Agrilife Extension Resources

Understanding the meaning and implication of developmentally appropriate practices in a classroom, as well as teacher/child interactions based on those practices is introduced. Effective characteristics of developmentally appropriate practices, the value of intentional teaching and strategies to use are also introduced.

Circle time, or large group time, is when children come together to learn and have fun, solve problems, and be part of a community. This setting helps children begin to look at the world from the perspective of ‘we’ and ‘ours’. Circle time experiences, transitions and strategies for keeping children engaged are introduced.

Classroom management refers to skills teachers use daily to supervise and organize time, materials and activities, while keeping children safe. From the rules and routines to the activities, each component needs to be planned and followed through with children to ensure they are learning through play throughout the day.

In this course, Early Childhood Educators (ECE) will be provided an overview of social emotional learning in preschoolers with special emphasis on teaching children to learn, regulate emotions and be resilient.

Delve into various aspects of language development, how those look in the infant and toddler years, and ways to strengthen that development. You will explore the universal stages of language development. Finally, the various milestones during the first three years will be presented.

Develop a pathway to enhance classroom science centers by means of interactive science experiences for preschool children. Explore the scientific process and making discoveries within four different areas of science: Life Science, Health Science, Physical Science, Earth and Space, and Environmental Science.

Children use their senses to explore the world. More than just seeing or noticing, through science, children can determine how important or unimportant an observation is. Enrich the sensory table, beyond digging and pouring. Build an “Observation Station” with simple, sensory-rich explorations preschoolers will love.

Explore math in an early childhood setting and see how mathematical concepts develop from simple to complex. Identify five math content areas and gain strategies for integrating concepts in a way that will engage preschool children all day. Connect math concepts to literacy in a math-rich environment in the classroom.

Why and how to strengthen language through responsive and effective interactions with infants and toddlers helps teachers understand the importance of early language experiences. Learn ways to promote infants’ and toddlers’ language development. Multiple strategies for effective, responsive communications are given.