Des Moines Area Community College.

Early Childhood Education--Diploma Skills Guide

Recommended High School Level Background Courses

  • *Biology
  • *General Math
  • *Algebra I
  • Keyboarding
  • Speech
  • *Health
  • *Psychology
  • Art
  • *Composition
  • *Sociology
  • Family and Consumer Science

* Courses available in the Academic Achievement Center or High School Completion Center

Basic Skills in the Program and on the Job

Reading

Textbook assignments are a central part of the courses in this program, with tests based on a combination of lectures, electronic materials, texts, readings, and in-class activities.

In addition to their texts, students will be reading curriculum guides, children's books, and handouts from professional publications. They must also be able to use reference books and the internet as resources to answer children's questions. They can expect to continue this type of literacy on the job, where they will also be reading notes from families and directors, agency forms, and medical information pertaining to the children in their facilities. To stay current in the field, they will read professional journals and other materials for educators.

View more information on reading skills in the Early Childhood Education program.

Language

Good communication skills are essential in this program. In their classes, students will participate in discussion groups covering the day's activities. They may also conduct and participate in interviews. In addition to interacting with children, staff members, and other students, they must be able to communicate clearly to families as they describe and justify the actions they have taken. On the job, they will also have contact with the general public, including agency representatives, newspaper reporters, and law enforcement, and public policy officials.

Within the program, students engage in a variety of writing activities: recording their observations, writing short essay responses on tests, evaluating their progress, preparing lesson plans, composing letters to families, developing statements of policy and procedure, and writing research papers. These activities help to prepare them for similar writing requirements on the job.

To meet their formal English course requirement, students may choose one of the following: Communication Skills (COM703), Composition I (ENG105), or Business English (ADM157).

View more information on language skills in the Early Childhood Education program.

Math

Students in the diploma program must take either a science course or a college-level math course. Math options for the diploma include Business Math (BUS112)or Applied Math (MAT772), both of which require a strong grounding in arithmetic (whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percents). However, students who plan to complete an Associate in Science degree will take either Math for Liberal Arts (MAT 110), which has a prerequisite of one year of high school algebra, or Elementary Educators Math I (MAT114), which has a prerequisite of two years of high school algebra. Since many ECE students identify math as challenging, anyone intending to enter the program should develop proficiency in high school algebra or plan to take it as a college preparatory course once at DMACC.

Students will use math in their other coursework to prepare budgets, determine the nutritional content of foods, plan menus, figure cost per serving, and measure portions accurately. In addition to these activities, they must be able to measure dosages of medication on the job, figure ratio and determine room size and capacity.

View more information on math skills in the Early Childhood Education program.

Learning

Several crucial thinking skills are refined in this program for independent use on the job. Students must learn to be objective observers of the children with whom they interact. They should also be able to apply principles discussed in class to specific cases, adapting as necessary to fit the circumstances. They need to make on-the-spot decisions and trace the consequences of their actions.

To plan effective curriculum, students need to be able to integrate knowledge about child development, individual children's strengths and needs, family culture and language, curriculum objectives, early learning standards, and desired outcomes into effective planning, activities, interaction, and assessment.

View more information on learning skills in the Early Childhood Education program.

Computer

Some instruction in this program is presented using an online framework such as Blackboard. Most courses require typed/word processed assignments; therefore, students will find word processing skills helpful. They will continue to use these skills on the job as they prepare forms and write letters to parents. Students also need to be familiar with using the internet to find credible, useful resources.

View more information on computer skills in the Early Childhood Education program.

In general, students who succeed in this program have a passion for the field of Early Childhood Education. They possess energy, enthusiasm, good health, and the maturity to focus on children's needs above their own. They relate well to children and have the ability to take charge and to think on their feet. They accept evaluation as a means of improving their performance. They maintain confidentiality and adhere to a professional code of conduct. Finally, they have sufficient academic skills and manage their personal life in a way that allows them to successfully complete their coursework.