Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory strongly supports family involvement in the development and education of early learners. His theory states that a child’s external environment has significant influence on the growth and development of young children.
Research Bronfenbrenner’s five environmental systems based on his ecological systems theory. Identify each system and familiarize yourself with the definition, examples, and the affect each system has on the growth and development of the learner. Consider your own environmental systems throughout your life.
For this assignment, choose two of the environmental systems: Microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, or chronosystem. Create two visual representations of each environmental system. Your visual representations can be hand drawn and then scanned, or created with technology such as Publisher.
For the first system, create a visual representation of your personal ecological system, which includes people, experiences, and influences in your life. For the second system, develop a visual representation of the ecological system of a child, from birth to age 8, that you know and with whose personal environmental influences you are familiar.
In addition, write a 500-750 word summary on the value of knowing more about your students’ external environment and the influence it might have on the learning and development of the children you teach.
Be sure your summary answers the following questions:
What are examples of family and social or community group interactions that influence early learners? Provide at least three examples.
Describe the languages and cultures of families within either your local community or the community in which you would like to teach. How might these affect learner development and classroom structure?
How can knowing family and background information of your students help you, as a teacher, design instruction and promote individual learning outcomes? What types of information would be helpful, and how would you obtain that information?
Support your visuals and summary with 3-5 scholarly resources.
While APA format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in-text citations and references should be presented using documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite
ECE 560 Topic 2 Assignment Clinical Field Experience A: Classroom Environment
Allocate at least 3 hours in the field to support this field experience.
Culture influences learning. How children are raised affects how they learn. Effective educators consider the various learning needs of the students, or their culture, when planning for instruction.
For this assignment, identify a birth to Pre-K child care center, and observe an infant/toddler classroom and a preschool classroom environment within the same center. During your observations, answer the questions on the “Clinical Field Experience A: Observation Log.”
Use any remaining field experience hours to Help the teacher in providing instruction and support to the class.
After observing the two classrooms, write a 250-500 word comparison of the learning environments. Address the following questions:
How will you develop clear lines of communication with families to ensure diverse learning needs are met?
What challenges might you face in communicating with families of different cultures?
How could you integrate diverse cultures into your future classroom in order to develop a positive learning environment?
APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.
Document the locations and hours you spend in the field on your Clinical Field Experience Verification Form.
Submit the Clinical Field Experience Verification Form to the LMS in the last topic. Directions for submitting can be found on the College of Education site in the Student Success Center.
ECE 560 Topic 2 Assignment 2 Community Advocate
As an early childhood educator, you will be an advocate for children’s needs. As such, you should gather various resources to Help families as they nurture their child’s cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and linguistic growth.
For this assignment, create a 15-20 slide digital presentation, including slides for the title page, presenter’s notes, and references, based on the following scenario:
The child care center where you teach has hired several new teachers. Your child care director has asked you to create a digital presentation for the new teachers to increase their awareness of various family structures they will see at the center, strategies to get families involved, and agencies at the community, state, and national level that can support families to engage in and enhance the development of their young children.
As you are developing your presentation, keep in mind that your audience has had little exposure to being a classroom teacher.
Include the following:
Explanation of three different family structures they may encounter in the child care center (single parent family, extended family, military family, blended family, etc.).
For each family structure, a description of two traumatic or stressful situations that may occur (there may be some overlap).
For each traumatic or stressful situation described above, provide 1-2 instructional strategies to Help these children in their growth and development.
At least 2-3 strategies to encourage family involvement.
Explanation of at least three local, state, or national resources available to support family structures, stress, trauma, and special family circumstances that affect learner development.
Support your presentation with 3-5 scholarly resources.
While APA format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in-text citations and references should be presented using documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.
ECE 560 Topic 3 Assignment Clinical Field Experience B: Family Structures and Involvement
Allocate at least 3 hours in the field to support this field experience.
Collaboration with families and colleagues is key when it comes to child development. It is commonplace for educators to seek feedback on ideas, strategies, and approaches to the children’s learning.
