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HDF 303 Human Growth and Development: Early Childhood

College of Education and Human Services
Central Michigan University

Instructor: Shannon Sexton

Office: EHS 438
Office Phone: 774-2370
Email: gouge1sl@cmich.edu
Office Hours: Monday11:00-2:00
Blackboard: http://blackboard.cmich.edu
Course Description: This course provides principles for growth and development of preschool and early
elementary children (ages 3-8) from diverse backgrounds and observations of children in early education
settings.
Prerequisites: HDF 100 or EDU 280 or PSY 220, or permission of the instructor
Course Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Examine the cognitive, creative, emotional, linguistic, physical and social developmental
processes of young children (ages 3-8) from diverse cultural backgrounds and with differing
abilities
2. Describe the relationship between early childhood research and practice with young children
3. Explain the role of family, school, and community contexts and the ways that these contexts
promote/hinder the healthy growth and development of young children
4. Use observation techniques (e.g., time samples, event samples, running records, checklists &
anecdotal records) to objectively describe the behaviors of young children as they occur in the
educational context
5. Connect observations of young children to the developmental principles and concepts studied
6. Demonstrate different skills and techniques to assess the developmental levels of young children
from diverse backgrounds and with differing abilities
Text:

Early Childhood Development Special Edition for Central Michigan University (SE)

Grading:
Grades are objectively based on the total points you earn on the required papers, exams, in class
activities or any other assignment given in class. Grades throughout the semester are earned not
given. I look at attendance and participation in class when finalizing grades at the end of the
semester. Being an active member of class, coming to class, staying awake, staying off of your
cell phone, participating in class discussions and answering questions all are examples of being
an active member of the class.
Grading Scale:
94-100% A
90-93% A87-89% B+
84-86% B
80-83% B77-79% C+

74-76% C
70-73% C67-69% D+
64-66% D
60-63% DLess than 60% E

Course Requirements:

To be fair to students who have submitted assignments in on time, late assignments will
be accepted with a 10% per day deduction including weekends. Anticipate that illness,
emergencies, uncooperative computers and printers, and other unexpected events will happen, so
complete work ahead of the due date

No cell phones and or texting may be used in class; please turn phones off and store them
properly. If texting or cell phone use is used during an exam no credit will be given for
the exam.

Students are expected to attend all classes and are responsible for class work, lecture
notes and reading assignments whether they are present in class or not. Plan to attend
class on time. Late arrivals cause a disruption for fellow students. A student who is
arriving late or leaving early may be considered absent for the day.

Organized, accurate note-taking of lecture and readings is essential to learning and

comprehending the course material. Outlines of notes of each chapter will be available
online for you prior to the start of each class the chapter will be covered. I do not post or
give out full copies of notes. If you miss class and need the notes I would recommend
asking a classmate or to use the textbook to see if you can fill in the note outline that is
provided on Blackboard.

E-mail etiquette: All email correspondence with me must be from your c-mich account.
Please be sure to include your first and last name and what section and time your class is
held, with each email. (Example, HDF 303) I attempt to answer emails as quickly as I
can but you may not receive a response for up to 24 hours.

Assignments and papers will not be accepted via email. Assignments and papers will not
be accepted underneath my office door. I do not go to my office each day and your paper
could be there for days without my knowledge.

Problems with any of these issues will be noted by the instructor privately.
Repeat offenders will be required to meet with the instructor and will lose points

Course Evaluation:
Detailed information will be available in the Blackboard.
1. Small group or individual activities: Throughout the semester, you will be asked to participate
in small group or individual activities. These will be administered in class without prior notice.
Each of these accounts for 5 pts and cannot be made up under any circumstance.
2. Anecdotal Samples: Write 5 anecdotal records of the child you observed throughout the
semester. Choose one child and spend adequate time to observe incidents that provide
information about a childs development. These will be collected 5 times throughout the semester.
Each anecdotal record accounts for 10 pts (10 X 5 = 50 pts).

3. Running Record: After observing your selected child for 10 minutes write EVERYTHING the
child you observe does and how they do it. These are extremely detailed records; you will be
detailing the childs every move. See guidance on BB posted under assignments.

(50 points)
4. Room diagram: Label and draw the specific areas of one of the CDLL classrooms. Then

write a 3 page typed paper describing the classroom. Summarize the room arrangement
note specific play areas, learning centers. Provide an overall reaction to what you have
observed. See guidance on BB posted under assignments. (50 points)
5. Book Application Report: Students will select a book that details a life of growing up in a

very different culture than your own. Students will read the book and write a paper at
least a 2 full pages in length. Students will also be required to make a presentation in a
small group in class. See guidance on BB posted under assignments. (25 points)
6. Final Project: Students will score a childs Creative Curriculum Assessment and

complete a reflection paper including their interpretation of the childs current level of
functioning. See guidance on Bb posted under assignments. (75 points)
7. Tests:
1 There will be a two exams which will cover in class discussions and assigned readings
(50 points each = 100 points)
2

Final- which will cover in class discussions and assigned readings. (100 points)

