Early Childhood Education Program Code 103071

Employment Potential

A graduate of this program will have the potential for employment in the following areas:

Early Childhood Teacher in Preschool or Group Childcare Centers/Head Start Teacher: plans and implements daily activities with concern for health, safety, and welfare for a designated group of children; supervises the assistant childcare teacher; administers instructional program to young children that promotes their physical, social, psychological, and intellectual development; and provides a flexible balance of active and quiet activities, individual and group activities, indoor and outdoor activities, free choice, guided activities and conduct developmental assessments.

Family Childcare Provider/Teacher/Owner: same functions as above only in a home setting.

Early Childhood Program Director, Day Camp Director, Child Care Center Administrator, Child Care Center Manager: The above positions may require responsibilities of one or more of the following items: responsible to the Board of Directors for day-to-day operations of entire school, including programming, facility, fiscal responsibilities, working knowledge of professional organizations for higher standards, providing customer service, and all human resource functions such as: hiring/firing, supervision, training, and evaluation of staff according to state requirements.

Note

. A student who does not meet the requirements for program entry is required to consult an NWTC counselor about ways to make up any deficiencies through testing or course work.
. It is necessary to show good health as evidenced by a medical examination within three months prior to beginning practicum class.
. Students will be required to wear a NWTC issued name tag, provide their own transportation to assigned sites and cover any other expenses related to practicum experiences. Students may be expected to travel distances.
. Availability: Student Teaching hours will span between 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. with the majority of the hours occurring in the morning and afternoon.
. Completion of a Wisconsin Technical Skills attainment (TSA) portfolio is required to graduate from this program.

The following certificates/technical diplomas may be applied toward this program:

. 903077, Early Childhood: Advanced Certificate
. 903075, Early Childhood: Foundation Certificate
. 903076, Early Childhood: Intermediate Certificate
. 903070, Early Childhood: Licensing Basic Ages 0-2 Certificate
. 9030710, Early Childhood: Licensing Basic Ages 3-5 Certificate
. 903078, Early Childhood: Premier Certificate
. 9030711, Early Childhood: Preschool Certificate
. 903073, Early Childhood: Infant Toddler Certificate

Note

. NWTC offers credit-based courses, credentials and degree options that align with the YoungStar requirements.

Program Outcomes

. Apply child development theory to practice.
. Cultivate relationships with children, family, and the community.
. Assess child growth and development.
. Use best practices in teaching and learning.
. Demonstrate professionalism.
. Integrate health, safety, and nutrition practices.

Requirements for Program Entry

. Completed application.
. High school transcript or equivalent. (For a list of equivalents, go to www.nwtc.edu/gettingstarted.)
. Demonstrated suitability to the early childhood profession as indicated by completion of a personal skills inventory.
. Complete physical examination within three months prior to Practicum course. Maintain proper immunizations.
. Completed an American Heart Association CPR course prior to program entry. Students are required to maintain a current CPR card on a two-year renewal cycle.
. Mastered basic math (whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percents and measurements) before entering this program.
. Demonstrated proficiency in basic skills through a course placement assessment.
. As a requirement for program entry, an Academic Skills Assessment (Accuplacer) with appropriate benchmark scores is necessary. Program Benchmarks are Arithmetic, 65; Reading Comprehension, 55: Sentence Skills, 75. Students not meeting these benchmarks or the equivalent will be granted pre-program status and will be required to establish an individualized academic plan. Upon completion of the plan, full program status will be granted. Students may have the opportunity to enroll in selected program core courses while completing their individualized plan. However, higher test scores will lead to greater success in core program courses. To learn more about these assessments and program benchmark scores, please contact a counselor at (920) 498-5444 or (888) 385-6982.

Wisconsin Caregiver Law

Wisconsin Caregiver Law
NWTC is required to comply with the Wisconsin Caregiver Law (2009 WISCONSIN ACT 27). The completion of a caregiver background check includes the review of criminal records for convictions of serious crimes or a history of improper behavior. Students accepted into this program must complete a background information form disclosing any acts, crimes, or convictions prior to program entry and annually for the remainder of the program. The information provided in the background information form must be truthful and match any findings on the criminal record check. Students with a criminal history may be denied access to placement at the discretion of the practicum site. Consequently, should a student have a history of convictions of serious crimes or a history of improper behaviors, NWTC cannot guarantee practicum placement or guarantee graduation within typical program timing.

