A.A. Early
Childhood Education
Our Associate of Arts (A.A.) in Early Childhood Education is designed to equip students with the essential knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to support and nurture the growth of young children.
Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education
PROGRAM MISSION
Bá’ólta’í dooleełígíí áłchíní yázhí K’é yó’níigo dóó K’é yiłníigo yiyaa hwiidooł’aał. Áłchíní Yázhí baa asdzidgi dóó baa já’ahónánígi bił bééhózin doo. Dóó índa óhoo’aah bił nahaz’ą́ą́góó Diné bizaad dóó Diné bi’ó’ool’įįł bidziilgo áłchíní yázhí yee neinitiin doo, dóó índa yee haididoolįįł. Diné Bikéyah bikáá’góó Diné t’áá bił nahaz’ą́adi yił naalnish dóó yíká análwo’ doo.
Diné bi’ó’ool’įįł bidziilgo yee neinitingo yee haididoolííł. Dóó índa amá dóó azhé’é ba’áłchíní ayóó’ó’ó’ni’ bee nilzéhígi na’nitin yá yíká át’įį dooleeł.
The Early Childhood Education program introduces students to working with young children (birth to age 8) and prepares them for employment as well as successful participation in BA-level programs elsewhere. Courses prepare teacher candidates for the CDA credential as well as the Early Childhood Education endorsement offered by the Arizona Department of Education.
It is the aim of ECE to produce educators who will create positive relationships with students, parents, local communities and across the Navajo Nation. They will nurture and advocate for children from birth to age eight through the utilization of the Navajo Language and culture in their instructional practices.
PROGRAM PURPOSE
The Early Childhood Education Program prepares teacher candidates for employment in early childhood contexts, and for successful participation in higher-level academic programs. The purpose of Early Childhood Education program is to nourish young minds within a well functioning environment.
The Early Childhood Education Program provides opportunities to students that want to work in Childcare Centers, Head Start Programs and Primary grade levels. The degree program is to support non-certification and certification tracks. This will be demonstrated throughout the study.
PROGRAM GOALS
- To improve recruitment, advising and retention services by 5% per semester to solidify a continuing flow of students toward the vision of a BA in ECE.
- To strengthen Diné language and culture teachings through, course syllabus visibility throughout the overall ECE Program Curriculum by 10% per semester.
- To empower professional confidence through effective communication, scholarly writing and to develop student character in preparation for career placement in Early Childhood Education.
PROGRAM STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOME FOR SY18-19
- Retell Dine Teachings
Candidates will be able to retell traditional Diné teachings in Navajo and/or English about child development from inception to puberty.
Outcome Monitoring: The outcome will be introduced in ECE 111, reinforced in ECE 116, 220, 225, and 235, and assessed in ECE 245.
Artifact Collection: Artifact C-Research Summary Rubric
2. Create Research Summaries
Candidates will be able to retell traditional Diné teachings in Navajo and/or English about child development from inception to puberty.
Outcome Monitoring: The outcome will be introduced in ECE 111, reinforced in ECE 116, 220, 225, and 235, and assessed in ECE 245.
Artifact Collection: Artifact F-Poster Display Project
3. Implement Unit Plans
Candidates will develop in Navajo and/or English a thematic unit plan that includes activity plans, assessments, and instructional materials appropriate for ECE children.
Outcome Monitoring: This outcome will be introduced in ECE 116, reinforced in ECE 108, 220, 235, and 245, and assessed in ECE 225.
Artifact Collection: Artifact B-Lesson Plans
4. Use Navajo in Preschool Settings
Candidates will
Outcome Monitoring: This outcome will be introduced in ECE 111, reinforced in ECE 116, 108, 220, 225, 235 and 245, and assessed in ECE 110.
Artifact Collection: Artifact D-Portfolio
5. Manage Children
Candidates will demonstrate exemplary skills in child management in Navajo and/or English.
Outcome Monitoring: This outcome will be introduced in ECE 111, reinforced in ECE 116, 108, 220, 225, 235, and 245, and assessed in ECE 110.
Artifact Collection: Artifact E-Classroom Observation Assessment
6. Demonstrate Competence and Confidence
Candidates will demonstrate extensive knowledge of, and commitment to pursuing careers in Early Childhood Education.
Outcome Monitoring: This outcome will be introduced in ECE 111, reinforced in ECE 116, 220, 225, 235, and 245, and assessed in ECE 108 and 110.
Artifact Collection: Artifact F-AEPA Subject Knowledge Test and Artifact E-Working Portfolio and Focus Group Interview
7. Self-assess ECE Teaching and Learning Practices
Candidates will self-assess their growth in using effective ECE teaching practices.
Outcome Monitoring: This outcome will be introduced in ECE 111, reinforced in ECE 116, 220, 225, 235, and 245, and assessed in ECE 108 and 110.
Artifact Collection: Artifact A-Pre-AEPA Subject Knowledge Test
Diné College Strategic Goals
1. Perpetuate Diné language, culture and respect for Diné principles and values
2. Achieve student success through relevant teaching and learning.
3. Increase access to higher education and lifelong learning.
4. Develop new certificate, associate’s and bachelor’s programs and services that are responsive to the needs of the Diné Nation.
