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EDUC 314 and EDUC 315 Early Childhood Practicums: Infant, toddler, preschool

EDUC 314: Practicum 1, Curriculum

Course Summary:

This course focuses on developmentally appropriate practices using NAEYC initial licensure standards. Emergent curriculum, diversity, anti-bias approaches, environmental design, child guidance, observation, assessment, family-centered practice, health, safety, and development of professional role in inclusive early childhood settings. Field experiences occur in infant, toddler, or preschool classrooms at KSC CDC or other early care and education centers. Students will be placed in one classroom for approximately 200 field hours over the semester. After the first two weeks of the semester, on-campus class occurs typically once per week (approximately 3 hours per class meeting).

Student expectations include active participation in early childhood classrooms under direct supervision of and guidance from the cooperating teacher. Students will plan and facilitate learning experiences that align within the program philosophy of the center, classroom, and are developmentally appropriate for the age group. Cooperating teachers are expected to complete initial, mid-semester, and final conferences with students and field supervisors. Cooperating teachers are expected to complete Clinical Experience Evaluations and Dispositions Evaluations for mid-semester and final conferences with students and field supervisors; final evaluations and Dispositions are collected on Tk20.

EDUC 315: Practicum 2, Observation, Assessment, and Intervention

Course Summary:

EDUC 315: Practicum 2, Observation, Assessment, and Intervention Course Summary: This course focuses on respectful and ethical observation, assessment, and intervention strategies to support young children in natural environments aligned with NAEYC Professional Preparation Standards and DEC’s Recommended Practices. Field experiences occur in inclusive early childhood settings (such as early intervention home visiting, inclusion preschool, and primary grades with a focus on special education). Students will be placed in two, separate rotations for approximately 70 hours each (140 hours between both placements).

Students are expected to observe and participate in the field placement under the direct supervision of and to the extent deemed appropriate by the cooperating mentor or site coordinator. Site coordinators arrange observation/participation experiences for the students within the placement based on the availability of services and professionals within each setting.

Suggested observation/participation experiences include but are not limited to: • special instruction such as mathematics and literacy interventions; • supports and services provided by speech language pathologists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists, school psychologists, school counselors, or other professional; • supports provided to children learning multiple languages; • positive behavior interventions and supports; • meetings that take place within the school day such as Individualized Education Program meetings (or Individualized Family Service Plan meetings in Early Intervention); staff or other team meetings; curriculum planning meetings; • reviewing redacted files to gain a greater understanding of what documents may be included in a child’s file It is particularly helpful for mentors to discuss the observation with the student so they can make connections and gain a greater understanding of what they observed to course concepts, IDEA law, developmentally appropriate and recommended practices.

Site coordinators are expected to have initial and final meetings with students and compile Disposition evaluation information from cooperating mentors for the final student meeting to be given to the course instructor.

Contact Educator Preparation

To learn more about Educator Preparation Programs at Keene State College, please contact the Educator Preparation Office or Education Program Faculty.

Educator Preparation Office
Rhodes Hall, N123 and N128
603-358-2286
229 Main Street

Keene, New Hampshire 03435