Each module will open on Tuesday afternoons and be open through Monday nights, closing at 11pm.  All work for the week/module is due by 11pm on Monday nights.  Late work is not accepted.

This is a hybrid course.  Part of the instruction will be online and then we will meet as a class on the following 6 Tuesday’s in the Allied Health Building Room 139 on West Campus from 6pm-9pm: August 26, September 2, September 16, October 7, October 28, and December 9.

Week/Module/Dates

Readings/Homework/Assignments

Week 1

Module1

We will meet for class on Tuesday, August 26^th on West Campus in Building D -- Computer Lab  (Same building as the Bookstore) from 6pm-9pm. 

Welcome to CDEC 1294 Special Topics in Advanced Child Care Practices!  During this course, you will be compiling your Professional Portfolio and you will be using the CDA Infant/Toddler or Preschool manual, depending on the age of children you teach.

This week....

1. Purchase a notebook with 10 dividers or page protectors and take to class each time we meet.
2. In the CDA Infant/Toddler or the CDA Preschool Booklet -- Read the Introduction, Overview and Part 1: Earning the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential, Pages 1-34

Week 2-3

Module 2

We will meet for class on Tuesday, September 2nd on West Campus in the Allied Health Building Classroom #139 from 6pm-9pm.

This week…

1. For your Professional Portfolio:
   1. Place the CDA Cover Sheet
   2. Complete Tab A
      1. Summary of My CDA Education
      2. Certificates, transcripts, and other documentation
   3. Complete Tab B:  Family Questionnaires
      1. Cover Sheet
      2. Completed Family Questionnaires
   4. Place all remaining tab dividers (Tab C-I) in Notebook
2. Homework before next class
   1. Complete the Resource Collection Item I-3 weekly plan on the template provided and upload in the drop box below.
   2. Complete the Resource Collection II 1 thru 9 on the template provided and upload in the drop box below.
   3. Complete the Resource Collection III bibliography on the template provided and upload in the drop box below.
   4. In the CDA Infant/Toddler or the CDA Preschool Booklet – Read Part 2: The Child Development Associate (CDA) Competency Standards overview and Competency Standard I

Week 4-6

Module 3

We will meet for class on Tuesday, September 16 on West Campus in the Allied Health Building Classroom #139 from 6pm-9pm.

This week…

1. Complete Tab C -- 
   1. Write the Reflective Competency Statement I:  To establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment
      1. Begin your Reflective Statement about this Competency Standard with a paragraph describing how your teaching practices meet this Standard.
      2. Reflect on the sample menu.  How does it reflect your commitment to children's nutritional needs?  If you did not design it, what are its strengths and/or what would you change?
      3. Reflect on the room environment in which your visit will occur:  How does the room design reflect the way you believe young children learn best?  
      4. Additionally, reflect on and describe the similarities and differences between room environments designed for infants as compared to toddlers.
      5. Reflect on the weekly plan you included in your collection.  How does this plan reflect your philosophy of what young children need on a weekly basis.  How would you adapt this plan for use with each of the three age groups?
   2. Resource Collection Items
      1. RC I-1 --  1st Aid and CPR Certification
      2. RC I-2 --  Weekly Menu
      3. RC I-3 --  Weekly Lesson Plan that includes goals for
         1. Children’s learning and development
         2. Brief description of planned learning experiences
         3. Accommodations for children with special needs
         4. Age group indicated
2. Complete Tab D -- 
   1. Write the Reflective Competency Statement II:  To advance physical and intellectual competence
      1. Begin your Reflective Statement about this Competency Standard with a paragraph describing how your teaching practices meet this Standard. (You may also choose to write one paragraph for each Functional Area, if this makes it easier to express your thoughts more clearly.)
      2. Pick one of the nine learning experiences you chose for your Resource Collection.  How does this experience reflect your philosophy of how to support young children's physical development?
      3. Pick another of the nine learning experience you chose for your Resource Collection.  How does this experience reflect your philosophy of how to support young children's cognitive development?
      4. Pick a third learning experience you chose for your Resource Collection.  How does this experience reflect your philosophy of how to support young children's creative development?
      5. In an additional paragraph, describe ways to promote the communication/language development among all children, including dual language learners.
   2. Resource Collection Items 
      1. RC II 1 thru RC II 9.  (the 9 learning experiences need to be completed on the template provided.)

Week 7-9

Module 4

We will meet for class on Tuesday, October 7th on West Campus in the Allied Health Building Classroom #139 from 6pm-9pm.

