This course is designed to early childhood education professionals with the knowledge and skills to teach each content area according to the preschool learning guidelines, or state standards. This module as part of the course on the preschool learning experiences will explain each part of the standard and give examples of how to teach the standard within an integrated curriculum. Through presentations, online resources, readings, and assignments students will gain knowledge of the components of each area: mathematics, English language arts, science and technology/engineering, the arts, and health education, and history and social science. The last module will cover the content of the Early Childhood Program Standards and how to incorporate those standards into daily practice.

If you are reading this, you’re likely interested in learning more about becoming an early childhood professional. Perhaps you’re just curious and want to know a little bit more about young children. Maybe you want to make up your mind after finding out a little bit more about what is involved. In either case, your interest and curiosity are two key characteristics that will make this a positive growth experience for you.

The Role of Equity and Diversity in Early Childhood Education. Explores the impact of personal experiences and social identity on teaching effectiveness and objectivity when working with young children and families.

This Open Access Educational textbook, "Teaching Early and Elementary STEM", was written to support pre-service early childhood and elementary teachers in their journey to become facilitators of science, technology, engineering, and math, or “STEM,” and "integrated STEM" in their future classrooms. Students who read and use this text will deepen their understanding of “STEM” and “integrated STEM,” learn what early childhood and elementary students need to know and be able to do in relation to STEM, and understand ways to create activity plans and implement current research-based approaches to teaching and pedagogy. This text arose out of our Early/Elementary STEM Collaboration project, which started in 2017 with the intention of increasing the quality of teacher preparation in STEM across early childhood and elementary education. The team is composed of math and science education professors, classroom in-service teachers, and pre-service teachers in pre-school through fifth grade. We are driven by the values of collaboration, strengths-based approaches to teaching and learning, constructivist philosophy of teaching and learning, and applied STEM experiences to increase access and equity. Our model of preparing pre-service teachers has been published elsewhere in more detail (Robertson, Nivens, & Lange, 2019). We built this open access product to include the following: 1) completely new content that includes input from our team as well as examples of integrated STEM learning experiences; 2) adaptations of existing resources, and; 3) compilations of existing free resources (e.g., Next Generation Science Standards).

This module provides a overview of the power of teaching with a trauma-informed lens. The content was created by the faculty members at the following institutions: Chicago State University, Olive-Harvey Community College, South Subrurban College and Prairie State College. The module was designed to be added to the child development course or other introdcutory educationals course that are taken by education majors. The module was developed by Dr. Ty Jiles, Chicago State University, Professor Mario Wright Olive Harvey, Dr. Donna Walker, South Suburban Collge and Dr. LaTia Collins, Prairie State College.  The module is designed to enhance the instructional skills and confidence for pre-service teachers and teacher candidates at minority-serving institutions. The module offers a multicultural narrative as it relates to trauma-informed teaching practices and includes the following: 1) Engaging all students in the learning process, 2) Classroom environment, 3) Planning instruction and learning design for all students, 4) Developing as a professional.  

This is a handout which includes an assignment based on the topic of teratogen's exposure during pregnancy. This  information has the purpose to create awareness to a pregnant woman about the harm her baby is experiencing in the womb when exposed to toxic substances.  The letter is written from the baby's experience. Through this assignment, students will give voice to an unborn baby. They will assess two students' letters by completing two peer reviews

Which comes first assessment or instruction? Have you ever wondered about the relationship between assessment and instruction?At the end of this module, participants will be able to decompose or deconstruct content standards, apply high-quality assessment designs to appreciate the differences of each learner,  and create sound reasoning to employ a wide range of information and communication technology to meet the needs of K-6 grade learners. 

This text gives an overview of development, beginning in the mother’s womb through about the age of eight. It starts with a look at perspectives of early childhood, including how children have been viewed historically as well as cross-culturally. Following this chapter, there is a complete overview of the important theorists that have helped to deepen and bring clarity to how children develop. These theories include psychodynamic, behavioral, social cognitive theory, cognitive theory, humanistic, multiple intelligence, growth mindset, and Bloom’s taxonomy. Understanding the implications of each theory is important foundational knowledge for the study of development.

Chapters Three and Four give an overview of the domains of development, followed by an overview of the developing brain. Chapter Five takes a look at the prenatal period, including the birth and postpartum process. Chapter Six describes development in infancy, and Chapter Seven describes the toddler years, including safety considerations that are critical for this period. Chapter Eight looks at the preschool years, including the role of peers, play, and television (and other electronics) in development. Chapter Nine concludes the text with a brief look at the start of what is known as the school-age years, universally recognized as between the ages of five and eight.