Course Description
This course consists of an on-ground practicum of 100 hours in an approved childcare center that provides a full-day program for children between the ages of birth-5 years. Students will participate as interns or assistants under the direction of the administrator of an NAEYC accredited center. They will demonstrate that they are ready to take on administrative or leadership positions in the early childhood field by supporting the director in effectively managing early childhood program operations as they relate to state licensing requirements, accreditations, and developmentally appropriate practices. Students will complete weekly discussions and reflective journals. They will write a practicum paper to demonstrate their knowledge of NAEYC Early Learning Program Standards and write a research paper related to national and state quality standards and trends. Students must find and obtain approval for their own practicum setting. Students are asked to complete the Practicum Guidelines at the beginning of the course. This course requires 100 hours of practicum fieldwork. (3 credits)
Prerequisites
- ECE 101: Introduction to Early Childhood Education
- ECE 176: Health, Safety and Nutrition: Birth to Eight
- ECE 205: Diversity and Ethics in Early Childhood Education
- ECE 210: Observation and Assessment in ECE Program
- ECE 217: The Exceptional Learner
- ECE 231: Early Language and Literacy Development
- ECE 247: Child Development: Birth to Eight
- ECE 325: Personnel Management in Programs for Children
- ECE 326: Finance in Early Childhood Programs
- EDU 360: Families, Schools, and Communities
- ENG 101: English Composition 1
- ENG 102: English Composition 2
- PSY 301: Psychology of Play
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Critically reflect on weekly leadership experiences and apply course concepts to real-world program operations through written journals and discussions.
- Demonstrate understanding and application of NAEYC Early Learning Program Standards, with a focus on leadership in managing the curriculum within the program, as well as ethics.
- Analyze and interpret two assigned program‑leadership documents, synthesize the core recommendations, and evaluate their implications for early childhood program quality and leadership practice.
- Develop and articulate a personalized leadership plan that translates insights from course materials, field experiences, and document analysis into concrete strategies for strengthening program quality, staff support, and ethical leadership practice.
Course Activities and Grading
| Assignments | Weight |
|---|---|
Discussions (Weeks 1-8) | 20% |
Reflective Journals (Weeks 1-8) | 20% |
Portfolio Assignment (Week 5) | 25% |
Leadership Paper (Week 8) | 25% |
Final Conference Call with instructor (Week 8) | 10% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbooks
Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle
Bruno, H.E. (2012). What you need to lead an Early Childhood Program: Emotional Intelligence in Practice, NAEYC.
Additional Resources
Course Schedule
Week | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
1 | 1,2 | Topic: Introduction: Why Practicum?
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2 | 1,2 | Topic: Forming: Setting the Program and Yourself up for Success
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3 | 1,2 | Topic: Storming: Identifying, Preventing and Addressing Resistance to Change
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4 | 1,2 | Topic: Norming: Establishing Management Systems
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5 | 1,2 | Topic: Norming: Establishing Management Systems
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6 | 1,2,3,4 | Topic: Performing: Putting Principles into Practice
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7 | 1,2,3,4 | Topic: Re-Forming, Renewing, Refreshing, Dreaming of What Might Be
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8 | 1,2,3,4 | Topic: Bringing it all together
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COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.