As a teacher, you could influence young lives. You could also support the work of a classroom teacher as a counselor, librarian, or principal. You could coach sports activities or lead community classes. The Early Childhood Education pathway provides students with hands-on experience working with preschool students in the on-site laboratory (Kiddie Learners Preschool). Students will gain their CPR/First Aid Certifications, Fire Safety Certifications, and can attain their CDA (Child Development Associate). Also, some colleges and universities articulate the ECE courses for college credit. All students will take a nationally recognized assessment displaying his/her knowledge of Early Childhood Education basic care.
Courses required for pathway completion: ECE I; ECE II; ECE III; ECE Practicum

Our program seeks high school students who have the desire to pursue a career in education or a field involving children. Each day the high school students write lesson plans, prepare nutritious snacks, and run the Monroe Kiddie Canes Preschool Program. To be accepted into the Introduction to Early Childhood Education, a student needs to complete an application and two teacher recommendations.

Purpose and Goals
To provide a laboratory for high school students who have a genuine interest in children and are dedicated to helping educate preschoolers with the best resources available.
To provide an environment that will enrich the growth and development of the preschool children involved. This includes the child’s physical-motor, intellectual-cognitive, and personal-social-emotional development.

Philosophy of the Monroe High School ECE Program
We believe that children learn by doing. Through active interaction with their environment, children make observations and learn concepts, continually adding pieces ofinformation to what they already know. Using developmentally appropriate practices as established by the National Association forthe Education of Young Children (NAEYC), we provide a positive, nurturing environment which encourages children to become enthusiastic, lifelong learners. Recognizing that children develop socially, intellectually, emotionally, physically, and morally in predictable stages, we seek to meet the child on his or her level and move forward. Discovery, exploration, and repetition are some of the teaching methods utilized to promote successful learning. We create a comfortable place for preschoolers to build social skills and kindergarten readiness skills in a school setting.

The Early Childhood Education I course is the foundational course under the Early Childhood Care & Education pathway and prepares the student for employment in early childhood education and services. The course addresses the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors associated with supporting and promoting optimal growth and development of infants and children. The pre-requisite for this course is advisor approval.

Early Childhood Education II is the second course in the Early Childhood Care and Education pathway and further prepares the student for employment in early childhood care and education services. The course provides a history of education, licensing and accreditation requirements, and foundations of basic observation practices and applications. Early childhood care, education, and development issues are also addressed and include health, safety, and nutrition education; certification in CPR/First Aid/Fire Safety; information about child abuse and neglect; symptoms and prevention of major childhood illnesses and diseases; and prevention and control of communicable illnesses.

Mastery of standards through project-based learning, laboratory application, technical skills practice, and leadership development activities of the career and technical student organizations will provide students with a competitive edge for either entry into the education global marketplace and/or the post-secondary institution of their choice when continuing their education and training.

Early Childhood Education III is the third course in the Early Childhood Care and Education pathway and one option for program completers who may not have the opportunity of participating in the Early Childhood Education Internship. The course provides in-depth study of early brain development and its implications for early learning, appropriate technology integration, and developmentally appropriate parenting and child guidance trends. Also addressed are collaborative parent/teacher/child relationships and guidance, child directed play, the changing dynamics of family culture and diversity, the causes and effects of stress on young children, and infant nutrition.

Mastery of standards through project-based learning, laboratory application, technical skills practice, and leadership development activities of the career and technical student organizations will provide students with a competitive edge for either entry into the education global marketplace and/or the post-secondary institution of their choice when continuing their education and training.

The practicum offers a candidate in the Early Childhood Education career pathway a field experience under the direct supervision of a certified early childhood educator (mentor). This field experience may be used as partial requirements for the candidate to earn the nationally recognized CDA credential. The practicum stresses observing, analyzing, and classifying activities of the mentor and comparing personal traits with those of successful early childhood educators. The candidate intern will develop a portfolio of their skills, plan and teach a lesson or lessons, understand and practice confidentiality as it pertains to the teaching profession, meet the needs of students with special needs, maintain the safety of the students, practice professionalism, and demonstrate ethical behavior.

Mastery of standards through project based learning, technical skills practice, and leadership development activities of the career and technical student organization Future Educators of America (FEA) or Family, Career & Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) will provide students with a competitive edge for either entry into the education global marketplace and/or the post-secondary institution of their choice to continue their education and training.