Course/Catalog Description:  

Implementing the Texas early childhood curriculum with an emphasis on developmentally appropriate practice. The course will include the following: planning the learning environment, developing learning activities, organizing the school day, and interpreting children’s growth to parents.

Instructor Response Policy: During the week, response time is within 24-48 hours. Emails received over the weekend will receive a response no later than Tuesday, 8am. Emails received on holidays will receive a response no later than 8am on the second business day after the holiday. 

Learner Outcomes:  

During the scope of this course, students will have the opportunity to:

• identify and create a developmentally appropriate learning environment that meets the needs of all young children.

• identify and develop a curriculum for the total growth and development of young children including language arts, creative art, music, and movement, science and technology, mathematics, social studies, anti-bias curriculum and field trips, nutrition, and health.

• plan and set up learning centers for young children.

• develop guidance principles for children and teachers to act and interact in positive, productive, and acceptable ways.

Texas Education Agency. (2021).EC-6 Core Subjects Test Framework. Retrieved January 1, 2021, from EC-6 Core Subjects 391

Texas Education Agency. (2021).EC-6 Core Subjects Standards. Retrieved January 1, 2021, from EC-6 Core Subjects

Texas Education Agency. (2018). Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities Standards EC-6. Retrieved August 19, 2020, from PPR EC-6

Texas Education Agency. (2018). Educator’s Code of Ethics. Retrieved May 19, 2020, from TEA Texas Educator Code of Ethics

Participation and Late Work Policy:

Please complete all assignments on time. Assignments and Exams will be deducted by 25% for each late day. Complete readings prior to class schedule to ensure participation in course related content and activities. 

Participation Policy - (Read Welcome Letter on Course Home Page —D2L)

• Although the course requires a thorough understanding of the readings and assignments, online discussions will provide the basis for learning and assessment.

• Because of the absence of in class collaboration and face-to-face communications, participation in the discussion boards is crucial to the successful completion of this course.

• Instructor Drop. An instructor may drop a student any time during the semester for excessive absences or failure to participate in online classes, for consistently failing to meet class assignments, for an indifferent attitude, or for disruptive conduct. The instructor must give the student a verbal or written warning prior to dropping the student from the class. An instructor’s drop of a student takes precedence over the student-initiated course drop of a later date. The instructor will assign a grade of either WF or F through the first 8 weeks of a long semester, the first 6 weeks of a 10-week summer term, or the 11th class day of a 4 or 5-week summer term consisting of 20 days. After these periods the grade will be an F. The date the instructor drop form is received in the Office of the Registrar is the official drop date.

• Please complete all assignments on time. Assignments will be deducted by 25% for each late day. Complete readings prior to the class schedule to ensure participation in course-related content and activities. 

Note: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception.

Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters.

We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student.

We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed.

Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, (940) 397-4140.

The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MSUTexas e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

All students seeking a Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they've 1) passed the 6 hours of Communication Core and 2) earned 60 hours. Students may meet this requirement in one of three ways: by passing the Writing Proficiency Exam, passing two Writing Intensive Courses (only one can be in the core), or passing English 2113. If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at https://msutexas.edu/academics/wpr, or call 397-4131.

Senate Bill 11 passed by the 84th Texas Legislature allows licensed handgun holders to carry concealed handguns on campus, effective August 1, 2016. Areas excluded from concealed carry are appropriately marked, in accordance with state law. For more information regarding campus carry, please refer to the University’s webpage at https://msutexas.edu/campus-carry/rules-policies.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact MSU Chief of Police at police@msutexas.edu.