Students will obtain education and skills to work in the child care field with specific goals of earning CDA “Ready” Certification. 

Instruction in this three-year program is offered to all tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students and includes  Development of Children from birth to five years, Safety and CPR Training, Fire and First Aid Training, Techniques for Guiding Children, Nutrition Rules and Regulations of Day Care Centers, Parent-Child personal relationships. Students will be trained to work with children in a licensed day care center and will observe children, provide for everyday needs of children, plan and teach various activities, write and teach lesson plans, and learn record-keeping skills. This program is designed for students who enjoy working with children and/or desire a career in the child care field. 

Course Topics:

Curriculum planning and preparation                           Teaching and child guidance strategies

Insight and rapport with children                                 Self-evaluation of teaching

Application of child development principles                  Maintenance of classroom environment

Assessment and evaluation of children’s learning         Professional behavior

Communication skills: oral and written                         Utilization of materials and resources 

Class Requirements:

Act 34 Clearance: Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check

Act 33 Clearance: Pennsylvania State Child Abuse History

Bi-Annual physical examination by family doctor and tuberculosis test 

Required Supplies:

Textbooks:

Children, the Early Years; Celia Decker; 2004.

Working with Young Children; Dr. Judy Herr; 2008.

Cooperating Companies:

Avella Day Care – Avella, PA

Happy Face Learning Center – McMurray, PA

Kids’ Kingdom – Washington, PA

Infant simulator                                                          

Furniture to Set-Up Mock Child Care Preschool Room: Lego Table, Wheeled Flannel Board & White Board, Wheeled Book Art & Media Cart, Puzzles, Blocks & Science Center  

Clinical Experience:

Offered in local day care centers and elementary schools to meet part of the clinical hours required for certification. 

Certifications:

Child Care Worker Skills:

Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Learning Strategies — Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Instructing — Teaching others how to do something.

Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Negotiation — Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Academic Integration — Math, English, and Science 

Wages and Employment Trends:

Median Wages (2009)                                 $9.25 hourly, $19,240 annually

Employment (2008)                                       1,302,000 employees

Projected Growth (2008-2018)                  Average (7% to 13%)

Projected Need (2008-2018)                       523,100 additional employees