BS in Early Childhood Studies - Tempo Competency-Based Learning™

How does culture influence actions, relationships, preferences, language, customs, and even values and beliefs? Why is it vital that early childhood professionals understand the ramifications of bias and stereotyping on children's identity development? As an early childhood professional, educators can use the information in these competencies to analyze how current policy issues impact diverse populations of children and families in early childhood settings; apply principles of culturally responsive curriculum to promote children's healthy development and learning; recommend culturally responsible practices to promote meaningful relationships with families; and apply strategies to promote access, equity, and positive social change for young children, families, and the early childhood field.

Early childhood professionals understand how deeply social-emotional development influences children during childhood and for the rest of their lives. In this course early childhood professionals delve into the unique characteristics of the social emotional developmental continuum, explore how to build responsive relationships that foster healthy social-emotional development, immerse themselves in positive guidance strategies to help children become independent and fair problem solvers as members of positive classroom communities, and study how to truly support young children as they practice, learn, and grow to be strong and healthy in their relationships with themselves and with others.

If education professionals were asked to define quality as it pertains to practices and programs serving young children and families, what would they say? This course provides essential information about how the principles of developmentally appropriate practice, early childhood program standards, pedagogical and organizational models, and effective teaching and leadership practices inform quality programs and family partnerships.

From the meaningful relationships that build when sharing stories to the empowering feeling of writing a first word, early literacy is an adventure and an accomplishment. It is essential that early childhood professionals understand developmentally appropriate ways to foster early literacy and literacy learning for children from birth through third  grade. In this course, educators also can become proficient at evaluating children's literature and analyzing issues and strategies related to the appropriate use of technology to promote literacy learning in young children.

Developing meaningful learning experiences requires understanding children's specific strengths and challenges. What kinds of assessment methods and strategies will help educators learn this vital information? What do educators need to know about communicating and collaborating with families and other stakeholders to promote meaningful assessment practices? Through the course content, educators can ground themselves in the wisdom and practicality of developmentally appropriate assessment for young children.

Play, creative expression, and the arts offer children opportunities to learn about who they are—to express and explore their individuality and to flourish together. The competencies in this course allow educators to explore the value and practice of fostering play, creativity, and the creative arts with children preschool through third grade. Educators also analyze the role child-centered learning and teaching play in fostering children's creative thinking and creative involvement in the arts.

A caregiver gazes deeply and warmly into the eyes of an infant as she continues to intentionally foster their attachment. How do responsive, respectful relationships like these begin? How do they grow? And how do they support young children's growth and development? In this course, educators explore how early childhood professionals can foster healthy development and learning in infant and toddlers through relationships, play, routines, transitions, and supportive environments. Educators also take part in field experience, developing a meaningful experience for infants or toddlers and working with young children and their teacher to make this experience come alive with learning for all.

How do early childhood teachers nurture children's curiosity, interests, and wonder, while providing them with opportunities to actively engage with ideas, content areas, and each other? In this course, educators get to know the context—children, families, community—of the classroom where they are completing their field experience. As well, educators ground themselves in the standards, strands, and themes that underpin key content areas that children are learning about all the time. And then, educators collaborate with their host teacher to design, implement, and evaluate a unit of study that effectively integrates content areas to provide opportunities for children to engage in meaningful learning experiences.

How can an early childhood professional help to ensure that every child thrives in the early childhood setting? In this course, educators delve into the foundation of high-quality early childhood inclusion programs. As well as studying practical strategies for working with children and partnering with families and other professionals, educators also apply evidence-based advocacy approaches to support high-quality inclusive programming in early care and education settings.