Early Childhood Education

ECE English for Academic Purposes (EAP)

In this 12-week course, you will develop and apply the reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills essential for academic learning and inquiry, in the context of authentic academic tasks. You will work to build fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary skills through extensive and intensive reading tasks of increasing complexity. There will be a number written tasks and prompts that will stimulate free writing practice and introduce you to various styles of writing. You will also use these written tasks to develop editing skills through the writing process and to apply level-appropriate grammar rules and vocabulary to your work. You will work to improve note-taking and organizational skills, and understand how lectures and presentations are organized. You will work to improve your pronunciation of individual sounds in English and practice rhythm, intonation, and correct use and pronunciation of academic vocabulary.

This course will also focus on study and life skills necessary for you to be successful in a college setting. You will develop critical skills and strategies for incorporating researched materials into written work, working in groups, giving presentations, navigating a campus, and building language skills through immersion in the new culture. This course will equip you with the skills to survive and thrive in a new academic setting, and more importantly, provide the opportunity to examine and refine your learning, organization, and time management skills to enable you to become a successful student. You will reflect upon your own learning styles and strategies and apply new skills and strategies in your daily life and habits.

Orientation and Student Success Skills

This course will provide an orientation to Stenberg College and the Early Childhood Education program. This course will prepare you to be a successful college student. You will identify your learning style, critical thinking, and learn about the available resources. You will learn effective reading, writing, and study habits. You will learn what is expected of a college student, like communication, accountability/responsibility, teamwork, self-awareness, and following policies.

Early Childhood Education Foundations

This course provides an introduction to the history and philosophy of Early Childhood Education. Major contemporary trends, social issues and historical influences are examined.

Child Growth & Development I

Course material spans the period from conception through the preschool years and examines physical, cognitive, language, and social-emotional growth and development. An introductory study of theories, principles of development, and child study techniques is included.

Child Growth & Development II

Part II reviews the major theories of child development during middle childhood and adolescence in the areas of physical, social, emotional, cultural and intellectual development. An introductory study of theories, principles of development, and child study techniques is included.

Emerging Curriculum

This course will introduce you to various educational programs for young children. It will also examine the role of the Early Childhood Educator in establishing an environment that facilitates learning through play.

Observation & Recording

This course will develop your skill in objectively observing and recording the behaviour of young children. Different kinds of observational techniques will be explored and weekly observations will contribute to a major part of this course. You’ll develop skill in observing, recording and documenting children. Based on these observations you’ll begin to interpret behaviours and develop effective intervention strategies.

Health, Safety, and Nutrition

Issues such as safety, hygiene, recognition and management of childhood illness, meal planning, and emergency procedures within an early childhood environment are covered in detail by this course.

Guidance & Caring

The focus of this course is on the role of the adult in guidance, discipline and behaviour management. It highlights theories, models and skills related to promoting healthy emotional and social development at both the individual and group level.

Curriculum Development Courses (Music & Movement, Creative Art, Language & Literature, Science, Socials & Math)

With these courses, you’ll acquire knowledge, experience and skill in curriculum planning and teaching strategies. In addition, you’ll learn how to implement and evaluate different learning environments for children.

Family-Teacher Relations

The family-teacher-community partnership will be examined with the focus being on attitudes, knowledge and skills related to interpersonal communication at the adult level. Emphasis is on the community school model.

Practicum Seminar & Practicum 

The purpose of this time is to provide you with the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to work with young children. You’ll demonstrate your competency by applying appropriate and suitable affective qualities associated with effective early childhood education, as well as by applying developmentally appropriate child care guidance and curriculum planning. NOTE: During each block practicum period, you will be on site in a licensed childcare facility.

Career Search Strategies

This course is offered in a combined online and classroom delivery format. You will learn to network effectively (online and in person), to search and apply for jobs and to prepare targeted resumes and cover letters. You will also be provided with coaching and individualized instructor feedback on your resume, cover letter, and interview skills.

Orientation and Student Success Skills

This course will provide an orientation to Stenberg College and the Early Childhood Education program. This course will prepare you to be a successful college student. You will identify your learning style, critical thinking, and learn about the available resources. You will learn effective reading, writing, and study habits. You will learn what is expected of a college student, like communication, accountability/responsibility, teamwork, self-awareness, and following policies.

Advanced Child Growth & Development

This course will review and expand on information on typical and a-typical growth and development of children from birth to school age. Major theories in the area of Child Growth and Development will be evaluated and re-examined with and particular focus being on all the key domains of development related to infants, toddlers and children with exceptionalities.

Interacting with Families, School and Community

This course examines the knowledge, strategies and competencies needed by Early Childhood Educators to effectively work with families of infants and toddlers and children with exceptionalities. It focuses on communication skills that encourage positive relationships with families, professionals and communities.

Advanced Health, Safety and Nutrition

This course, as an extension of the Health, Safety and Nutrition course in the ECE Basic Program, will provide you with the knowledge and skills for planning, implementing and evaluating health practices for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and children who need extra support in integrated and infant/toddler settings. Emphasis will be placed on creating policies and practices that promote positive habits and attitudes towards health, safety and nutrition and ensure the health and well-being of children.

Administration Skills for Child Care Centres

This course examines the role of an administrator in an Early Childhood Program. This will include effective staff supervision, models and techniques for evaluating and motivating staff, the budgeting process, advertising and marketing strategies. You will learn about funding that is available from all levels of government as well as service organizations in the private sector.

Foundations of Working with Infants and Toddlers

This course examines the challenges and characteristics of providing quality programs for infants and toddlers. It explores programming techniques which respond to individual and group needs of children up to 36 months of age. The focus of this course is on developing an awareness of the critical importance of care and interaction in the lives of infants and toddlers.

Program Planning for Infants and Toddlers

This course examines characteristics of quality programs for infants and toddlers. It explores programming techniques and use of developmentally appropriate materials which respond to individual and group needs of children up to 36 months of age. There is focus on designing curriculum for infants and toddlers that is responsive to the changing developmental needs of that age group.

Foundations of Working with Children with Special Needs

This course explores the family centered approach which focuses on promoting social interactions amongst children with special needs. You will be assisted to develop specialized skills in the care and guidance of working with children who require additional support and developmental differences will be reviewed in detail.

Program Planning for Children with Special Needs

This course explores the selection and use of appropriate assessment materials and intervention techniques for working with children who have special needs. It examines the adaptation of curriculum to meet special care needs in various group care environments. Practical strategies to create quality inclusive learning environments for young children will be discussed.

Infant / Toddler Practicum

The Infant Toddler Practicum is 200 hours of a guided, supervised experience in a licensed infant/toddler program. This practicum will give you opportunities to practice working with children from birth to 36 months. It includes both theory and developmentally appropriate practices. You will demonstrate programming and guiding and caring for this age group of children.

Special Needs Practicum

The Special Needs Practicum is 200 hours of a guided, supervised experience in a licensed early childhood program that is inclusive of children that require additional support. This practicum will give you opportunities to practice working with children with a variety of exceptionalities. It includes both theory and developmentally appropriate practices. You will demonstrate programming and guiding and caring for children with special needs.

Optional Certification

Students have the option to complete the Personal & Professional Development Skills Certificate.

Personal & Professional Development Skills Certificate

The Personal and Professional Development (PPD) Skills Certificate is a self-directed, online certificate that is designed to enhance your soft skills. The six PPD workshops cover Professionalism, Quality Service, Feedback, Diverse Teams, Conflict Resolution, and Leadership. Together, these workshops will prepare you to effectively approach and resolve real life situations.