Observations:
You are expected to attend an observation period once a week at the Child Development &
Learning Laboratory (CDLL). The observation sessions are an essential part of achieving the
course learning outcomes. Therefore, it is expected that you will be conscientious about
attending the observation sessions. Although there will be no points specifically to attending
observation sessions, you need to complete weekly observations for other course assignments
(e.g., small group or individual activities, anecdotal samples, observation samples, and a final
project). If you are not attending your observations, you will not be able to complete the
assignments that are required to be done. You will need to sign in and out when you are
completing your observations, the sign in and sign out log will be reviewed and used in assigning
a final grade. It is expected that you will complete 13 weeks of observations totaling 26 hours.
I will check these hours and if you are falling behind I will make contact with you around the
midterm point. It is your responsibility to record your own hours to keep track of your
observations, as well as the record the lab will have. If you do not sign in or out for any
observation period, you will not be assigned points for that observation. It is impossible for me
to know when you arrived and when you left if there is no record of it. If you are not at 26 hours
at the end of the semester you will be deducted points. I will not have a record of where you
stand with hours throughout the semester, please keep track of this yourself.
If you are sick and unable to make your observation time please do not call the lab, you will need to make
a plan to make these hours up. Also, do not ask anyone at the lab what your hours are. They are very
busy and do not have time to do this for the large number of students that observe there.
There will be a deduction for anecdotal assignments submitted late. Notice they are due on Fridays by
5:00 pm.

You cannot observe large amounts of hours in any one week. The best observations of children are done
over time. If you did 12 hours of observations one week and then didnt do observations for 5 weeks, you
are missing a large amount of time to see growth in your child. It is expected you will do two hours each
week. If you have to make up hours, I would like to see no more than four hours observed in one week.
The original two hours and two hours of makeup time.
Observation Booth Policies:
1.
2.
3.

4.
5.
6.

7.

8.
9.
10.
11.

Be professional and practice confidentiality at all times.

Be courteous to parents and make sure they have the needed space and opportunity to observe
their child when they are in the booth with you. Do not share information with them.
You may observe your child from chairs within the classroom. Please refrain from talking to
the children at length if you are in the classroom. If the children approach you to say hi it
is okay to respond back but you do not have the proper clearances on file to be able to engage
with the children in length.
Enjoy food and drink before you enter the booth.
It is essential to maintain quiet in the booth so that everyone can hear the child they are
observing.
The time within the booth is to be used for observing. Do not do homework for other classes,
or use the time to text or play games on your computer. Use the time to complete the
assignments required and then leave so there is space for other students who need to complete
their observations. If you are found doing homework and other things not related to our class
your hours may not count for that observation session.
You will choose one child to follow through the semester; however, your child may be absent
at times choose an alternate child for that time and be sure to make note on your
assignment that you observed your back up child and not your primary child. We have run
into cases where children move and you may have to switch from your primary child to your
back up child. If this happens please let me know.
You can use your childs full name on assignments you do not have to be confidential when
discussing the child with me.
If the class is outside on the playground, you may also go outside.
Please let staff in the lab know of any equipment problems or need you have.
You are responsible for signing in and out each observation time. If you do not do this
remember your time will not be counted.

Course and University Policies:

Confidentiality:
The CDLL and your instructor all stress the importance of confidentiality with all members who
have and know information about the children enrolled in the program. It is important that you
respect the families and the Preschool lab that is hosting your observation and do not break
confidentiality. Any student breaking confidentiality will be subject to strict penalties.

Policy on Academic Integrity: Central Michigan University has a clear definition and sanctions
for academic dishonesty. Following these guidelines, academic dishonesty of any kind will not be
tolerated in this course. Students caught cheating, plagiarizing, or participating in any form of
dishonest behaviors may receive an E on the assignment or test (and possibly an E in the course).
Copying and pasting from another sources for assignments or exams is considered plagiarism
unless the source is cited. Written or other assignments must be the product of students own
effort and may not be work submitted for another class. Visit the CMU website:
www.academicsenate.cmich.edu/noncurric.htm for more information about the policies.

Services to Students with Disabilities: CMU provides students with disabilities reasonable
accommodation to participate in educational programs, activities, or services. Students seeking
accommodations should be registered with the Office of Student Disability Services (120 Park
Library; 774-3018, 774-2568 (TDD). Students with documented disabilities should make an
appointment with the instructor as early as possible, no later than the first week of the term about
the accommodations, emergency medical information, or/and special arrangements in the event of
an evacuation. In order to arrange alternative testing, the student should make the request at least
one week in advance of the test.

Information Card

September 6th

Room Diagram

September 22nd

Anecdotal and checklist #1 Motor

September 30th (Friday by 5:00pm)

Exam 1
Anecdotal and checklist #2 Cognitive

October 6th
October 14th (Friday by 5:00pm)

Book Report

October 25th

Anecdotal and checklist #3 Language

October 28th (Friday by 5:00pm)

Running Record

November 15th by the start of class on BB

Exam 2

November 10th

Anecdotal and checklist #4 Social Emotional

Anecdotal and checklist #5 Pretend
Final Project

November 11th (Friday by 5:00pm)

December 2nd (Friday by 5:00pm)
December 8th (Due by class time)

Last day to do observations

December 9th

Observation Weeks:
September 5

th

September 12th
September 19th
September 26th
October 3rd
October 10th
October 17th
October 24th
October 31st
November 7th
November 14th
November 21st
November 28th
December 5th
December 12th

If you have a Monday observation, then you will

need to arrange a time to make this observation
up. The preschool is not open on the 5th, Labor
Day.
Gather information for the room diagram and
pick your child and back up child.
Anecdotal 1due this week
Anecdotal 2 due this week
Anecdotal 3 due this week
Anecdotal 4 due this week
NO OBSERVATIONS THIS WEEK
Anecdotal 5 due this week
This is the last week of observations.
NO OBSERVATIONS CAN BE DONE THIS
WEEK.