Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

At Level I, be employable as a competent teacher's aide with children, under a lead teacher's supervision.

At Level II, be employable as a competent assistant teacher.

Upon successful completion students should be able to:1. Use an understanding of children’s characteristics and needs from birth through age 5, in order to provide appropriate care and education.

Works as a team player in a supervised early childhood setting

Responds to, and plans for, children from sensitive and objective observations

Supports children's play

  Models desired social behaviors in the classroom

Communicates effectively with children's families

Shares observations and assessments of children and the environment with peers and instructional staff

Assesses own attitudes, skills and values and sets goals for own personal growth and development

Concepts, Issues, Themes

Issues of confidentiality

Professional communication skills

Work force skills

Routines and schedules

Direct and Indirect Guidance

The planning process

Curriculum development

Management of the environment

Health, nutrition and safety issues

The referral process

Process Skills

Apply child development theory and knowledge in their practice with children.

Develop positive relationships with diverse children, parents, peers and professional staff and treat them equally with respect and consideration.

Ability to observe, record, integrate and interpret behaviors in the classroom.

Ability to apply both indirect and direct guidance to facilitate self-regulation and the growth of prosocial behavior.

Ability to manage the environment to support the needs, interests and competencies of both children and adults.

Ability to support, plan, implement and evaluate developmentally appropriate play, activities and experiences in all curricular areas.

Engage in on-going self-evaluation.