Fundamentals for Early Childhood Professionals

Level I : Early Childhood Competencies and Career Ladder

This 45 hour course is based on the early childhood core competencies – Level I. It is offered in each region of Vermont by Resource Development Specialists and others. Sessions are listed in the Bright Futures Information System (BFIS) Course Calendar.

The course meets the education requirement in the Vermont child care licensing regulations for Teaching Assistants and lays a good foundation to obtain the CDA credential.

Successful completion of the Fundamentals course plus a year of experience and a current IPDP (Individual Professional Development Plan) can make you eligible for Level I in the early childhood Career Ladder.

Fundamentals Course information and materials are outlined below.
Instructors and Course Sponsors need to contact the Northern Lights Career Development Center before offering the course. (nancy.sugarman@ccv.edu)

Fundamentals Syllabus
 Related Articles and handouts
Fundamentals Modules- complete For all modules:
Early Childhood Career Ladder
BFIS Training and Coursework
BFIS – Tracking Professional Development
Finding Professional Development
Reflective practice
Reflective Journal Entries
CDA Credential
Professional early care and education websites

Module 1: Introduction to Fundamentals for Early Childhood Professionals and

Health, Safety, Physical Activity and Nutrition

 Module 1:
Handwashing guidelines
Articles on: brain development, nutrition resources and infections
Exploratory Actions for Toddlers
Physical Fitness
Eating, Activity, and Self-Esteem
Supporting Physical Growth
Health in Action
Rainy-day games
Childcare safety daily checklist
Childhood obesity handout
Health Safety Checklist
Promoting Healthy Eating
Case Studies
Food Allergy Basics
Nutrition and the 3-4 year old child Back to Sleep:
American Academy for Pediatrics (AAP)
American Academy for Pediatrics Audio File
American Academy for Pediatrics Presentation
Healthy Child Care
Module 2: The Early Childhood Learning Environment Module 2:
Articles on Setting up engaging environments
Control Skills for Babies
Enriching the Outdoor Environment
Using the Environment to Promote Resilience
Sensory Actions for Infants
Get Moving Today Calendar
Playground Daily Checklist
Toy Safety Checklist
Module 3 A, B: Child Development: Emotional Development, Introduction to Observation and Recording Behavior, Emotional Development continued and the Influence of Culture Module 3:
Articles Introducing observation of children
Psychosexual development
Module 4: Child Development: Cognition and Intellectual Development Module 4
Notes on basic child development theory (courtesy of Lori Harris)
Starting Smart
Dimensions of Play
Module 5: Child Development: Language and Literacy Module 5:
Strategies to Promote Language Acquisition
Speech and Language Referral Guide
Red Flags for Early Delay
Literacy Then and Now
Stages of Drawing
Module 6: Communication: Building Relationships Module 6:
When Parents and Staff Disagree
Cultivating Good Relationships with Families
Future Teachers Form Family Connections
Module 7A: Child Development: Social Skills and a Sense of Oneself Module 7:
Articles on using positive guidance
Articles on addressing challenging behaviors
Module 7B: Child Development: Social Skills and Understanding Others
Module 8A: Child Care Licensing Regulations Module 8A:
Module 8 B, C: Basic Specialized Services Module 8 B,C:
Module 9: Positive Workplace Environments and Family Centered Practice Module 9:
Articles on interacting with children and families
Module 10 A, B: Professionalism Creating safe, trust places to learn for children of gay and lesbian parents: the NAEYC code of ethics in action Articles on Professionalism
 
Especially for students:

  1. Introduction
    to Fundamentals
  2. Fundamentals:
    Assignments
  3. Fundamentals:
    child observation 1
  4. Fundamentals:
    child observation 2
  5. Observer
    of the Practitioner
  6. Observer of the Practitioner- type in
  7. Short
    Reaction Papers
  8. Final Projects
  9. Application
    for Level I certificate
  10. Fundamentals and the CDA
 Especially for Instructors and Course Sponsors:

  1. Information for Course Planners and Instructors
  2. Checklist for Course Planners
  3. Classroom tips and Suggestions
  4. SAMPLE contract
  5. Guidelines for Observation of the Practitioner
  6. Student evaluations