For this field experience, interview the director of the child care center about the family structures represented at the center. During your interview, present your Community Advocate assignment from Topic 2 to the center’s director. Obtain feedback on your assignment. Ask the director how the family structures at the center compare with those discussed in your Community Advocate assignment.
After your interview, spend any remaining field experience hours observing the center, particularly noting how families are involved.
Write a 250-500 word summary of your interview in which you compare the family structures at the center with those discussed in your Community Advocate assignment. Include any feedback or insights provided by the director in your interview. Explain how you could apply what you learned to identify the values and needs of diverse cultures and communities in order to incorporate students’ experiences, cultures, and communities into your future teaching practice.
APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.
Document the locations and hours you spend in the field on your Clinical Field Experience Verification Form.
Submit the Clinical Field Experience Verification Form to the LMS in the last topic. Directions for submitting can be found on the College of Education site in the Student Success Center.
ECE 560 Topic 4 Assignment Clinical Field Experience C: Community Demographic
Allocate at least 4 hours in the field to support this field experience.
Communication among all stakeholders is essential in the development of young children. When educators know and understand the stakeholders’ perspectives, they can best serve the students and their families.
For this assignment, you will be interviewing one teacher, one family member/guardian, and the director from your field experience child care center. Use the questions on the “Community Demographic Template” to conduct interviews that examine the roles of schools, families, and communities in the education of young children.
Use any remaining field experience hours observing the center and how families are involved.
After you have completed all three interviews, reflect, in 150-200 words, upon the contribution each person you interviewed makes to the education of young children. How will you incorporate this knowledge into your future teaching?
APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.
Document the locations and hours you spend in the field on your Clinical Field Experience Verification Form.
Submit the Clinical Field Experience Verification Form to the LMS in the last topic. Directions for submitting can be found on the College of Education site in the Student Success Center
ECE 560 Topic 4 Assignment 2 Sociocultural Learning Theory
Learning theories are the foundation for the design of instruction. These theories influence the how and why educators choose strategies for different situations.
For this assignment, research Vygotsky’s sociocultural learning theory. Imagine you are the director of a child care center. Create a digital brochure to use as a marketing tool with families to promote learner development. In the brochure, describe Vygotsky’s sociocultural learning theory, and explain how your child care center integrates this theory to meet the needs of young children.
In your brochure, discuss the following:
The roles of children, their families, and other community members according to Vygotsky’s sociocultural learning theory.
How the theory fits into the nature versus nurture debate to promote social, emotional, and learning outcomes for young children.
Technological resources families can use at home to support the Zone of Proximal Development.
Methods educators can use to collaborate with families to establish a positive and respectful learning environment for young children that reflect Vygotsky’s sociocultural learning theory.
Support your brochure’s content with 2-3 scholarly references.
While APA format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in-text citations and references should be presented using documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.
ECE 560 Topic 5 Assignment Benchmark – Volunteer Plan
Collaboration with families is an essential component of the learning process for students. It is vital that families engage in their child’s education so they can support continued learning at home. In an effort to increase family engagement, you will need to prepare thoughtful, intentional opportunities for families to be a part of their child’s learning.
As discussed throughout this course, encouraging family participation in the classroom can greatly enhance the early educational experience of young children in many ways, helping them feel safe and comfortable in the educational environment. This aligns with the Christian worldview because Christian values encourage individuals to use their God-given gifts and talents to fulfill the purposes. Establishing a comfort level at this early age increases the likelihood of an ongoing, positive educational experience throughout their lives.
For this assignment, assume you are the newly hired director of an early childhood center that is going to be opening soon. As the director, you have the responsibility of establishing a culture that supports the involvement of families and the community in the education of the young children who will be attending the center. To help establish this culture, you are going to create a Volunteer Handbook outlining the use of community and family volunteers at the center.
Based on the demographic material you researched in Topic 3, create a 750-1,000 word Volunteer Handbook to share with families in the community.
Include the following:
Title page with a statement of purpose.
Letter to families describing the positive effects that diverse volunteers in the classroom can have on student learning outcomes, based on supporting research.
A flexible weekly volunteer plan for your classroom environment with opportunities for families to contribute inside or outside of the classroom and school day (to accommodate family members who work during the school day).
