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This course prepares the student for the Child Development Associate accreditation process. In addition to providing an outline of the process there are additional resources to help the student assess their previous course work to determine which trainings can be applied to the CDA which can reduce the amount of time that is required to complete the process. You have a year from the date that you enroll, to complete all of the courses.
This first unit introduces early childhood education as a profession. Candidates will learn that there is a body of knowledge and theoretical constructs that have been developed through research, observations and study. And they will see that professionals must become familiar with this knowledge inorder for them to engage in appropriate teaching practices with young children.
Unit 2 introduces you to a great deal of information about children's learning and development. Some of you will find that much of it is very familiar because they already have seen first-hand how children learn and develop from birth through age five.
This unit is where you can get deeply engaged in the practical work of running a daily program for children. Much of the material may seem to be common sense. But safety and health issues are basic ingredients for creating an overall environment in which children can learn about themselves and the world.
In this unit you will be expected to examine your own views and confront your own biases about race, culture, gender, disabilities, and other tough topics-and to resolve those biases in ways that will allow you to be an effective professional. You will work to apply these insights as you acquire the knowledge and skills to support social and emotional development and provide positive guidance to children.
There are many important ideas about teaching young children in this unit. Some traditional ideas may need to be set aside in favor of developmentally-appropriate practices and knowledge based on current research. There are a wide variety of curricula available based on theory, research, and best practices to choose from. Ultimately the candidate is responsible for planning all of the activities for their children.
Partnerships with families are crucial for the success of any good early childhood program. Children drive when family members and program staff see themselves as partners in the process of caring for and educating young children. The thrust of this unit is to help you see families as partners in the educational process.
In this unit is about integrating all of the CDA professional preparation program experiences in making decisions about daily schedules, working with parents, selecting classroom materials and curriculum, and implementing discipline and teaching methods.
In this final unit of the "Essentials for Child Development Associates Working with Young Children", 2nd edition, the bulk of your activities will be to complete your Professional Resource File(s), collect the Parent Opinion Questionaires and have your Formal Observation performed by your Field Advisor.
A center-based preschool setting is a state-approved child development center where a Candidate can be observed working with a group of at least eight children, all of whom are aged 3 through 5 years. In addition, a center based program must have at least 10 children enrolled in the program and at least 2 caregivers working with the children on a regular basis.
