ECE 20

MENTORING & ADULT SUPERVISION IN CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

Dr. Phil Freneau

465-2334

Office hours: See web page: http://dn.redwoods.cc.ca.us

 

Course description: An advanced 2-unit course designed to teach those already working in early childhood education the methods and principles of supervising student teachers, volunteers and other staff in early childhood education classrooms. Emphasis is on the role of experienced classroom teachers who function as mentors to new teachers while simultaneously addressing the needs of children, parents and other staff.

Course Outcomes: Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:

  1. provide appropriate models, guidance and evaluation for student teachers
  2. recognize and support developmental stages of student teachers
  3. facilitate positive interactions between student teachers, children, parents and other staff
  4. maintain a safe and developmentally-appropriate environment for young children while fostering growth of student teachers
  5. understand the role of a mentor in leadership and advocacy in the field of ECE

 

Required Course Text: Supervision in ECE: A Developmental Perspective Joseph Caruso & M. Temple Fawcett. (Teachers College Press, 1986)

 

Course Assignments and Requirements

I will be keeping records on your work as well as attendance/participation. Retain all class handouts and also keep all graded assignments that have been handed back to you. By keeping your own set of records, you should be able to roughly calculate your progress continuously throughout the semester.

  1. Reading Assignments will be given in class on a weekly basis from the course texts, usually one or two chapters a week. In addition, class handouts and library research will be assigned. Reading assignments must be completed by the assigned dates so that the foundation material is covered for classroom discussion, exercises and assignments.

2. ECE 20 Written Exercises will explore course content on an ongoing basis. These exercises will be completed outside of class and due at the beginning of class on the due date. These exercises will be designed to reflect your synthesis of the subject matter and your critical thinking skills. Specifics will be given for each exercise. (7 @ 50 points each = 350 points)

  1. Professional Journal Article Review Select an article of interest from a professional journal which relates to the course content to read and review. Give source information and write a double-spaced, typed, 1-2 page report that relates specific aspects of this article to specific topics covered in the text, class discussions and your professional work. Photocopy a copy of the article and attach. Demonstrate critical thinking skills. Spelling and grammar are considered. These will be shared in class. (200 points)

4. Content Reviews Four take-home content reviews covering course material and readings will be due (4 @ 100 pts. each – 400 pts.)

5. Participation & Attendance The early childhood education field requires that we be active and focused participators in the learning process. Points for participation will be awarded on the basis of your adherence to the following "Course Agreements and Philosophy" statement. (Question of the day) (50 pts.).

You may rewrite any assignment providing that you turn it in early or on time. you have one week after the original due date to rewrite .

Tentative Readings & Assignments

Note: This outline give the tentative dates when readings and related assignments are due. There may be other assignments given in addition to these listed below. Readings are to be completed by the dates I give you and assignments brought to class finished, ready to turn in and discuss. These assignments and due dates are subject to change as determined by the instructor.

Introductions, Syllabus, Student Data Sheets distributed. Mentoring discussion.

Read Preface, Chapter 1: Myths About Supervision and Chapter 2: Early Childhood Programs and Their Implications for Supervisors. Completed Written Exercises due: page 10, #1, #2, #3 page 25, #1

Read Chap. 3: Supervisors and Staff: Roles and Responsibilities.

Completed Written Exercises due: #3 and include a diagram of your role set, #7. Bring a job description for your present teaching position or for the position you are working towards. We will use these in class. Take-home Content Review #1 distributed.

Take-home Content Review #1 Due: Part 1 and course material.

Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale

Read Chap. 4: The Developmental Dynamic

Completed Written Exercises Due: #1, #2, #3

Read Chap. 5: Supervision as Adult Education

Completed Written Exercises due: #1, #3

Read Chap. 6: Supervisor Development

Completed Written Exercises due: #1, #2

Read Chap. 7: Supervisee Development

Completed Written Exercise due: Page 89: Make a photocopy of Figure 7, to complete on yourself and another color code to complete on someone (no names, please!) you have worked with. Bring completed exercise to class which also includes a paragraph describing what you learned from this process.

Read Chap. 8: The Developmental Dynamic at Work: A Case Study in Supervision. Discuss. Take-home Content Review #2 covering part 2 and course material distributed in class.

Article Review #1 due

Take-home Content Review #2 due. "Reflective Teaching" video. View and discuss.

Read Chap. 9: The Five Stages of Clinical Supervision and Chap. 10: The Supervisory Conference. Exercises on pg. 120-121 will be done in class.

Read Chap. 11: Observation and Analysis. Be ready to discuss. You will work in groups to develop individually designed observation tool(s) that might be helpful to specific areas of concern identified by group members at their sites. Each group member will try one of these individually designed tools out in the following week and report the results back to the group.

Read Chap. 12: Evaluating Staff. Exercise: Bring the program evaluation form that is used at your site to share and review in class. Also, bring a Completed Written Exercise of your individually-designed observation tool, from last week’s assignment, with a paragraph analysis of the results to share and turn in.

Written Env. Rating Scale Report and photocopy of summary scale due. Share in groups and turn in at end of class. Take-home content review #3, covering part 3 and course material, distributed.

Take-home Content Review #3 due. Continue to share ERS reports.

Read Chap. 13: Supervisory Problems. Be ready to participate in discussions/role plays of exercises 1, 3 and 4 on page 177-178 in class.

Read Chaps. 14 & 15. We will discuss Exercises 1& 2, pg. 195 in groups in class. Be ready to discuss: "How does your program determine and plan for staff training needs?" Take-home Content Review #4 distributed.

Final class meeting. Take-home Content Review #4 due. Semester closure activity.