Description: This course offers an introduction to the child care and education field with emphasis on the history of childcare, the variety of operations, services, facilities, career opportunities, and basic child development principles. The laboratory includes 15 hours of field studies in a variety of childcare, preschool, elementary grades K-3rd grade. These observations are mandatory. Reading of periodical articles is required to introduce the student to childcare and the authors and publications of the profession. A portfolio will be completed including a philosophy of education, “Why I Want to Teach” paper, and 15 hours of observation recordings.

What will students learn? Students will learn what is current in local child care centers and local schools. How to observe, opportunities to observe and apply and evaluate theories and what is learned in class. Theory (Piaget, Erikson, Gardner), research, article summaries for ages 0-8.

What can students expect in class? Writing, summarizing 20 documents, reading, weekly chapter study guides, two exams on computer in testing center. Travel to child care centers and schools. A portfolio of all observations will be required.

What skills are needed for this class? College reading, writing, summarizing, computer skills, time management.

Description: School-Age Child Care is a course for the individual caring for children five years to twelve years of age in a before and after school setting. Basic concepts of physical, intellectual, emotional and social development of this age group are introduced. The provision of child care services is discussed. Appropriate curriculum, environment, and activities are explored by the students through semester projects and class activities.

What will students learn? Piaget, Erikson, Kohlberg Theory on development of children 5 – 12. Activities for After School Care – Games, activities, literacy bag review in RCC library, case studies in teams. Illinois required SACERS review SchoolAge care Environmental Rating Scale.

What to expect in this class? Case study review, game lesson planning, computer skills, review of research, tour the LRC and review the literacy bags.

What skills will be needed for this class? Computer skills, responsible student in handing in documents on time, time management skills.

Description: Course Description: addresses typical characteristics and needs of children ages 0-5 and provides a broad range of practical, effective, and flexible guidance strategies based on tested theories. Workable steps are devised for creating cooperative, respectable relationships with young children. What will students learn? Learn how to research a subject and write it in a concise way with no plagiarism, how to devise a checklist for environment, and review techniques in guiding children. Practice I-messages, active listening, and conflict resolution. You will learn what is developmentally appropriate.

What to expect in this class: Student must be able to observe a child in an objective manner and take notes. Student will make a take-home midterm, but will take a final in the testing center (study guide will be given). Student will devise an environmental checklist. A research paper is required using the internet and sending the paper to a drop box on-line.

What skills will be needed for this class? Computer skills, responsible in ability to hand in items on time in on-line class. Ability to write a research paper without plagiarism.

Description: Provides an overview of current concepts in the fields of health, safety, and nutrition with emphasis on meeting children’s needs in group settings and in accordance with licensing standards. Topics include community health issues, appropriate curriculum for nutrition needs, first aid and emergency practice, reporting policies, and choices for a healthy lifestyle. What will students learn? Nutrition, health checklist research, policies and issues in health, nutrition, and safety for young children.

What to expect in this class: Online class, observe local child care and school cafeterias, two exams in testing center, article review, devise a health checklist, case study problem solving, research various articles in the three subjects.

What skills will be needed for this class? The student will be able to devise a checklist in MSWord. Student will be able to research online and compile a concise summary without plagiarism. Computer skills, responsible in a ability to hand in items on time in online class, basic college reading and writing level.

Description: This course explores basic concepts of reading and telling stories and suggests methods of encouraging the child’s creativity in the language arts. An important part of this course concerns the selection and use of materials appropriate for the level of comprehension associated with the different stages of mental, physical, and emotional development of the individual child. Particular emphasis is placed on language development. Five hours of observation in an ECE classroom or any BabyTalk lapsit or child care center are required and mandatory.

What will students learn: Learn developmental milestones in language for children under the age of 8. Appropriate children’s literature, view environment for whole language, study of current reading and writing teaching strategies, learn to tell a story, learn what to expect in an appropriate environment, learn how to enhance language.

What to expect in this class: Make a cookbook of snacks for preschool age child, make a list of books and fingerplays under one theme, research children’s author, tour a local library, two exams in testing center.

What skills will be needed for this class? Computer skills online class. Time management skills. Ability to tour a library and observe 5 different hours of classroom teaching. College reading and writing level. Online class.

Description: Explores basic concepts of mathematics and science and suggests methods for encouraging the child’s creativity in these areas. An important part of the course concerns the identification of those concepts appropriate to the different levels of mental, physical, and emotional development of the individual child. Hands-on experience supports this basic concept.

What will students learn? Piaget, Vygotsky theory, Rockwell research, article reviews, lesson planning using ISBE goals

What to expect in this class: Hybrid class, Article review, teamwork present lessons to children, college level reading and writing, hand-on learning with manipulatives and experiments, presentation of an article summary, two exams in testing center.

What skills will be needed for this class? Computer skills, ability to work in a team, time management skills to get discussion completed two days a week.