Curriculum

The Early Childhood Education Associate Degree is a two-year program. Upon graduation, a student will have completed 69 credits. Courses are offered online, accelerated, and blended, and may be taken in any order as long as prerequisites are met. Below is a suggested timeline.

FIRST SEMESTER

SECOND SEMESTER

THIRD SEMESTER

FOURTH SEMESTER

Curriculum Note
* Blended online class requires two/three Saturday visits to the Green Bay Campus
** Practicum courses require student teaching in the community, in addition to course work. NWTC Faculty arranges practicum settings for/with students. Students are required to complete a minimum of 108 hours in each practicum placement. It is recommended that students take one practicum per semester. Students are required to achieve a grade of "C" or higher in the practicum courses to continue in or graduate from this program. Read more about Practicums online.
*** If a student is considering pursuing a 4-year degree, Intermediate Algebra w/Apps, #10-804-118, should be taken in place of Math w/Bus Apps, #10-804-123.

Suggested Electives
. 10-307-108, ECE: Food/Nutrition issues
. 10-307-109, ECE: School Age
. 10-307-110, ECE: Teacher/Fam Communication
. 10-307-113, Infant/Toddler Group Care
. 10-307-171, ECE: Behavior/Emotional Challenges
. 10-307-172, ECE: Special Health Care Needs

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

These courses provide an opportunity for students to develop the knowledge, skills, and understanding required for employment in this field.

10-307-148 ECE: FOUNDATIONS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD ... integrate strategies that support diversity and anti-bias perspectives; summarize early childhood education settings; identify components of a quality program; summarize responsibilities of early childhood professionals; explore early childhood curriculum models.

10-307-151 ECE: INFANT/TODDLER DEVELOPMENT...infant and toddler development in an early childhood education setting. Development of infants/toddlers; prenatal conditions and development; child development theories; heredity and the environment; culturally and developmentally appropriate environments.

10-307-166 ECE: CURRICULUM PLANNING ...curriculum planning in early childhood. Strategies that support diversity and anti-bias perspectives; critical role of play; developmentally appropriate environment; caregiving routines; promoting child development and learning; early childhood curriculum models. (Prerequisite: 10-307-194, ECE: Math, Science, Social Studies OR 10-307-178, ECE: Art, Music, Language Arts)

10-307-167 ECE: HEALTH/SAFETY/NUTRITION...health, safety, and nutrition in early childhood settings. Anti-bias perspectives; governmental regulations and professional standards; safe, healthy, and nutritionally sound early childhood programs; child abuse/neglect mandates; SIDS risk reduction; Shaken Baby Syndrome.

10-307-174 ECE: PRACTICUM 1 ...learn/practice skills in a child care setting. Includes documenting behavior, exploring diversity, implement activities developed by the cooperating teacher, practicing caregiving routines, and positive professional and interpersonal skills. (Prerequisite: Accepted in Early Childhood Education program)

10-307-178 ECE: ART/MUSIC/LANGUAGE ARTS ...beginning curriculum development in art, music, and language arts. Role of play; developmentally appropriate environment; promote child development; caregiving routines as curriculum; language, literature, and literacy activities, art/music, movement activities.

10-307-179 ECE: CHILD DEVELOPMENT...child development in the early childhood education setting. Social, cultural, and economic influences on child development; child development theories; development of children age three to eight; child development research; heredity and environment.

10-307-187 ECE: CHILDREN WITH DIFFERING ABILITIES ...differing abilities in early childhood settings. Anti-bias perspectives, inclusion, ADA/IDEA, typical and exceptional development; physical, cognitive, health/medical, communication, and/or behavioral/emotional disorders; community and professional resources; IEP/IFSP, adapt curriculum, cultivate partnerships.

10-307-188 ECE: GUIDING CHILDRENS BEHAVIOR ...strategies to guide children's behavior in the early childhood setting. Anti-bias perspectives, guidance principles, factors affecting behavior, guidance strategies, individual needs, guidance philosophy.

10-307-192 ECE: PRACTICUM 2 ...learn/practice skills in a child care setting. Growth/Development, support diversity, implement student developed activity plans, guidance strategies, professional behaviors, caregiving routines as curriculum, positive interpersonal skills with adults. Prerequisites: Accepted in Early Childhood Education program; 10-307-174, ECE: Practicum 1)

10-307-194 ECE: MATH/SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES ...beginning curriculum development in math, science, social studies. Support diversity, role of play, developmentally appropriate environment, activity plans that promote learning, create appropriate math, science and social studies activities.

