EDUC-1000 — Intro to Ed B-K/PK-3
This course offers aspiring early childhood teacher candidates a comprehensive introduction to the competencies and instructional practices essential for teaching children from birth through age eight within the B-K and PK-3 grade bands. Students explore historical and theoretical foundations of early childhood education, examine roles and responsibilities of early childhood teachers, and identify best practices for creating safe, responsive, and engaging learning environments. Through an exploration of key developmental domains and early academic content areas, teacher candidates gain a holistic understanding of how young children grow, learn, and thrive in diverse educational settings. They engage with the CDA competency standards and functional areas that define high-quality early childhood practice and support national credentialing. Serving as the first step on the early childhood teacher preparation pathway, this course lays the foundation for future coursework and professional practice. (4 billable contact hrs)