Degree and Course Information > Education > Courses

Parents of children enrolled in the Pierce Child Development Centers. Develop collaboration between staff and families. Supporting the understanding of individual child development through the use of diverse learning modalities. Grade: Pass/No Pass.

Participation of parents of children enrolled in Lab-School for the purpose of parent education in child growth and development. Include observation, lecture and discussion sessions and leadership development opportunities.

Participation of parents with children 18-36 months of age in a child-study laboratory for the purpose of parent education in two year old growth and development. Course components include observation, lecture and discussion sessions.

Explore the foundations of early childhood education. Examine theories defining the field, issues and trends, best practices, and program models. Observe children, professionals, and programs in action.

Develop knowledge and skills to ensure good health, nutrition, and safety of children in group care and education programs. Recognize the signs of abuse and neglect, responsibilities for mandated reporting, and available community resources.

In an early learning setting apply best practice for engaging in nurturing relationships with children. Focus on keeping children healthy and safe while promoting growth and development.

Examine the unique developmental needs of infants and toddlers. Study the role of the caregiver, relationships with families, developmentally appropriate practices, nurturing environments for infants and toddlers, and culturally relevant care.

Learn the basics of home/family child care program management. Topics include: licensing requirements; business management; relationship building; health, safety, & nutrition; guiding behavior and; promoting growth & development.

Develop administrative skills required to develop, open, operate, manage, and assess early childhood education and care programs. Explore techniques and resources available for Washington State licensing and NAEYC standard compliance.

Investigate learning theory, program planning, and tools for curriculum development promoting language, fine/gross motor, social-emotional, cognitive and creative skills and growth in young children (birth-age 8).

Design, evaluate, and improve indoor and outdoor environments which ensure quality learning, nurturing experiences, and optimize the development of young children.

Develop teaching strategies for language acquisition and literacy skill development at each developmental stage (birth-age 8) through the four interrelated areas of speaking, listening, writing, and reading.

Collect and record observation of and assessment data on young children in order to plan for and support the child, the family, the group and the community. Practice reflection techniques, summarizing conclusions and communicating findings.

A study of the cognitive development of young children and its application to mathematics and science conceptual development. Research, planning, and assessment of math and science curriculum and its application to the young child's learning environment.

Education Capstone Course for curriculum development and evaluation of appropriate learned practices, learning materials, and experiences focused on the individual and group needs of diverse children within the Lab School setting.

Designed for student participation in planning and implementing a developmentally appropriate classroom under supervision in the Pierce College nursery school laboratory facility. Includes experiences in lead teaching, team building, and application of curriculum with young children.

Build a functional understanding of the foundation of child development, prenatal to early adolescence. Observe and document physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of children, reflective of cross cultural and global perspectives.

Examine the principles and theories promoting social competence in young children and creating safe learning environments. Develop skills promoting effective interactions, providing positive individual guidance, and enhancing group experiences.

Develop skills to provide developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant activities and care, specifically: preparing the environment, implementing curriculum, building relationships, guiding academic /social skill development, and community outreach.

Integrate the family and community contexts of young children. Explore cultures and demographics of families in society, community resources, strategies for involving families in the education of their child, and tools for effective communication.

A survey of history, philosophy, principles, issues, and trends in American Education. Includes opportunities for observations of educational models and exploration of career paths.

Designed for students to observe and participate under qualified supervision in programs for young children throughout the community with a focus on special education.

An overview of current laws concerning special education in particular, and education in general. Professional ethics and advocacy will also be addressed as it relates to early learning programs and working with families and their children birth through grade three who are culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse.

Plan for comprehensive health and fitness education in early learning programs serving children birth to grade three who are culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse and their families, including the dimension of wellness such as physical, emotional, and social well-being.

Develop a deep understanding of the development of spatial and mathematical learning across all strands: number & operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, and data analysis & probability. There will be an emphasis on the content included in the state early learning guidelines and standards for children birth through grade three and their families who are culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse.

