Early Childhood Classroom Technology Plan (NOTE: There is no Field Experience/Practicum requirement for this course)

You will create an early childhood classroom technology plan based on current and emerging technologies.

Choose an age group: Birth to Age 5/Pre-K or K to Age 8/Grade 3.

Research three current technologies, for the chosen age group, that have influenced the learning outcomes for the early childhood classroom.

Research one emerging technology, for the chosen age group, that can be used to influence learning outcomes in the early childhood classroom.

Research local and online professional development opportunities that focus on incorporating technology in the early childhood classroom.

Create a five-section brochure for your early childhood classroom technology plan that explains the three current technologies, the one emerging technology, and the professional development opportunities.

In the first four sections, include the following for each technology:

1. Title
2. Type (software, hardware, website)
3. Age range
4. Description
5. Key features
6. Research found on the influence on the learning outcomes in the early childhood classroom
7. Benefits of implementing the technology in your future classroom with an example of how the technology will be used
8. Adaptations for diverse students in your future classroom

In the last section, include the local and internet professional development opportunities that focus on technology in the early childhood classroom:

1. Title
2. Description
3. Location
4. Presenter and affiliation
5. Cost

Use 4-7 scholarly resources.

NOTE:  For a professional presentation please remember to include the Rationale and Standards that apply to this assignment. 

Instructional and Behavioral Support of Learners in an Early Childhood Classroom

For this benchmark, use the balance of your practicum hours to observe three students: a typical learner, a special needs learner, and a gifted learner. Your practicum hours are to be used to inform your essay.

In an essay of 1,000-1,250-words, you will identify, analyze, and critique the instructional and behavioral support strategies that affect the learning of the typical learner, the special needs learner, and the gifted learner.

1. Identify the developmental milestones of each learner. Use research to support your identifications.
2. Describe how the classroom teachers differentiate their classroom instruction to meet the needs of these learners. Be sure to provide specific examples of the differentiation strategies.
3. Describe the classroom environment, including the diverse learners in the classroom, culture, gender, socioeconomic factors, etc.
4. Explain what incentives and positive behavioral supports are in place within the classroom, and how each learner responds to them.
5. Identify what ongoing assessments are used and which are necessary to mark progress for each learner, including progress toward IEP goals for the learner with a disability.

Use 3-5 scholarly resources.

Prepare this assignment according to the GCU guidelines found in the GCU Style Guide, located in the Learner Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin.

Document the hours in the field on your Activity Log.

Do not submit the log to Taskstream until all required documents are ready for submission.

You are required to submit:

1. Essay: Instructional and Behavioral Support of Learners in an Early Childhood Classroom
2. Additional attachment of your Field Experience.
3. There are 20 hours of Field Experience/Practicum required for this course.

NOTE:  For a professional presentation please remember to include the Rationale and Standards that apply to this assignment. 

Lesson Plan Implementation, Assessment, and Reflection

For this benchmark, use your field experience placement hours. You will implement a revised lesson plan for listening, speaking, reading, and writing. After implementing the revised lesson plan, you will assess student learning. You will reflect on the lesson implementation and use of the assessment results to inform future lessons.

Based on one of the lessons created in Topics 4 through 6:

• Revise and implement one of the lesson plans from Topics 4 through 6.
• Assess students' learning using the "Preschool and Kindergarten Monitoring Assessments" or "Preschool and Kindergarten Monitoring Assessments for Advanced Learners" from the textbook to gather data about the students' literacy proficiencies. In 500-750-words, summarize your post-test findings and examine the assessment data for future application, include your goals, curriculum, and teaching strategies.

For "Preschool and Kindergarten Monitoring Assessments," include the following:

• Letter recognition
• Name writing task
• Writing alphabet task
• Concept of print task
• Phonological awareness task: Generating rhyming words
• Phonemic awareness task: Isolating beginning sounds
• Oral comprehension and vocabulary task

OR

For "Preschool and Kindergarten Monitoring Assessments for Advanced Learners," include the following:

• Letter recognition
• Invented Spelling
• Finger point reading
• Locate words in finger point reading text
• Reading familiar rhyming words
• Writing familiar rhyming words

Write a 500-750-word reflection based on the feedback you received from the classroom teacher and personal observations about the experience, explain the following:

• A brief explanation of the classroom teacher's suggestions that you used from the previous time the lesson was written.
• Strengths and opportunities for growth. Provide specific evidence from your lesson.
• What would you do differently if you taught this lesson again?  Be sure to provide specific examples.

Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

You are required to submit:

1. Essay: Lesson Plan Implementation, Assessment, and Reflection
2. Additional attachment of your Field Experience.
3. There are 10 hours of Field Experience/Practicum required for this course.

NOTE:  For a professional presentation please remember to include the Rationale and Standards that apply to this assignment.

Family Math Game Event

For this benchmark, you will plan a Family Math Game Event. You will create five to seven interactive math games for one of the following age groups: Birth to Age 5/Pre-K or K to Age 8/Grade 3.

Create a one-page invitation for a Family Math Game Event based on your practicum site. Be creative and include the following in your invitation:

1. Time
2. Place
3. Purpose of the event including:
   1. Academic goals of understanding of math concepts and mathematical fluency
   2. The importance of supporting and engaging families and communities through respectful, reciprocal relationships

Create five interactive games for one of the age groups. Include the following information for each game:

1. Title that is creative and incorporates the name of the math concept to be reinforced
2. Labels that display appropriate curriculum, content standards, and early learning standards
3. Instructions and rules of the game
4. Materials needed to play each game

Create a survey to give to families that will include:

1. Thank you and acknowledgement statements
2. Purpose of the survey
3. Survey questions about the Family Math Game Event
4. Submission directions with due date
5. Short statement about the importance of developing partnerships with families to support assessment practices, engage learners, and build effective learning environments. Under this statement there should be the following areas to encourage these partnerships:
   1. Suggestions for future events
   2. Additional comments

While APA format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected.

You are required to submit:

1. Family Math Game Event
2. Additional attachment of your Field Experience.
3. There are 10 hours of Field Experience/Practicum required for this course.

NOTE:  For a professional presentation please remember to include the Rationale and Standards that apply to this assignment.

Cross Content Instruction in Science

For this benchmark, use your field experience placement hours. You will create and deliver a science lesson plan that integrates math, physical education, and health for Birth to Age 5/Pre-K or K to Age 8/Grade 3. After implementing the lesson, you will write a reflection of your experience.

Use the format of one of the “Lesson Plan Templates” available on the College of Education’s page in the Student Success Center to create the cross-content science lesson plan that includes the following:

1. Clear, measurable learning objectives that align to early learning standards (ELS) as well as your state’s subject standards.
2. Anticipatory set
3. Vocabulary
4. Reasoning and problem-solving
5. Relevant materials and resources including visual or audio resources
6. Differentiation of instruction to address the diverse needs of students. Name the differentiation strategies used to achieve individual learning outcomes.
7. Assessments (e.g., pre/post-test, formative, summative, etc.)

Teach the lesson, and then write a 500-750-word reflection essay analyzing the feedback you received from your classroom teacher and personal observations about the experience, and explain the following:

1. How did you promote student readiness for learning, a positive learning environment, supportive interactions, engagement, and enthusiasm?
2. How did you plan instruction that used effective strategies and resources, including the appropriate use of technology, to meet the needs of students? 
3. Explain why there is value in cross-content lessons. Use your research from Topic 1 and personal experience from your implemented lesson.
4. Strengths and opportunities for growth. Provide specific evidence from your lesson.
5. What changes will you implement in your next lesson? Be sure to provide specific examples.

While APA format is not required for the lesson plan, solid academic writing is expected.

You are required to submit:

1. Cross Content Instruction in Science
2. Additional attachment of your Field Experience.
3. There are 10 hours of Field Experience/Practicum required for this course.

NOTE:  For a professional presentation please remember to include the Rationale and Standards that apply to this assignment.

Family Newsletter

For this benchmark, you will create a newsletter with at-home activities that reinforce the concepts from one of the lesson plans created in Topics 4 through 7.

With your practicum population in mind, create a fun and interactive 250-500-word newsletter with at-home activities that will engage families in the development of children’s social studies awareness. Include the following:

• Newsletter title, subtitles, date, graphics, and other appropriate newsletter items.
• Brief description of the social studies concepts, standards, and objectives.
• Explanation why these concepts are important in early childhood development.
• Description of at least three at-home activities that parents can use to reinforce social studies concepts.
• Documentation to be returned to school to:
  1. Gauge student participation
  2. Collect constructive criticism from students and families

• Resources, including technology and/or manipulatives, to support social studies learning for students’ at-home.
• Free community or online social studies resources for families.

Review the newsletter with your cooperating teacher for feedback and revise as needed.

