EDU 321 Inclusive Early Childhood Education
Is built upon a foundation of developmentally-appropriate practice (DAP) and considers individualized approaches that benefit all children. Pre-service educators will gain an integrated understanding and knowledge of children's physical, social, cognitive, emotional, and communication development and the indications of disability within these developmental domains. Pre-service educators will acquire knowledge of assessment processes for child development, and for monitoring and evaluating programs for young children. Pre-service educators will be prepared to use a variety of teaching strategies and methodologies, and will be required to incorporate the use of a variety of technologies into their instructional repertoires based on Universal Design of Learning principles. Pre-service educators will learn how instructional information is incorporated into the following documents required by IDEA 2004: an individualized family service plan (IFSP); an individualized education plan (IEP), or a 504 plan of accommodations. Pre-service educators will learn to collaborate effectively with other professionals to meet the individual needs of young children and their families. Emphasis will be placed on pre-service educators learning to engage and collaborate with families based on approaches that are responsive to cultural, linguistic, and developmental diversity. Pre-service educators will complete a family project to meet CAEP and NAEYC Standard 2: Building Family and Community Relationships.