Saddleback College

CD 128 – Administration of Young Children’s Settings: Program

Course Description:  This course is designed to prepare administrator of schools for young children.  Emphasis is on human relations, responsibilities of the director, planning, personnel, staff development, operating the children’s program and interaction with the community, including public relations.

Course Objectives:  Upon completing this course, the student will be able to:

• Apply human relation skills in the daily administration of a school
• Develop and write required personnel policies
• Analyze and write the duties and responsibilities of staff members
• Develop, organize and evaluate staff development, parent education and public relations
• Compare and contrast different management and administrative theories
• Describe and utilize effective communication skills
• Apply principles of developmentally appropriate practice in designing the children’s program

Recommendation:  It is strongly advised that this course be taken after the student has completed CDES 101, 110 and English 200.

Required Texts:

“Administration of Programs for Young Children”, 8th edition, by Phyllis Click, Thompson/Delmar, 2010.  ISBN # 978-0-495-80993-7

Course Policies

•  Written Assignments:  All students are expected to produce college-level work.  One of the goals of this class is to prepare students to be successful professionals.  Part of having a successful image is the ability to produce neat, legible, coherent, and grammatically correct written materials.  Grammar and spelling should be correct and do influence the points given on assignments.  It is strongly recommended that students have someone else proof read assignments prior to turning them in.  All assignments must be typed.

•  Late assignments will be accepted for half credit up to one week after the due date.  Assignment due dates are posted on the course calendar.  Exception: Discussion boards must be done in the week they are assigned in order to get any credit.  Any entries after the week ends (Monday at midnight) will not be given any credit.
• If you will be traveling during the semester, make sure you know where there will be internet access as I expect you to always be able to find a connection and I do not extend dates unless the Saddleback server is down.
• All work submitted as an attachment must be saved in either an .rtf or .doc type file and must include first and last name and ticket number just as if you were going to print it and turn it in. 
• Students must retain copies of assignments until grades are posted at the end of the semester.  If a recording error should take place, the student must show the instructor the returned assignment with points posted for credit.
• Confidentiality:  In this class, we will be discussing various observations of real people.  In accordance with Principle 2.9 in the Code of Ethical Conduct (NAEYC, 1998), all efforts should be made to protect the privacy of children, parents, students, and staff.  We will identify children by using their first name only.
• Academic dishonesty and cheating: There is a zero tolerance policy for academic dishonesty and cheating in this classroom.  All assignments must be original work by the student done for this class only.  During exams, any talking or unauthorized use of notes will be considered cheating.  Students will be given a zero on any project/assignment/test which violates this policy and an Academic Dishonesty Report will be filed with the college.

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

• Discussion Boards: Discussion boards are our main source of communication with each other and so comprise a very important part of the class.  In order for us to build meaning together and to learn from each other, we need to be involved in conversations with each other.  Each week, you must post an original thread in response to the information posted on the week’s Discussion Board.  Most weeks, you will be directed to post your first thread by Friday evening. Topics for each week’s discussion will be posted in the Assignments folder.    It is important to check into the discussion area at least 3 times each week.  Everyone must make a thoughtful response to the designated number of classmates by the end of the week (Monday at midnight).  You will not receive any credit for observations posted after the week ends. 

• Director Interview: you will spend 1-2 hours interviewing a director and writing a paper based on the interview..
• Weekly assignments: you will have a variety of weekly assignments which require practical application of reading and discussion.

IMPORTANT: Be sure you keep a copy of anything you send to me in the mail or post on Blackboard.  If the server goes down, this will save you a lot of work!

CD 128 – Sample Course Calendar (may be revised)

The instructor reserves the right to modify the schedule above to better meet the needs of the class.

Note: if you have a specific learning disability and require accommodations, please let me know at the first class meeting so that your learning needs may be appropriately met.  You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the Saddleback College Special Services Office in the Student Services Center, Room 113.  Many services are available to you as a Saddleback College Student, including testing.  All discussions will remain confidential.