Required Supplies:Smock
Scrub pants
Tennis shoes
3 ring binders
Plastic sheet covers
Disposable camera
Textbook:Children, the Early Years; Celia Decker; 2004.
Working with Young Children; Dr. Judy Herr; 1998.
Wages and Employment Trends:Median Wages (2004)
$8.15 hourly
$16,950 annually
Employment (2004)
1,280,000 employees
Projected Growth (2004-2014)
Average (10-20%)
Projected Need (2004-2014)
525,000 additional employees
ddepasquale@wactc.net
(724) 746-2890 ext. 150
Course Objective:Students will obtain education and skills to work in the child care field with specific goals of earning an Assistant Group Supervisor certification and preparing to be certified as a child development associate.
Course Description:Instruction in this three-year program is offered to all tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students and includes Pregnancy and Parenthood, Development of Children from birth to five years, Safety and CPR Training, Fire and First Aid Training, Techniques for Guiding Children, and Rules and Regulations of Day Care Centers. 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.
Class Requirements:Act 34 Clearance: Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check
Act 33 Clearance: Pennsylvania State Child Abuse History
Annual physical examination by family doctor and bi-annual tuberculosis test
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
Cooperating Companies:Avella Day Care – Avella, PA
Central Storybook Village Day Care – Houston, PA
Chartiers-Houston Elementary School – Houston, PA
Happy Face Learning Center – McMurray, PA
Just Us Kids – Canonsburg, PA
Kids’ Kingdom – Washington, PA
Little Learning Land – Canonsburg, PA
Once Upon a Time – Washington, PA
Rainbow’s End Learning Center – Washington, PA
Smart Kids Childcare & Learning Center, Inc. – Canonsburg and Washington, PA
Specialized Shop Equipment:Infant simulator
Certifications:Assistant Group Supervisor (AGS)
Automatic External Defibrillator (AED)
Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Child Development Associate (CDA)
First Aid
Fire & Water Safety
PA Skills Certificate
Articulation Agreements:California University Of Pennsylvania - Elementary Education, Early Childhood Development
Community College of Allegheny County – Child and Family Sciences
Post-Secondary Training Options: California University of Pennsylvania – Elementary Education;
Early Childhood Development
Community College of Allegheny County – Child Care;
Child Development
Laurel Business Institute – Child Care
Pennsylvania College of Technology – Early Childhood Development
Potential Careers:Assistant Group Supervisor
Child Psychologist
Elementary Education Teacher
Social Worker
Children’s Librarian
Preschool Director
Pediatric Specialist
Nanny
Assistant Preschool Teacher
Special Ed Teacher
Speech/Language Specialist
Child Development Associate
Licensed Day Care Provider
Group Home
Counselor or Supervisor
Early Childhood Education Teacher
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.