Early Childhood Education
“This program is great. I love working with children, and I am well on my way to a career as an elementary science teacher.”
Molley Tiller
Midpark High School
You enjoy being around children. You are fascinated with how young people learn and grow. The Early Childhood Education program puts you right in the middle of a child care setting.
Good child care professionals create a homelike atmosphere by nurturing and teaching the children in their care. They bring to the job a balance of maturity, flexibility, energy, and fun. “Rewarding” is how most child care employees describe their careers, and the responsibility of helping children grow is one of its most appealing features.
The Early Childhood Education program gives you the opportunity to learn about the care, development, safety, and conduct of young children. You work with toddlers and preschoolers in a variety of settings. While operating the Polaris Career Center Nursery School, you are involved in lesson planning for a variety of learning center stations, nutrition and snack planning, as well as developing art and music activities.
If enrolling in the Early Childhood Education program, you and your parent/guardian must agree to allow a review of your school records and for a background check to be conducted by local law enforcement agencies. Ohio State law requires all Early Childhood Education students to go through fingerprinting and a Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation background check (BCII), to sign a Child Day Care Conviction Statement, and to have a physical examination. In addition, you must obtain three letters of recommendation.
Skills
Lesson planning and presentation in all curriculum areas
Nutrition and snack planning
Common childhood illness training
First aid training/CPR
Child abuse recognition
Classroom management skills
Sanitation procedures
Office skills
Safety awareness
Guidance and discipline techniques
Equipment
Overhead projector
Laminator
Ellison machine
Preschool equipment: proper set-up, safety checks, ongoing maintenance
Kitchen appliances
Computer and software
Photocopy machine
Career Options
Day care center assistant/teacher
Nursery school assistant
Playground supervisor
Child care worker in children’s hospital
Head Start assistant
Future Opportunities with Further Education
Teacher – elementary or secondary education
Head Start teacher
Nursery school director
Day care director
School psychologist
Physical therapist
Family services
Nanny
Children’s photographer
Children’s educational toy designer
High School Credit Junior Year
Early Childhood Education 2.5
Technology .5
English 1.0
Potential College Semester Hour Credit
Articulated Credit
Cuyahoga Community College 4.0