3 Units

Catalog Description

The study of developmentally appropriate practices and the role of play in the areas of curriculum, guidance, and learning environments for early childhood education.  Students will develop skills in writing basic activity plans and participate at an introductory level with young children ages three to five years. DS 3

Course Objectives

1. Participate in developmentally appropriate interactions with children.
2. Demonstrate one or more ways to extend play.
3. Explore various curriculum planning formats.
4. Inventory and evaluate one or more learning centers.
5. Utilize developmentally appropriate learning centers with children.
6. Create an effective learning center in one or more curricular areas.
7. Demonstrate developmentally appropriate lesson planning skills.
8. Demonstrate appropriate work habits for an early childhood professional.

Assignments

Assignments for this course consist of:

• Lab Hours
• Written Lab Reports
• Written Activity Plans
• Environment Project

Lab Hours

This course requires 30 hours of on-site lab time.  The Saddleback College Child Development Center is the primary location for lab placement.  Placement with a Mentor Teacher is the secondary choice. Alternative sites may be approved by instructor.

To arrange lab hours contact the Lab Coordinator Laura Vidal-Prudholme

949-582-4702

lvidalprudholme@saddleback.edu

Alternative sites will only be considered if they are child care or early childhood education settings designed to serve children ages 2-5 where children come on regular schedules and there is identified curriculum planning.  Sports lessons, mommy and me programs, Sunday school or fitness center child care, or any similar program ARE not acceptable settings for lab hours. Submit Alternative Placement request first week of class.

Lab hours must be spread evenly over the duration of the course and attended on a weekly basis.

Students may choose their own hours and days with the following caveats:

• Each visit must be at least one hour in duration
• No more than one hour may be scheduled before 8 am or after 5 pm
• Hours may not be scheduled during nap time