May 05, 2024  
2022-2023 Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

ECED 216 - Curriculum Planning for Early Childhood Administrators


PREREQUISITES: Demonstrated competency in college-level English and 9 credit hours of ECED coursework OR program chair approval
PROGRAM: Early Childhood Education
CREDIT HOURS MIN: 3
LECTURE HOURS MIN: 3
DATE OF LAST REVISION: Fall 2021

Overview of early childhood curriculum models from a developmentally appropriate perspective.  Evaluates early childhood curriculum models with an emphasis on demonstrated outcomes and ability to meet the comprehensive needs of the young child in his/her cultural context. Emphasizes the active involvement of early childhood educators and families in curriculum planning, implementation, and assessment. Develops advocacy skills for early childhood program administrators.

MAJOR COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

  1. Review child growth and development as it relates to  curriculum development and Developmentally Appropriate Practice. (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d)
  2. Review and analyze past and current learning theories as they apply to curriculum development and implementation. (4b, 4c, 5a, 5b, 5c)
  3. Recognize play as the basis for developmentally appropriate curriculum in the early childhood classroom. (4b)
  4. Evaluate early childhood environments to determine if they demonstrate positive, caring, supportive relationships and interactions as the foundation of early childhood educators’ work with young children. . (3c, 4a)
  5. Review and evaluate various curriculum models currently in use in early childhood settings. (3a, 3b, 5a, 5b, 6d)
  6. Define the teacher’s and the learner’s roles in various early childhood curriculum models. (1b, 1c, 1d, 4a, 4b, 4c)
  7. Demonstrate proficiency using authentic early childhood assessment methods. (3a, 3b, 3c)
  8. Demonstrate the use of assessment data to inform the development of early childhood curriculum. (3a, 3c, 6d, 6e)
  9. Select and develop a plan to implement a curriculum model that meets the developmental and cultural needs of a specific population of children to be served. (1d, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3c, 6e)
  10. Collaborate as partners with families in young children’s development and learning through respectful, reciprocal relationships and engagement. (2b, 3d)
  11. Recognize and incorporate the Indiana Early Learning Foundations in developing curriculum. (5a, 5b, 5c)
  12. Discuss the implications of national and Indiana state policies in reforming, funding, and providing minimum standards for early childhood curriculum. (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e)


COURSE CONTENT: Topical areas of study include -  

  • Child growth and development as it relates  to play and curriculum 
  • Learning theories 
  • Developmentally appropriate learning environments 
  • Developmentally appropriate curriculum 
  • Early childhood curriculum models 
  • Assessment data as a tool for curriculum development
  • Role of the family in the development and implementation of curriculum 
  • Authentic assessment tools for use with young children and early learning programs

 

2021 NAEYC Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators

STANDARD 1 

Child Development and Learning in Context

NAEYC Standards covered in this course

INTASC Standards Alignment

1a: Understand the developmental period of early childhood from birth through age 8 across physical, cognitive, social and emotional, and linguistic domains, including bilingual/multilingual development.

x

2.a-b; 5.b

1b: Understand and value each child as an individual with unique developmental variations, experiences, strengths, interests, abilities, challenges, approaches to learning, and with the capacity to make choices.

x

2.a; 3.a-b; 5.b

1c: Understand the ways that child development and the learning process occur in multiple contexts, including family, culture, language, community, and early learning setting, as well as in a larger societal context that includes structural inequities.

x

 

1d: Use this multidimensional knowledge-that is, knowledge about the developmental period of early childhood, about individual children, and about development and learning in cultural contexts-to make evidence-based decisions that support each child

x

4.a-b; 8.a-d

STANDARD 2 

Family-Teacher Partnerships and Community Connections

 

2a: Know about, understand, and value the diversity of families.

x

5.a-b

2b: Collaborate as partners with families in young children’s development and learning through respectful, reciprocal relationships and engagement.

x

5.a-b; 7.b

2c: Use community resources to support young children’s learning and development and to support families, and build partnerships between early learning settings, schools, and community organizations and agencies.

