Early Childhood Education (ECED)

This course provides the student with an overview of the physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and psychological development of children from infancy through adolescence. Students must be aware of overall growth and development to fully understand the students they will teach and the families they will serve.

This course will facilitate the acquisition/attainment of knowledge necessary for educators to support and meet the health, nutrition and LOCOMOTOR/PHYSICAL needs of the children with whom they will work/educate.

The course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to work successfully with families and parent groups in individual, group, school, and community settings. It explores family-centered practices designed to help early childhood professionals involve and support families in the care and education of children. Strategies for working with socially, culturally, and linguistically diverse families will be included.

This course focuses on play as the primary way through which children learn and develop from birth through age 8. It includes a review of the historical role of play in teaching/learning, theories of play, and different curricula models utilizing play-based approaches. Students will learn the teacher's role in supporting, facilitating, and guiding children's play to support their learning. They will also learn how to infuse play into math, science, and language arts lessons.

This course will provide students with the knowledge and understanding needed to select appropriate techniques to support young children and the creative arts. Students will use the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines and the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills to develop activities that support young children’s personal expression through visual arts, music, creative movement, dance, and theatre.

This course will provide students with the understanding of current, best practices that effectively engage young children in the learning process. Developmentally appropriate strategies that will engage young children in exploration and maximize the learning opportunities in small and large groups will be presented. Students will apply their understanding of appropriate practices for young children in the creation of lesson plans and planning of classroom environment.

Prerequisite: EDUC 1354.

This course will introduce students to the concept of culturally responsive pedagogy and how culture influences young children’s identity, their school experience as well as the preservice teacher. Students will explore the meanings of culture, social justice, culturally responsive pedagogy, and ways to create a classroom environment that is respectful, inclusive and equitable.

Prerequisite: EDUC 1354.

This course addresses the important "big ideas” in mathematics appropriate for PreK -3rd grade students, with an emphasis on student-centered learning and inclusive environments for all learners of math. Students will have the opportunity to engage in math, observe and reflect upon children’s mathematical thinking and solution strategies, identify and integrate children’s lived experiences and background knowledge into mathematics lessons, and use assessments to build on children’s understanding and extend their learning. This course is designed to have students experience and learn mathematics through a process of inquiry which differs in significant ways from traditional mathematics classes. Students will deepen their own mathematical knowledge while furthering their understanding of effective mathematics instruction. Students will develop an understanding of the math content in accordance with State and National Standards and contemporary educational research findings in early childhood mathematics teaching and learning.

Prerequisite: EDUC 1354.

Provides the student with an overview of the physical, social, emotional, and psychological development of children from infancy through early childhood.

This course is designed to provide preservice teachers with a global understanding of teaching science in the EC-3rd grade school setting. This aim requires preservice teachers to learn about the nature of science, engage in science investigations, and construct an understanding of natural phenomena. At the same time, students will explore how to facilitate this knowledge construction with young children through the use of inquiry. Students will become knowledgeable of the state-adopted proficiencies for teachers (science emphasis), state standards for science (science TEKS), as well as, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), the national science education standards.

Prerequisite: EDUC 1354.

This course aims to prepare undergraduate teacher candidates to support young children’s emergent literacy, with an emphasis on oral language and writing. The development of children’s writing skills, from scribbling and drawing to conventional spelling is explored. Current research, educational practice, and instructional materials will be analyzed, with an emphasis on how to integrate child-initiated writing into multiple areas of the curriculum.

Prerequisite: EDUC 1354.

This course addresses the various ways to assess the development and learning of children from EC-3rd grade. The ways in which teachers select, administer, and interpret formal, informal, and alternative assessments will be explored. The principles of designing and using assessment and evaluation techniques that are culturally fair, intellectually sound, reliable, dependable, and content-valid for young children will be investigated. Finally, various ways to systematically observe and document students’ development and learning will be reviewed.

Prerequisite: EDUC 1354.

An intensive study of developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood education. Students will learn the components of lesson plans and create several lesson plans. Emphasis will be placed on selecting, defining, developing strategies and techniques, and assessing practices which support developmentally appropriate practices.

Prerequisite: ECED 3324.

An intensive study of the social development, the agents of socialization, and the socialization process in early childhood.

Prerequisite: ECED 2310 or 3324.

This course is a study of theory into practice through the creation of an emergent curriculum that integrates content in the areas of math, science, and technology alongside learners’ interests. Students will be expected to have a firm foundation in math and science content, with the aim of this course to build on that knowledge to develop hands-on, concrete, and relevant experiences to help young children develop an understanding of the physical world and to develop skills of inquiry. Technology serves as both a subject of instruction as well as an instructional tool to support learning and communication. This course also includes a discussion of the differentiation of instruction, learner characteristics, the learning environment, curriculum, and standards.

Prerequisite: EDUC 1354.

A study of current family structures, their relationship to the young child, society, and the community. Emphasis will be placed on an inclusive model which addresses the needs of the global community as it relates to the young child.

Prerequisite: ECED 2310 or 3324.

The course will explore the specific development and growth of infants and toddlers. In addition, appropriate programs and environments which support infant and toddlers’ physical, emotional, social, and cognitive growth and development will be explored.

This course will acquaint students with techniques of incorporating the social studies concepts of geography, government and economics through a cultural lens. This perspective will prepare students to teach young children in culturally diverse communities

The course will focus on the study and discussion of topics related to current issues and trends that affect early childhood education programs and policies. The course will assist students to become advocates for young children

The relationship between health, nutrition, and locomotor development in the young child is investigated.

This course focuses on conflict resolution, problem-solving, the development of supportive interactions, and children’s initiation and self-help skills. Students will build knowledge about underlying emotional skill development as well as knowledge of the influence of stress and trauma, protective factors, resilience, and supportive relationships on the cognitive and emotional development of young children. In addition, students will analyze children’s social skills to develop supportive interactions and use developmentally appropriate strategies to effectively manage instructional activities for young children. Finally, students will utilize knowledge of children’s learning and social/emotional development in order to adapt the environment to meet students’ individual and group needs.

Prerequisite: EDUC 1354.

This course is the first of a sequential series of field-based experiences. Students will work in collaboration with staff and teachers where they are placed to plan and implement developmentally appropriate lesson plan which shall be evaluated in cooperation with the teacher and supervisor. Faculty approval of the early childhood program for internship is required.

This course is the last of a sequential series of field-based experiences designed to ensure that the ECED degree candidate develops and demonstrates the ability to apply the knowledge and skills learned in content and professional courses. Faculty approval of the early childhood program for internship is required.

A study of language development; early literacy, language arts, and aesthetics. Students will develop an integrated thematic unit plan. Strategies and curriculum materials that are developmentally appropriate for young children will be emphasized to support the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).

A study of assessment for children EC-6 utilizing both formal and informal instruments will be addressed. A knowledge of choosing, administering, and reporting developmental assessment will be explored with an emphasis on assessment tools that can be used by teachers of young children. Principles of designing and using assessment and evaluation techniques that are culturally fair, intellectually sound, reliable, and content-valid for young children. Differentiation among criterion-referenced, norm-referenced, individual, informal, authentic, and group assessments will be emphasized. Students will review strategies for using assessment data to design instruction, and match assessment techniques to individual children and learning situations

This course will expose students to skills and concepts taught in the Social Studies curriculum in the elementary school. Developmentally appropriate strategies, concepts, and curricular materials used in teaching the Social Studies will be emphasized.

Prerequisite: ECED 3324.