Educational Aide

Historical contexts and theoretical perspectives of developmentally appropriate practice in early care and education for children and teaching strategies in supporting physical, social, creative and intellectual development of children birth through age eight. Explores the typical roles and expectations of early childhood educators emphasizing the key role of relationships, constructive adult-child interactions. Identifies professional ethics, career pathways, and professional standards. Introduces best practices for developmentally appropriate learning environments, curriculum, and effective pedagogy for young children including how play contributes to children's learning, growth, and development.

The processes of socialization focusing on development of identity and the interrelationship of family, school, and community. Examines the influence of multiple societal contexts. Explores the role of collaboration between family, community, and schools in supporting children’s development, birth through adolescence.

Examines the historical and current perspectives on diversity and inclusion and the impact of various systemic societal influences on children's development, learning and school experiences. Critical examination of societal and personal attitudes and beliefs, values, assumptions and biases about culture, race, language, identity, family structures, ability, socio-economic status and other issues influenced by systemic oppression. Strategies for developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate anti-bias curriculum will be explored as well as approaches to promote inclusive and anti-racist classroom communities. Includes self-reflection on the influence of teachers' own culture and life experiences on teaching and interactions with children and families. Issues related to social identity, stereotypes, and bias will be explored; learn to recognize and confront barriers that interfere with one’s ability to work effectively with diverse populations of children and families. Ethnic/cultural groups referenced within course from the United States of America, including African American, Asian American, Chicano/Latino, European American, Indigenous People of the Americas and Americans of Middle Eastern origin.

This course introduces students to the concepts and issues related to teaching diverse learners in today's contemporary schools, Pre-K, T-K, Kindergarten through the 12th grade. Topics include teaching as a profession and career, historical and philosophical foundations of the American education system, contemporary education issues, California's content standards and frameworks, and teacher performance standards. In addition to class time, the course requires a minimum of 45 hours of structured fieldwork in public school elementary classrooms that represent California's diverse student population, and includes cooperation with at least one carefully selected and campus-approved certificated classroom teacher.

Professional application of the principles of human growth and development, learning theories, and examples from various models of developmentally appropriate practice in the study of a play-based and inclusive curriculum. Students will plan learning experiences in all content areas, including indoor and outdoor settings, the facilitation and guidance of all children’s experiences based on developmentally appropriate principles, and to support children’s physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and creative needs from birth to age eight within a cultural context.

Introduces the variations in development of infants and children with exceptional needs and the resulting impact on families. Includes an overview of historical and societal influences, laws relating to children with exceptional needs, and the identification and referral process. Assessments, interventions, and learning environments for infants and children with exceptional needs.

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Appropriate for classroom teachers in various settings including Transitional Kindergarten. Students will identify developmentally appropriate behaviors, challenging behaviors, and the various influences that affect children’s behavior. Students will analyze children’s behaviors and select strategies to make positive changes. Emphasizes the connection between children’s social and emotional development and their success in the classroom, and how the teachers’ perceptions, experiences, and behavior influence child behaviors.

This course provides an overview of language and literacy development in children from infancy to school age. Practical aspects of fostering literacy development in children by improving teachers’ knowledge of literature in early years. It addresses the role of literature, the relationship between early language development and literacy opportunities and methods for developing language and positive attitudes toward literature. The student will develop knowledge and understanding of the normal development of language in the young child, including multi-language learners, and the teacher's role in fostering and facilitating this development by reading books, storytelling, story writing, and use of puppets, flannel boards and props.

Laws, regulations, standards, policies, procedures, and best practices related to health, safety, and nutrition in care and education settings for children birth through middle childhood. Includes the teacher’s role in prevention strategies, first aid, emergency preparedness, infectious illnesses, nutrition and meal planning, integrating health safety and nutrition experiences into daily routines, overall risk management, school and family collaboration.

Social-historical context and tools for analyzing literature directed toward young readers. Emphasizes contemporary U.S. texts, classic works, and the origins of youth literature (including fables, folk tales and fairy tales). Explores subgenres and literary elements common to children’s and young adult literature, including fantasy, journeys, and animal characters. Emphasizes literature from diverse authors and communities, and the impact of this literature on the psychological, sociological, and cultural growth of young readers.