Select, administer, score, and interpret formal assessment tools. Evaluate students for placement into special education programs. Develop Individual Education Plans (IEPs), Individual Family Service Plans (IFSPs), and 504 plans for children birth to third grade who are culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse and their families.

Develop skills and strategies for observing, documenting, and monitoring children birth to grade 3 who are culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse and their families. Strategies for tracking progress towards meeting Individual Education Plan (IEP) and Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) goals will also be addressed.

Use evidence based strategies to adapt and modify curriculum and environments for individual children birth to grade three who are culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse and their families. Create lesson plans for children based on Individual Education Plans (IEP), Individual Family Services Plans (IFSP) goals, and 504 plans.

Refine teaching strategies for language acquisition and literacy skill development for children who are culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse at each developmental stage (birth-third grade) through the four interrelated areas of speaking, listening, writing, and reading. There will be an emphasis on strategies for teaching reading and how to support each stage of literacy development across genres and purposes. Strategies for supporting families as they assist their children in learning language and literacy will also be addressed.

Develop skills needed to effectively collaborate with others including school personnel, community agency personnel, and families to support children birth to third grade who are culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse and their families. Supervision of assistants and paraprofessionals will also be addressed.

An introductory course in understanding educational services and supports available to children birth through third grade who have diverse abilities; and state and federal laws regarding special education.

A course for early childhood educators focusing acquiring the math concepts needed to teach young children. Topics include patterns, sequencing, number systems and computation, geometry, measurement, and basic concepts from statistics and probability. Interactive, activity-based methods are used guided by national mathematics education standards. Emphasizes conceptual understanding, connections among topics, and communication of mathematical thinking.

Introductory course in recognition and identification of exceptionality in children from birth through high school (21). Includes policies and regulations concerning state and federal provisions of special education and related services, as well as adaptations for serving special needs students in general education classrooms.

Students will explore diversity and social justice issues influencing educational settings. Students will examine in depth the historical and current impact of children's, teachers', and families' cultural, social and political context in schools.

Students in this course will reflect on their residency experience in an early childhood school setting with children who are culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse.

Experience working in a general education setting, with children birth through grade three who are culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse and their families under the supervision of a certificated teacher.

Experience working in an early childhood special education setting, with children birth through grade three who are culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse and their families under the supervision of a certificated teacher. Students will be concurrently enrolled in a reflective seminar.

Plan and provide home visits and group activities that promote secure parent-child relationships and support families to provide high-quality early learning experiences that are embedded in everyday routines and experiences.

In this course, students will demonstrate all PESB competencies required for the endorsement they are seeking.

An introduction to roles and responsibilities of the Paraeducator in the K-12 educational system. Students will explore techniques supporting instruction, professional and ethical practices, positive and safe learning environments, effective communication and teamwork.

In a pre-K-12 setting, work alongside a teacher/paraeducator, observing and demonstration best practices. In seminar and reflection link experiences with WA State Paraeducator Basic Competencies.

Students will explore diversity and social justice issues influencing educational settings. Students will examine in depth the historical and current impact of children's, teachers', and families' cultural, social and political context in schools.

In pre-K-12 setting, work alongside teacher/paraeducator, observing and demonstration best practices. In seminar and reflection link experiences with WA State Paraeducator Competencies for ELL and Special Education.

Address the roles and responsibilities of paraeducators in the instructional setting. Current issues, including supervision, guidelines, role clarification, federal and state legislation, job responsibilities, ethics, professionalism, and confidentiality will be covered with special attention given to federal mandates.

Course is designed to provide instructional assistants with proper testing administration skills for standardized testing.

An introduction to the management of children's behavior in the classroom. Explores a variety of approaches used to maintain order in the classroom.

Techniques in observation, test administration and recordkeeping in the public school. Ethical considerations and legal responsibilities included.