2007-2008 Undergraduate Academic Catalog - Plymouth State ...

Coursescognitive, social, emotional, linguistic and aesthetic- and how children learn. Reviews thechild development knowledge base, researchand theoretical perspectives. Focuses on thedevelopment of observational skills and strategiesthat inform teaching. Emphasizes themany influences on children’s developmentand learning and how developmental knowledgeis used to create learning environmentsthat are healthy, respectful, supportive andchallenging for all children. Requires 10 observation/participationhours in an approved earlychildhood setting. Falls and Springs.ER 2800 Preschool and KindergartenCurriculum andInstruction6 creditsExamines teaching strategies and curricularapproaches for preschool and kindergartenchildren. Focuses on designing, implementingand evaluating constructivist learningexperiences and on creating learning environmentsthat are supportive and respectfulof all children. Emphasis on incorporatingappropriate and meaningful content fromvarious disciplines. Requires practicum ofeight to 10 hours per week at the PSU ChildDevelopment and Family Center. Falls andSprings. Prerequisite(s): ER 2200 and RL2500.ER 3100 K–3 Curriculum andInstruction3 creditsFocuses on the design, implementation andevaluation of appropriate learning experiencesin the primary grades. Students develop anunderstanding of the concepts, inquiry toolsand structure of content areas and academicdisciplines (e.g., math, science, social studiesand language arts). Emphasis on thematic,project-based and emergent curriculumapproaches that include meaningful andchallenging concepts. In the context of a fieldbasedexperience, students develop and teachan integrated unit. Falls and Springs. Lastoffering Spring 2008. Prerequisite(s): ER 2100,ER 3000, acceptance into Teacher Educationcandidacy.ER 3200 Assessment in EarlyChildhood3 creditsExamines a variety of assessment strategiesand their uses in supporting learning andinforming practice and decision-making.Emphasis on assessments that are responsible,ethical and appropriate for diverse children.Examines how quantitative data are used toinform early childhood practice. Promotes theimportance of establishing assessment partnershipswith families and other professionals.Requires three to six hours of field experiencein early childhood settings. Falls and Springs.(QRCO)ER 3270 Practicum in Early ChildhoodStudies4 creditsProvides a challenging opportunity for EarlyChildhood Studies students to integrate theirskill and knowledge of the young child in planning,teaching and working as part of a team.Students also work with children’s parents andfamilies on a variety of levels. Extensive teachingexperience in an approved early childhoodsetting, plus a weekly seminar. Also offeredWinterim and Summer. Last offering Fall2007. Prerequisite(s): ER 2100 and permissionof the instructor.ER 3300 Culturally Responsive Early Careand Education 3 creditsExamines the influence of culture on childrearing,teaching and learning and exploresthe dynamics of privilege and power. Preparesearly childhood professionals to be culturallyresponsive caregivers and educators who sethigh expectations for all children and workeffectively with families and within the community.Focuses in particular on supportingracially, ethnically and/or linguistically diversechildren. Emphasizes the responsibilities ofearly childhood professionals to recognize,confront and change racism and other biasesin themselves, early childhood settings andother social institutions. Falls and Springs.Prerequisite(s): ER 2000. (DICO)ER 3400 The Project Approach 6 creditsExamines the underlying principles of theProject Approach to early childhood curriculumdevelopment. Engages students indesigning, implementing, documenting andevaluating projects with preschool and kindergartenchildren and families. Requirespracticum of eight hours per week at the PSUChild Development and Family Center. Fallsand Springs. Prerequisite(s): ER 2800.ER 3550 Early ChildhoodPracticum3 creditsProvides an opportunity for an intensive,field-based experience in an approved settingfor early childhood majors, with mentoringand supervision from an early childhoodprofessional. Emphasis on applying acquiredknowledge and skills, fulfilling professionalresponsibilities and demonstrating ethicaland professional behavior. May be repeatedfor credit once in a different approved setting.Falls and Springs. Prerequisite(s): permissionof the instructor.ER 3700 Teaching and Learning in thePrimary Grades 3 creditsFocuses on the teacher’s roles and responsibilitiesin promoting children’s developmentand learning in grades one through three.Examines the fundamental aims of primarygrade education and ways of achieving theseaims by establishing appropriate and challenginglearning environments, building respectfuland supportive relationships with children andfamilies and utilizing a repertoire of strategiesto support and assess all children’s learning.Introduces the content, approaches and skillsassociated with various academic disciplines.Emphasizes investigating and expressing“big ideas” and using the “backwards design”method of organizing curriculum and instruction.Requires two hours of practicum per weekin a first, second or third grade classroom. Fallsand Springs. Prerequisite(s): acceptance intoTeacher Certification Candidacy. Corequisite(s):RL 3500.ER 3800 Technology and Problem SolvingAcross the Primary GradeCurriculum 3 creditsFocuses on the integration of technology andproblem-solving in curriculum for kindergartenthrough grade three. Examines developmentaland constructivist theories as they applyto problem solving and technology. Emphasisplaced on the role of communication and theacquisition of strategies with regard to problemsolving. Explores the use of manipulative materialsand tools in shaping mathematical reasoning.Investigates the role of technology inthe primary classroom with regard to studentuse, teacher productivity and communicationwith families, and examines ways in whichtechnology supports differentiated instruction.Considers social and ethical implications oftechnology use with primary grade children.Falls and Springs. Prerequisite(s): MA 2110,MA 3010, acceptance into Teacher CertificationCandidacy. (TECO)ER 3900 Inquiry and Integration in thePrimary Grades 3 creditsBuilds on concepts addressed in ER 3700, withan emphasis on the design and implementationof integrated curriculum. Focuses onscience and social studies concepts and skills.Explores how both disciplines can serve as abasis for in-depth investigation and integratedstudy, emphasizing inquiry as a means ofconstructing knowledge and promotingactive investigation. Utilizes the “backwardsdesign” process of creating integrated units.Requires a practicum of two hours per weekin a first, second or third grade classroom.Falls and Springs. Prerequisite(s): ER 3700.Corequisite(s): SE 3500.ER 4200 Senior Seminar: Perspectives onEarly Childhood 3 creditsFocuses on the ideas, individuals and eventsthat have shaped the field of early childhood.Examines the philosophical, historical, culturaland political influences on the developmentof early care and education programs and theearly childhood profession in the United States.264 Plymouth State University Academic Catalog 2007–2008