Description: Creative activities in art, music, and drama explores concepts of art, music, and drama and suggests methods for encouraging student participation and creativity in these areas. Included during the course are discussions of the various activities associated with different stages in the mental, physical and emotional development of the individual child and the use of these art/music forms to increase the child’s social abilities. Emphasis is on small motor activities.

What will students learn: How to present a song, how to write lesson plans with ISBE goals, how to present a creative drama lesson with a team, learn how to encourage not praise a child’s art.

What to expect in this class? Student will be working with a team, present a song, present art to children, two exams in testing center.

What skills will be needed for this class? Hybrid class – meets once a week. Computer skills, teamwork ability present lessons to children, college level reading and writing, time management skills to get discussion completed two days a week online.

Description: This course explores basic concepts of child’s motor abilities. Emphasis is on large motor activities. Playground evaluation is a major part of this class. On line participation with instructor is required.

What will students learn? Product Commission and DCFRS regulations for safety on playgrounds and gyms. Developmentally Appropriate lesson plans for gross motor, 5 stages of play, learn how to construct play items out of recycled materials, gross motor development of children 0-5.

What to expect in this class? Playground evals, observe young children, present a game to a group of adults and children, work as a team.

What skills will be needed for this class? Hybrid class – meet once a week. Computer skills, ability to work in a team, time management skills to get discussion completed two days a week online, basic reading and writing skills.

Description: What will students learn? Child development milestones ages 0-3. Learn how to devise a ‘parent packet’, learn how to observe appropriate environment and children. What to expect in this class? Five hours of observation of children 0-3. Quizzes after chapters and midterm and final.

What skills will be needed for this class? Time management skills to prepare documents on time, basic reading and writing skills.

Description: This course investigates the historical and current attitudes toward children and families, the history of childcare and economic, cultural and political factors that influence child care practices. Five hours of observation of family-based groups will be a mandatory part of this class. What will students learn: Students will learn how to devise a newsletter. They will also learn how to research online without plagiarism.

What to expect in this class? Research, case studies, 5 hours observation, online discussion two times a week, journaling, two exams in testing center, travel to 5 different parent/child events.

What skills will be needed for this class? Online class. Computer skills, ability to work in a team, time management skills to get discussion completed two days a week online, basic college reading and writing skills.

Description: Offers an overview of the methods and procedures used in childhood education programs. Topics covered include curriculum, program planning, role of the teacher, use of materials and equipment, techniques of classroom management, and meeting the needs of individual children. The student needs either several of the ECE activity courses or equivalent knowledge to succeed in curriculum and program planning.

What will students learn? Student will learn how to devise an appropriate curriculum for children ages 0-5, learn how to navigate various websites and videos online for critique.

What to expect in this class: Student will spend most of the semester writing a three-part DAP curriculum for ages 0-5. Lesson plans will be a major part of the curriculum planning, using ISBE goals. The student will take two exams in testing center.

What skills will be needed for this class? Online hybrid class. Computer skills, ability to work in a team, time management skills to get discussion completed two days a week online, basic college reading and writing skills. Writing a variety of lesson plans using ISBE, demands that the student has mastered previous ECE classes.

Description: This course affords the student in a ECE program the opportunity to apply the principles learned in other courses to the work situation through employment in or observation of activities necessary for the operation of a child care agency. Employment or observation activities are coordinated with the student’s course work. One of the requirements of this course will be a seminar to be arranged for maximum convenience of the student. Credit is determined at enrollment based on the ratio of five or more hours per week in the employment setting for a regular-length semester for one semester hour of credit. The course may be repeated for a maximum accumulation of three semester hours of credit. Students planning to enroll in this course must request an application from the ECE Coordinator 30 days or more prior to the first day or registration for the semester during which the student desires to participate in this course. Practicum assignments are allowed in the Richland Learning Child Care Center/Academy and any licensed center in RCC area. Each student serving a practicum in a licensed child care center or preschool must furnish current proof of a physical examination including a statement of his/her physical and emotional ability to work with children. Proof of a current T.B. check and background check are also required. The cost of the physical exam and T.B. check are the student’s responsibility.

What will students learn? Responsibility, lesson planning, DAPS, ISBE guidelines. What to expect in this class: Timely attendance, lesson plans, observation and journal weekly, discussion online required. Professor will expect a meeting for contract signing before semester and the student will be observed twice.

What skills will be needed for this class? Lesson planning skills, professional dress, and student must have taken other ECE classes to be eligible for this class. Computer skills, ability to work in a team, time management skills to get discussion completed two days a week online, basic reading and writing skills.

What will students learn? Hands-on adaptive techniques for special needs.

What to expect in this class: Observation of more than five hours of blended/inclusive classrooms, research of one adaptive technique, documents will be required to ensure textbook knowledge (review questions), two exams in the testing center required.

What skills will be needed for this class? Computer skills, ability to work in a team, basic reading and writing skills, ability to tour classrooms in Richland’s community.