Fundamentals for Early Childhood Professionals

Below you will find information and materials for the 45 hour consistent curriculum that makes up the Fundamentals Course. This course is based on the Northern Lights Core Competencies for Early Childhood Professionals: Level I. Successful completion of the Fundamentals course plus a year of experience brings you to Level I in the Career Ladder.

The material below is sorted by the primary audience, but all of it is useful for the professionals who want to sponsor, teach, or take the Fundamentals course.

Students should receive their documents as part of the course package on the first night of class.

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

Students who successfully complete the Fundamentals course for early childhood professionals, will have the skills and knowledge described in the 7 course objectives.

Fundamentals Syllabus	Related Articles and handouts
Fundamentals Modules- complete	For all modules: 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 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 What is Being Taught Health in Action
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
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 Social 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
Module 6: Communication: Building Relationships	Module 6: When Parents and Staff Disagree Cultivating Good Relationships with Families
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: Introduction to Fundamentals Fundamentals: Assignments Fundamentals: child observation 1 Fundamentals: child observation 2 Observer of the Practitioner Short Reaction Papers Final Projects Application for Level I certificate Fundamentals and the CDA	Especially for Instructors and Course Sponsors: Information for Course Planners and Instructors Checklist for Course Planners Classroom tips and Suggestions SAMPLE contract Guidelines for Observation of the Practitioner Student evaluations Instructor evaluations ITV Student evaluations