10-307-195 ECE: FAMILY/COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS ...relationships with family/community in early childhood. Diversity and anti-bias perspectives in families and community; family patterns, trends, relationships; communication strategies; relationships with families; advocate for children/families; community resources.

10-307-197 ECE: PRACTICUM 3 ...learn/practice skills in a child care setting. Assess growth/development; early childhood standards; curriculum; developmentally appropriate environment; guidance strategies; professional behaviors/practices; lead caregiving routines; interpersonal skills with children/adults. (Prerequisites: Accepted in Early Childhood Education program; 10-307-192, ECE: Practicum 2)

10-307-198 ECE: ADMINISTERING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM ...administration of an early childhood program. Diversity and anti-bias perspectives; ECE facilities, program, finances, aspects of personnel supervision, laws and regulations, advocacy.

10-307-199 ECE: PRACTICUM 4 ...learn/practice skills in a child care setting. Growth/development, assessment, anti-bias perspectives, professional behavior/practices; curriculum, relationships, evaluating programs for quality, professional options in early childhood. (Prerequisites: Accepted in Early Childhood Education program; 10-307-197, ECE: Practicum 3)

10-801-136 ENGLISH COMPOSITION 1 ...learners develop knowledge/skills in planning, organizing, writing, editing. Students will also analyze audience/purpose, use elements of research, format documents using standard guidelines, and develop critical reading skills. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer-Sentence Skills =75 AND Accuplacer-Reading =55 OR ACT-English =16 AND ACT Reading =15 OR 77-851-759; BE Communication Prep IIB OR 10-831-103, Intro to College Writing with "C" or better OR equivalent) 3 cr.

10-809-188 DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY ...defines human development; examines theories; heredity and environmental effects; prenatal development and birth; evaluates biosocial, cognitive psychosocial development through the life span; aging, death, and dying. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer-Sentence Skills= 60 AND Accuplacer-Reading =55 OR ACT-English =16 AND ACT Reading =15 OR 77-851-759 BE Communication Prep IIB OR 77-858-759 BE Reading Prep IIB w/ a "C" or better) 3 cr.

10-809-196 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY ...the nature and variety of groups; inequality, race and ethnicity; family, population, social integration, and change; collective behavior; politics, economics, religion, education, and the effects of technology. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer-Sentence Skills= 60 AND Accuplacer-Reading =55 OR ACT-English =16 AND ACT Reading =15 OR 77-851-759 BE Communication Prep IIB OR 77-858-759 BE Reading Prep IIB w/ a "C" or better) 3 cr.

10-804-123 MATH W BUSINESS APPS ...real numbers; basic operations; proportions/one variable; percents, simple/compound interest; annuity; apply math concepts to purchasing/buying process, selling process; and basic statistics with business/consumer applications. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer-Arithmetic=65 OR ACT-Math=15 OR 10-834-109, PreAlgebra OR 77-854-759, BE Math Prep IIB with "C" or better OR equivalent) 3 cr.

10-809-172 RACE ETHNIC & DIVERSITY ...basic American values of justice and equality by teaching vocabulary, history of immigration/conquest, transcultural communication, legal liability, multicultural majority/minority relations, ageism, sexism, gender, sexual orientation, the disabled/ADA. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer-Sentence Skills= 60 AND Accuplacer-Reading =55 OR ACT-English =16 AND ACT Reading =15 OR 77-851-759 BE Communication Prep IIB OR 77-858-759 BE Reading Prep IIB w/ a "C" or better) 3 cr.

10-801-196 ORAL/INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION ...the communication process, perception and self-concept, language, listening, nonverbal communication, interpersonal relationships, communication in groups and public communication; prepare and deliver an oral presentation. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer- Reading =55 OR ACT- Reading =15 OR 77-858-759, BE Reading Prep IIB with "C" or better OR equivalent) 3 cr.

10-809-195 ECONOMICS ...scarcity, resources, alternative economic systems, growth, supply and demand, monetary and fiscal policy, inflation, unemployment, and global economic issues. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer-Sentence Skills= 60 AND Accuplacer-Reading =55 OR ACT-English =16 AND ACT Reading =15 OR 77-851-759 BE Communication Prep IIB OR 77-858-759 BE Reading Prep IIB w/ a "C" or better) 3 cr.