Early Childhood Unified Birth through Kindergarten Major
Family and Consumer Sciences Major
Child Development and Learning: Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs are grounded in a child development knowledge base. They understand and value learner differences. They use their understanding of young children’s development and learning, to create environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for each learner.
Content Knowledge: Candidates understand the central concepts, tools of inquiry and structures of the discipline he or she teaches and creates learning experiences that make the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content.
Application of Content Knowledge: Candidates understand how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.
Observing, Documenting, and Assessing to Support Young Learners and Families: Candidates prepared in early childhood B - K degree programs understand that child observation, documentation, and other forms of assessment are central to the practice of all early childhood professionals. They know about and understand the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment. They know about and use systematic observations, documentation, and other effective assessment strategies in a responsible way, in partnership with families and other professionals, to positively influence the development of each and every learner.
Planning for Instruction: Candidates prepared in early childhood B – K degree programs use their knowledge of pre-academic / academic disciplines to design, implement and evaluate experiences that promote positive development and learning for every learner.
Using Developmentally Effective Strategies: Candidates in early childhood B - K degree programs understand that teaching and learning with young learners is a complex enterprise, and its details vary depending on learners’ ages, characteristics, and the settings within which teaching and learning occur. Candidates know, understand, and use a wide array of developmentally appropriate approaches, instructional strategies, and tools to connect learners and families and positively influence each and every learner’s development and learning.
Professional and Ethical Practice: Candidates prepared in early childhood B - K degree programs identify and conduct themselves as members of the early childhood profession. They know and use ethical guidelines and other professional standards related to early childhood practice. They are continuous, collaborative learners who demonstrate knowledge, reflective and critical perspectives on their work, making informed decisions that integrate knowledge from a variety of sources. They are informed advocates for sound educational practices and policies. They engage in structured appropriate early field experiences at all levels (B-2, 3-5, and kindergarten) in a variety of settings (kindergarten; childcare centers and homes/early intervention services, community agency programs).
Leadership and Collaboration: Candidates prepared in early childhood B-K degree programs understand that successful early childhood education depends upon collaborative partnerships. They know about, understand, and value the importance and complex characteristics of learners’ families and communities and respect families as the primary decision-maker for their learners. They use this understanding to create respectful, reciprocal, and culturally sensitive relationships that support and empower families, and to involve all families in their learners’ development and learning.
develop a comprehensive and holistic knowledge base for a career in a chosen Family and Consumer Sciences specialty.
demonstrate the skills and values necessary for applying the FCS knowledge base to communicating with children and adults and working with individuals and groups.
acquire the knowledge base for the nine core areas in Family and Consumer Sciences. (The Family, Human Development, Consumer Economics and Resource Management, Nutrition, Food Science and Wellness, Textiles and Apparel, Housing and Living Environments, Careers, Community and Family.)