5. Improve institutional communication, governance, and resource structures.
6. Promote transparency and accountability.
ECE Program Matrix
| ECE Matrix for SY 2018-19 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outcomes | ECE 111 Intro to Early Childhood Ed (3) |
ECE 116 Language, Literacy (3) |
ECE 108 Field Experience (4) |
ECE 220 Creative Arts (3) |
ECE 225 Child Growth (3) |
ECE 235 K’é Ádaat’ Ákóhwiidzin (3) |
ECE 110 Field Experience (4) |
ECE 245 Wellness (4) |
| Nitsáhákees / Child Development and Learning 24% | ||||||||
| Retell Dine teachings | I | R | R | R | R | A C. Research summary rubric |
R | R |
| Create research summaries | I | R | R | R | R | R | R | A F. Poster display project |
| Nahata’á / Communication and Language Development 19% | ||||||||
| Implement unit plans | R | I | R | R | A B. Lesson plan |
R | R | R |
| Use Navajo in preschool settings | I | R | R | R | R | R | A D. Portfolio |
R |
| Iiná / Literacy Development 19% | ||||||||
| Manage children | I | R | R | R | R | R | A E. Classroom observation |
R |
| Demonstrate competence and confidence | I | R | R | R | R | R | A F. AEPA subject knowledge |
A E. Working portfolios |
| Sih hasin / Learning in the Content Areas 19% | ||||||||
| Self-assess ECE teaching and learning practices | A AEPA subject knowledge |
R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
|
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| MUST pass all courses with “C” grade or higher | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DEAN'S OFFICE
Dean of Diné Studies and Education
Tsaile Campus
Phone: (928) 724-6701
Email: davnez@dinecollege.edu
Early Childhood Education (A.A.)
The Early Childhood Education program prepares teacher candidates for employment in early childhood contexts, and for successful participation in higher-level academic programs. General Education program requirements can be found on page 37. IMPORTANT: To fulfill the General Education Communications requirements, students are provided the following options:
- ENG 101, or NAV 212
- ENG 102, or NAV 291
| General Education Core |
| Communications | |
| ENG 101: Freshman English I | 6 |
| ENG 102: Freshman English II | 6 |
| Humanities and Fine Arts Students must choose two courses from: | |
| Art History (ARH) | 6 |
| English (ENG) 212, 213, 231, 233, 234, 241, 297 | 6 |
| Fine Arts (FA) | 6 |
| Humanities (HUM) | 6 |
| Theater (THR) 101, 102 | 6 |
| Mathematics Student must take appropriate course based on major. | |
| MTH 110: College Algebra | 3-4 |
| MTH 114: College Mathematics | 3-4 |
| MTH 106: Survey on College Mathematics | 3-4 |
| Social and Behavioral Science Students must choose one History (HST) 101, 102, 135, 136 course and one other course from: | |
| Anthropology (ANT) | 6 |
| Sociology (SOC) | 6 |
| Social Work (SWO) | 6 |
| Social Science (SSC) | 6 |
| Political Science (POS) | 6 |
| Economics (ECO) | 6 |
| Psychology (PSY) | 6 |
| Laboratory Science Students must choose one Life Science and one | |
| Physical Science course both with labs from: | 8 |
| Life Science: BIO | 8 |
| Physical Science: AGR, AST, CHM, ENV, GLG, PHY, PHS | 8 |
| Program Requirements |
| Physical Education and Health Education | |
| PEH 122 | 2-3 |
| PEH 113-148 | 2-3 |
| Health Education (HEE) | 2-3 |
| HEE 110, 111, 112 | 2-3 |
| Navajo Studies One Navajo Language Course Based on Placement Test (NAV 101, 102, 201, 202, or 211) | |
| NIS 111: Foundations of Navajo Culture and | 2-3 |
| NIS 221: Navajo History to Present 9-10 | 2-3 |
| Required Core Total Students transferring may need to take additional courses to meet core requirements. | 40-43 |
| Communications | |
| ECE 108 Field Experience: Birth to Preschool | 4 |
| ECE 110 Field Experience K – 3rd Grade | 4 |
| ECE 111 Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| ECE 116 Language, Literacy and Cognitive Development | 3 |
| ECE 220 Creative Arts for Young Children | 3 |
| ECE 225 Child Growth and Development | 3 |
| ECE 235 K’é, ’Adaa’ A’kohwiindzin, Social Development and Community | 3 |
| ECE 245 Wellness and Special Needs for Young Children | 4 |
| Program Credits | 27 |
| Degree Earned | Credits |
| General Education | 40-43 |
| Program Requirements(27 hours NM; 28 hours AZ) | 27 |
| Total Credits Earned: | 67-70 |
| Program Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) Code Code Title |
| 13.1015 Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs |
DEAN'S OFFICE
Dean
David P. Nez
(928) 724-6701
davnez@dinecollege.edu
Mail:
PO Box C03
Tsaile, AZ 86556