectual competence

Goal III. To support social and emotional development and to provide positive guidance

Goal IV. To establish positive and productive relationships with families

Goal V. To ensure a well-run, purposeful program responsive to participant needs

Goal VI. To maintain a commitment to professionalism

Fundamentals for Early Child Care Professionals Learning Objectives

  1. Describe how children develop, influences on child development, and individual variance as referenced in the core competencies for Level I, Child Development.
  2. Describe the importance of relationships with families, define key aspects of communication with families, and identify pertinent community resources in light of the core competencies for Level I, Families and Communities.
  3. Demonstrate appropriate interactions with children, recognize key aspects of the learning environment, and describe curriculum, content, and assessment as laid out in the core competencies for Level I, Teaching and Learning.
  4. Identify and describe practices promoting healthy environments and health needs, safe environments, nutrition, and physical activity, according to the core competencies for Level I, Healthy and Safe Environments.
  5. Discuss basic aspects of professionalism, strategies for working with staff and colleagues, and demonstrate basic elements of program organization and administration, as specified in the core competencies for Level I, Professionalism and Program Organization.
  6. Demonstrate critical thinking, reflection, and effective communication skills through active class discussion, writing assignments, and other projects.
  7. Identify the role and responsibilities of mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect through Basic Specialized Care training.

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