Write a 500-750-word reflection based on the feedback you received from your cooperating teacher and personal insight about the experience, explain the following:

• What value did you find in doing the social studies newsletter for families? Give supporting details for your opinion.
• Strengths and opportunities for improving future newsletters. Provide specific examples.
• What is your plan to appropriately modify the newsletter activities to meet each child’s learning needs, including children with disabilities, and promote positive outcomes?  Modifications should be detailed and based on evaluation of personal practice.

You are required to submit:

1. Family Newsletter
2. Additional attachment of your Field Experience.
3. There are 10 hours of Field Experience/Practicum required for this course.

NOTE:  For a professional presentation please remember to include the Rationale and Standards that apply to this assignment.

Integrated Arts Plan- Art, Social Studies, Language Arts

For this benchmark, use your field experience placement hours. You will create and deliver an art lesson plan that integrates social studies and language arts.  After implementing the lesson, you will write a reflection of your experience.

Choose one of the art lesson plans created in Topics 3-6 and modify the lesson plan according to recommendations from your instructor and classroom teacher. With the modification, include concepts from social studies and language arts.

Use the format of one of the “Lesson Plan Templates” available on the College of Education’s page in the Student Success Center to create the cross-content Art lesson plan that includes the following:

1. Clear, measurable learning objectives that align to early learning standards (ELS) as well as your state’s subject standards.
2. Anticipatory set
3. Vocabulary
4. Reasoning and problem-solving
5. Relevant materials and resources including visual or audio resources
6. Differentiation of instruction to address the diverse needs of students. Name the differentiation strategies used to achieve individual learning outcomes.
7. Assessments (e.g., pre/post-test, formative, summative, etc.)

Teach the lesson, and then write a 500-750-word reflection essay analyzing the feedback you received from your classroom teacher and personal observations about the experience, and explain the following:

1. How did you promote student readiness for learning, a positive learning environment, supportive interactions, engagement, and enthusiasm?
2. How did you plan instruction that used effective strategies and resources, including the appropriate use of technology, to meet the needs of students? 
3. Explain why there is value in cross-content lessons. Use your research from Topic 1 and personal experience from your implemented lesson.
4. Strengths and opportunities for growth. Provide specific evidence from your lesson.
5. What changes will you implement in your next lesson? Be sure to provide specific examples.

While APA format is not required for the lesson plan, solid academic writing is expected.

You are required to submit:

1. Integrated Arts Plan- Art, Social Studies, Language Arts
2. Additional attachment of your Field Experience.
3. There are 10 hours of Field Experience/Practicum required for this course.

NOTE:  For a professional presentation please remember to include the Rationale and Standards that apply to this assignment.

There is no Field Experience/Practicum required for this course

Assessment and Communication with Families

For this benchmark, you will create an assessment pamphlet that informs families of the shared responsibility and value for assessing young children, areas of assessment, and practical homebound assessment tools and approaches across the five domains.

Assessment Pamphlet

Your three-fold assessment pamphlet should include:

1. Outline of the five areas of assessment for young children, including an explanation of the five areas of assessment (Observations, Performance-based, Portfolios, Rating Scales, and Rubrics);
2. Rationale statement that describes why you would engage families in assessing their children’s learning using formal and informal assessments;
3. Information on how you will work together with families and colleagues as an assessment partnership;
4. An explanation of how technology can be used to assess and monitor the progress of young children; and
5. Include a self-checklist for families to monitor their own observations of their children across the five domains.

While APA format is not required for the pamphlet, solid academic writing is expected.

You are required to submit the reflection to Turnitin.

Reflection Essay

Write a 750-1,000-word reflection essay describing in what manner you incorporated the following in your assessment pamphlet, or in preparation of creating your pamphlet:

1. Understanding the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment, including its use in development of appropriate goals, curriculum, and teaching strategies for young children;
2. Knowing about and using observation, documentation, and other appropriate assessment tools and approaches, including the use of technology in documentation, assessment, and data collection;
3. Understanding and practicing responsible assessment to promote positive outcomes for each child, including the use of assistive technology for children with disabilities; and
4. Knowing about assessment partnerships with families and with professional colleagues to build effective learning environments.

Include 5-7 scholarly sources to support your assertions. You are required to submit the reflection to Turnitin.

You are required to submit:

1. Assessment and Communication with Families: Pamphlet and Reflective Essay
2. There is no Field Experience/Practicum required for this course.

NOTE:  For a professional presentation please remember to include the Rationale and Standards that apply to this assignment.