ECE 2003 Teaching Mathematics in the Early Years: Skills and Concept Acquisition (3-1-3)

Introduces the early mathematical skills and concepts of problem-solving, reasoning and numeracy, focusing on numbers as labels and for counting, calculating and shapes, space and measures. Identifies contemporary thinking about pedagogy and current practice in mathematics teaching in early childhood settings, with a particular emphasis on the provision of developmentally-appropriate, play-based learning experiences.

Prerequisites: EDU 1802 or EDU 1803

ECE 2203 Learning through the Visual Arts (3-1-3)

Identifies the recent thinking about creativity, and its promotion through visual arts based on various early childhood curricula to affirm child centeredness. Develops skills, techniques and reflections by examining effective intervention that promotes creativity and enables children to express feelings, thoughts, and knowledge. Recognizes opportunities to understand their own visual world. Assists students' comprehension regarding the surrounding of their visual world.

ECE 2503 Theories of Teaching and Learning that impact the Preschool Curriculum (3-1-3)

Identifies key philosophies and theories in early childhood education, such as Froebel, Montessori, Dewey, Steiner Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia. Discusses the impact of these on the different curricula in early childhood education, and applies this knowledge to form students’ own philosophies on teaching and learning in the early years.

ECE 2603 Learning through the Performing Arts (3-1-3)

Examines the importance of performing arts in the early childhood curriculum, such as drama/role play, dance, music, and movement. Explores and applies artistic learning environments and activities that foster children’s intellectual and expressive development. Integrates practical experiences that will allow students to design lesson plans for either stand-alone performing arts activities or integrated into core courses.

Prerequisites: ECE 2203

ECE 3003 Literacies in Early Childhood (3-1-3)

Examines the necessary knowledge and skills to promote early literacy development. Develops competency in the components of emergent literacy, including oral language development, phonological and phonemic awareness, and analyzes various reading approaches which assist young learners with their fluency development and decoding skills. Outlines planning and implementation strategies used in teaching young children to listen, speak, read and write. Provides opportunities to evaluate and analyze the importance of using formal and informal assessments for the evaluation of literacy development.

ECE 3203 Learning through Literature (3-1-3)

Examines how early childhood texts from a range of genres can be used to develop learning across the curriculum, as well as how children learn social and cultural values from these texts (with reference to UAE and cross culturally relevant content). Examines criteria used to select texts for appropriate teaching and learning purposes. Builds on students’ knowledge of establishing print/literacy-rich environments with a range of texts for various purposes. Provides opportunities for students to create themed children’s books that can be used in class for reading strategies.

ECE 3503 Planning and Assessment in Early Childhood Education (3-1-3)

Examines the relationship between planning, observation, and assessment as part of teaching practice in Early Childhood Education (ECE). Reviews ECE curricula including developmental levels, individual learning needs and program aims that need to be considered in planning, observing, and assessment for learning across different domains (cognitive, physical, social and emotional) and curriculum areas (English, Math, Arts, etc.). Elaborates on different learning and teaching models including Inquiry-based learning, project-based learning, experiential learning, and a flipped-classroom model.

ECE 3703 Building Learning Communities in Early Childhood Education (3-1-3)

Emphasizes the family as the child's foundation and framework for the transmission of culture, language, attitudes and values. Analyzes the stages of the family life cycle, interpersonal relationships within and outside the family, and also identifies the impact of context and culture on the family's ability to function effectively as an institution.