Leadership in Early Childhood Education

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Critically analyze policies and practices related to early childhood education.

• Demonstrate skills for effectively communicating and partnering with all families and communities to provide high-quality early childhood services.

• Define and understand beliefs about best practices in education and embody these beliefs in teaching and professional practice and feel confident about demonstrating and communicating to others how core beliefs, standards and best practice related to children’s development including children with and without disabilities is evident in early childhood education.

• Evaluate personal philosophy of educational leadership/professional practice based on an enhanced understanding of self, as well as one’s understanding of self within the context of care and education settings (e.g., schools, childcare programs), families, and school/administrative personnel and be able to communicate this philosophy to others.

• Demonstrate self-awareness about personal experiences and backgrounds. Engage in reflective practice around issues of individualization and demonstrate an awareness of resources to support ongoing professional development and leadership.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Leadership Journey Planning	30%
Leadership Journey Reflection	12%
Leadership Journey Presentation	34%
Exit Tickets	6%
Professional Development Activities	18%

Grading Scale:

Percentage	Letter Grade
≥ 93%	A
90%-92%	A-
87%-89%	B+
83%-86%	B
80%-82%	B-
77%-79%	C+
73%-76%	C
<73%	F

Attendance/Participation:

Attendance and participation will affect a student’s final grade; students are expected to attend and actively participate in synchronous class meetings, and to complete all assigned readings and activities in advance of class to facilitate discussion.  Unless a student receives prior permission in writing (via email from the instructor), 2 points will be deducted for each absence; 1 point will be deducted for late entry (over 5 minutes late) or early exit (more than 5 minutes early).

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

Sykes, M. (2014). Doing the Right Thing for Children: Eight Qualities of Leadership. Redleaf Press.