x

2.a-b; 3.a-b; 5.a-b; 8.c-d

STANDARD 3 

Child Observation, Documentation, and Assessment

 

3a: Understand that assessments (formal and informal, formative and summative) are conducted to make informed choices about instruction and for planning in early learning settings.

x

 

3b: Know a wide range of types of assessments, their purposes, and their associated methods and tools.

x

6.a-b

3c: Use screening and assessment tools in ways that are ethically grounded and developmentally, ability, culturally, and linguistically appropriate in order to document developmental progress and promote positive outcomes for each child.

x

3.b; 6.a-b; 7.a-b

3d: Build assessment partnerships with families and professional colleagues.

x

3.b; 5.a-b; 7.b

STANDARD 4 

Developmentally, Culturally, and Linguistically Appropriate Teaching Practices

 

4a: Understand and demonstrate positive, caring, supportive relationships and interactions as the foundation of early childhood educators’ work with young children.

x

5.a; 7.b

4b: Understand and use teaching skills that are responsive to the learning trajectories of young children and to the needs of each child, recognizing that differentiating instruction, incorporating play as a core teaching practice, and supporting the development of executive function skills are critical for young children.

x

2.a-b; 4.a-b; 8.a-b

4c: Use a broad repertoire of developmentally appropriate, culturally and linguistically relevant, anti-bias, evidence-based teaching skills and strategies that reflect the principles of universal design for learning.

x

2.a-b; 3.a-b; 6.a-b; 8.a

STANDARD 5 

Knowledge, Application, and Integration of Academic Content in the Early Childhood Curriculum

 

5a: Understand content knowledge- the central concepts, methods and tools of inquiry, and structure-and resources for the academic disciplines in an early childhood curriculum.

x

7.a-b; 3.a-b

5b: Understand pedagogical content knowledge-how young children learn in each discipline-and how to use the teacher knowledge and practices described in Standards 1 through 4 to support young children’s learning in each content area.

x

3.a; 5.a; 7.a-b

5c: Modify teaching practices by applying, expanding, integrating, and updating their content knowledge in the disciplines, their knowledge of curriculum content resources, and their pedagogical content knowledge.

x

7.a-b; 3.b; 8.b

STANDARD 6 

Professionalism as an Early Childhood Educator

 

6a: Identify and involve themselves with the early childhood field and serve as informed advocates for young children, families, and the profession.

x

9.a, b, c, d

6b: Know about and uphold ethical and other early childhood professional guidelines.

x

9.f, j, o

6c: Use professional communication skills, including technology-mediated strategies, to effectively support young children’s learning and development and to work with families and colleagues.

x

9.c, d, f

6d: Engage in continuous, collaborative learning to inform practice.

x

9.a, b, c, d, 

6e: Develop and sustain the habit of reflective and intentional practice in their daily work with young children and as members of the early childhood profession.

x

9.f, o

2.a-b; 3.a-b; 4.a-b; 5.a-b; 6.a-b; 8.a-d

STANDARD 7 

Field Experiences

 

7a: Opportunities to observe and practice in at least two of the three early childhood age groups (birth - age 3, 3-5, 5-8)

 

1.a, b, c; 3.b, c, d

7b:  Opportunities to observe and practice in at least two of the three main types of early education settings (early school grades, child care centers and homes, Head Start programs)

 

1.a, b, c; 3.b, c, d


GRADING POLICY
 

100 - 93%    A

92 - 85%    B

84 - 75%    C

74 - 71%    D

70 -   0%    F

 

PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT:

All degree seeking students will be expected to present examples of coursework that they deem suitable for a cumulative portfolio that will be reviewed prior to graduation.  The portfolio will contain several artifacts and reflection pieces as evidence of the students’ demonstrated understanding of early childhood principles as outlined by INTASC and NAEYC standards.  The cumulative portfolio should document each student’s dispositions and competencies reflected in assignments throughout their coursework.  Creating a portfolio has value to students, the Ivy Tech Community College early childhood education program and potential employers.  Students should select from a variety of assignments and are free to confer with their instructor about alternate choices of material.

 
Course Addendum - Syllabus (Click to expand)