This Week:

1. In the CDA Infant/Toddler or the CDA Preschool Booklet -- Read Part 2: The Child Development Associate (CDA) Competency Standards overview and Competency Standard  III and IV.
2. Complete Tab E
   1. Write the Reflective Competency Statement III: To support social and emotional development and to provide positive guidance
      1. Begin your Reflective Statement about this Competency Standard with a paragraph describing how your teaching practices meet this Standard. (You may also choose to write one paragraph for each Functional Area, if this makes it easier to express your thoughts more clearly.)
      2. Describe some of the ways you support the development of children's positive self concepts and growing social/emotional skills.
      3. Reflect on your philosophy of guiding young children's positive behaviors.  How is your professional philosophy similar or different from how you were guided as a child?  How do you constructively deal with young children's challenging behaviors?
   2. Resource Collection Items 
      1. RC III (the bibliography needs to be completed on the template provided.)
3. Complete Tab F
   1. Write the Reflective Competency Statement IV:  To establish positive and productive relationships with families
      1. Begin your Reflective Statement about this Competency Standard with a paragraph describing how your teaching practices meet this Standard.
      2. How do you ensure that families are kept aware of what's happening in their child's daily/weekly life in your program?
      3. How do you ensure that you are aware of what's happening in each child's home life?  How does that awareness direct your teaching practices?  This paragraph will be completed after you receive the Family Questionnaires  --  before you apply for your CDA!
   2. Resource Collection Items
      1. RC IV-1 --  Family Counseling
      2. RC IV-2 --  Translation Service and ASL Translation
         1. http://clas.uiuc.edu/
         2. Babies on the web --  Bebes en la Web
         3. Early Start Online Library
         4. The Magic of Everyday Moments
         5. Migrant Head Start --  Disabilities Services Quality Improvement Center
         6. The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
         7. Parents Helping Parents INC --  Padres Ayudando a Padres
         8. UNICEF
      3. RC IV-3 --  Disability Services
      4. RC IV-4 --  Websites and Articles on Child Guidance and Development of Learning

Week 10-12

Module 5

We will meet for class on Tuesday, October 28th on West Campus in the Allied Health Building Classroom #139 from 6pm-9pm.

This Week:

1. In the CDA Infant/Toddler or the CDA Preschool Booklet -- Read Part 2: The Child Development Associate (CDA) Competency Standards overview and Competency Standard V and VI.
2. Complete Tab G
   1. Write the Reflective Competency Statement V:  To Ensure a well-run, purposeful program that is responsive to participant needs
      1. Begin your reflective statement about this competency standard with a paragraph describing how your teaching practices meet this standard.
      2. Then write at least one paragraph that describes how you used the observation tool/form you included in the Resource Collection.  
      3. Why are observation and documentation important parts of program management?
      4. How do you ensure that you are accurately/objectively observing and tracking each child's developmental and learning progress?
   2. Resource Collection Items
      1. RCV --  Three samples of Record Keeping Forms
         1. Accident Report form
         2. Emergency Form
         3. Completed form of a child’s developmental and learning progress
3. Complete Tab H
4. Write the Reflective Competency Statement VI:  To maintain a commitment to professionalism
   1. Begin your reflective statement about this competency standard with a paragraph describing how your teaching practices meet this standard.
   2. Reflect on why you chose to become an early childhood professional
   3. Reflect on what you believe are the most important indicators of professionalism that you possess.
5. Resource Collection Items
   1. RC VI-1 --  State Agency responsible for regulation of child care centers 
      1. http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/
   2. RC VI-2 --  Early Childhood Associations (national, regional, state, and/or local)
      1. http://www.naeyc.org/ National Association for the Education of Young Children
      2. www.tecec.org --  Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition
      3. http://paeyc.com/ --  Panhandle Association for the Education of Young Children
      4. http://www.nhsa.org/ National Headstart Association
      5. http://www.nafcc.org/ National Association for Family Child Care
      6. http://www.southernearlychildhood.org/  SECA --  Southern Early Childhood Association 
   3. RC VI-3 --  Legal Requirements regarding child abuse and neglect with Mandatory Reporting Guidelines

Week 13-16

Module 6

The Professional Portfolio is due by Tuesday, December 2.  Please drop off at Allied Health #139.  There will be a box for you to put the portfolio and it will be returned to the student on December 9th at the course final.

We will meet for class on December 9th on West Campus in the Allied Health Building Classroom #139 from 6pm-9pm.

This Week:

1. Complete Tab I
   1. Write the Professional Philosophy Statement
      1. The statement should be no more than 2 pages in length.
      2. Summarize your professional beliefs and values about early childhood education
      3. Identify your personal values and beliefs around teaching and learning
      4. How do you believe young children learn?
         1. Based on this, what do you believe your role is?
      5. Beyond teaching and learning, reflect and write about what you believe are the other important aspects of your role in the lives of children and families.
2.  Your Professional Portfolio is due by Tuesday, December 2nd in the Allied Health classroom 139 by 7pm. There will be a box for you to put your file.
3. Download and fill out the Final Exam Review found online. 
4. Final Exam will be given in class on Tuesday, December 9th.