EDU 15000 Applied Practicum in Teaching I - Early Childhood

This combined seminar and fieldwork course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to study and apply early child development theory and pedagogy in a variety of developmentally appropriate early childhood settings for children from infancy through age 8. Special emphasis is placed on helping students learn to observe, objectively record and analyze the behavior of young children. Requirements include active participation working with young children, child development readings, written child observations, weekly reflective journals, program comparisons, and the design and implementation of several curriculum projects. The goal is for students to demonstrate an understanding of the developmental norms of each level of early childhood and be better prepared to plan developmentally appropriate activities and supportive learning environments.