CLASS OBJECTIVE

The major goal of this course is to provide students with the opportunity to review and/or clarify your own thoughts, ideas, and values as they relate to working with young children. Students will practice childcare and guidance principles while teaching in the early childhood setting. Students will become skilled in using developmentally appropriate practices and will be able to enter the collegiate level courses with hands-on experience in early childhood skills.

GRADING

Tests: There will be a series of equally weighted tests during the year, which will represent 50% of your grade. Tests will be made based on material from the text Working With Young Children. Various teaching activities will be weighed as a test.

Daily Assignments: Your combined daily assignment grade will be equal to 25% of your grade. In order to receive full credit, the written assignments must be on time and completed in a professional, competent manner, and according to instructions. Late assignments will be penalized at the rate of ten points per day. Assignments will not be accepted more than one week after the due date. All written assignments must be typed. In addition to the written assignments, you will be required to participate in a series of classroom discussions. The discussion assignments are equal to one daily grade.

Labs: You are required to participate in all lab experiences. You will be given assignments to be completed during your lab time. The lab experience will augment your classroom learning, provide a setting for you to apply what you have learned in class, and complete your portfolio assignments. If you are going to miss your scheduled lab/teaching time, you must contact Mrs. Keith (459-5151) and your lead teacher at the Primary school (459-). IMPORTANT: You must fulfill your lab time to pass the class. Twenty- five percent of your grade will be based on your attendance, including tardies in the lab and your lab assignments. Your final lab experience and teaching assignment will serve as the final exam grade for this course.

Grading: The points from tests, daily assignments, and lab times will be calculated for the final average. To earn full credit for all work assigned you must follow the guidelines set forth by the syllabus and grading assignments.

CLASS RULES:

1. Students are expected to respect themselves, the teacher, their classmates and children in their classroom.
2. Students need to come prepared with all supplies for class.
3. Profanity will NOT be tolerated.
4. Listen to the teacher or to whoever has permission to speak in class discussions.
5. Always deal with the children in a positive manner.  There is NO exception to this rule!  Students who violate this rule will be written up and put on probation in the Early Childhood program.
6. Dress code: Students must dress modestly because they are teachers dealing with parents and young children.  Parents do NOT want their small children exposed to immodest dress or want their children to work with students whose dress may imply anything but professionalism.

Shorts or skirts no less than 3” above the knee.
No midriffs showing or low necklines.
No jeans are allowed at the Primary school.
No tank tops.
No hats allowed on male or female students.
No tattoos or body piercing (except the ears) are allowed.
Shirts should always be tucked in.
Compliance with ALL dress code policies stated in the student handbook should be followed.

Consequence: Should you choose to disobey the dress code, you will be written up for dress code violation and Saturday school will be assigned. The second offense will result in ISS and may result in losing the privilege to work in the Primary school.

Tardies: Tardiness shows rudeness to other students and to the teacher. Lateness will affect future employment and relationships. In an effort to correct bad habits now and to use grades as a reflection of employability and responsibility, tardiness will be reflected in the class participation portion of the student’s grade. The student’s attendance grade will be docked 5 points for each tardy. The penalty cannot be made up if the tardy is unexcused.
·         2 tardies=detention
·         3 tardies=warning
·         4 tardies= Saturday school
·         5 or more tardies will result in ISS
·         6 or more tardies will result in OSS and removal from the primary school

Absences and tardies: Excused absences and tardies must be accompanied by a parent or doctor’s note.
·         Excused: medical emergencies, funerals, religious holidays or prior approval
·         Unexcused: no note brought within three days of absence.
·         Tardy: not in your seat at Richmond Hill High School when the bell rings or SIGNED-IN at Richmond Hill Primary school by 8:05.
·         IF you have an extended absence you must notify the teacher before the absences begin and either turn in ALL the assignments before you leave or turn them in the day you return or they will be LATE.

     Any student who does not comply with the guidelines for the Early Childhood Program may lose the privilege of working with the children at the Primary school.  Should this happen, these students will still be required to fulfill the written assignments, take tests and complete a ten page research paper on the Developmentally Appropriate Practices of an Early Childhood Educator.  Ten sources will be included in a bibliography page.  100 Notecards must be submitted with the bibliography.  The research paper will be calculated as the final exam or 25% of the overall grade.

     Our Early Childhood class is designed to help you discover your talent working with children.  The guidelines of the class were formed to provide you and the students at the Primary school with the best possible learning experience.