CE 504 Effective Practices and Issues in Early Childhood Education

Credit, three hours
This course provides a comprehensive view of effective practices in early childhood education and analysis of issues and challenges facing early childhood educators. Students will gain an understanding of young children’s characterisitics and needs, from birth through age eight, including multiple influences on early development and learning, diverse family and community characteristics, positive relationships and supportive interactions, content knowledge and resoures in academic disciplines, ethical standards, problems and issues facing early childhood educators, and ways to identify, advocate, and become involved in the early childhood profession. Students will use this knowledge to create healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environments for young children, support and engage families and communities, utilize assessment and evaluation tools, and implement effective teaching/learning approaches across the curriculum. Research, writing and discussion are based on current professional literature.