Policies for volunteering in the classroom (i.e., fingerprint clearance requirements, siblings allowed with the volunteer, restrictions on types of interactions with children).
Explanation of how you will encourage multiple perspectives relevant to students’ personal, family, and community experiences.
Technological contact and communication information for families to provide input on other ways they could contribute to the learning environment and collaborate on student development and learning.
Support your handbook with 3-5 scholarly resources.
While APA format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in-text citations and references should be presented using documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.
Program competencies and national standards assessed in the benchmark assignment:
COE 1.4: Utilize multiple perspectives relevant to students’ personal, family, and community experiences and cultural diversity to promote student outcomes. [NAEYC 2a; InTASC 1(g), 2(d), 2(j), 2(k), 2(n), 4(m); MC3, MC5]
COE 1.5: Support and engage families and communities through respectful, reciprocal relationships. [NAEYC 2b; InTASC 3(q), 10(d), 10(e), 10(m); ISTE-T 1d; MC2]
COE 1.6: Plan for children’s development and learning as a collaborative activity with the input of students, colleagues, families, and the larger community. [NAEYC 2c; InTASC 1(c), 1(k), 3(c); ISTE-T 3b, 3c; MC2, MC4]
ECE 560 Topic 6 Assignment Clinical Field Experience Verification Form*
Candidates must complete all programmatic requirements, including practicum/field experiences hours defined in their coursework. Additional information about practicum/field experiences can be found on the Student Success Center.
To earn credit for this assignment, all required course hours must be completed and submitted by the assignment due date.
Access the Clinical Field Experience Verification Form in the My Documents section in the Student Portal.
Complete all required fields on the Clinical Field Experience Verification Form. An email will be sent to the classroom teacher/mentor to complete and verify the practicum/field experiences.
Submit by clicking “click to sign.” An email will be sent to the classroom teacher/mentor to complete and verify the practicum/field experiences.
Communicate with the classroom teacher/mentor to request he or she verify the practicum/field experience. Once verified by the classroom teacher/mentor, an email will be sent to the candidate’s primary email address on file with the final completed document.
Save a pdf copy of the completed Clinical Field Experience Verification Form to your computer.
Submit the Clinical Field Experience Verification Form to LoudCloud.
*The data entered into this document is subject to a verification audit. Candidates who engage in fabricating, falsifying, forging, altering, or inventing information related to practicum/field experiences, internships, clinical practice, and/or any associated documentation may be subject to sanctions for violating GCU academic integrity policies, which may include expulsion from GCU.
ECE 560 Topic 6 assignment 2 Fostering Resilient Young Learners
Teaching certificates must be renewed every few years, depending on your state. In order to renew a teaching certificate, each teacher must participate in a specific number of hours of professional development through classes, seminars, and the like. Educational conferences are a great place to achieve these hours while learning from professional colleagues.
Part 1: Presentation
For this assignment, you will create a 5-7 slide digital presentation in which you will propose a session for a national or state conference on early childhood education.
Create a presentation proposal that addresses the following:
The importance of resiliency in young children.
Strategies that promote resiliency and support healthy growth and development.
How educators can support families in promoting resiliency in young children as they grow and develop.
Title page, speaker’s notes, and reference slides
At least 2-3 scholarly citations that support your presentation.
Part 2: Conferences
Conferences are organized by a variety of agencies, including professional organizations and state departments of education. Identify two national or state conferences on early childhood education and review the emphasis of each conference.
Review the information for each and write 100-150 for each conference including the following:
Title, audience, dates, and location
Sponsoring organization
Theme or focus
Corporate sponsors
Registration requirements for attendees (including costs)
Information for speakers who want to submit proposals (including stipends)
How your presentation on resiliency in young children could fit into the theme
In addition, write a 100-150 word reflection discussing:
How submitting proposals and speaking at conferences will benefit you professionally.
Ethical considerations when submitting a proposal and developing a presentation.
How sharing your knowledge and engaging with other educators could be a collaborative technique.
While APA format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in-text citations and references should be presented using documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
The ecological systems theory of Urie Bronfenbrenner strongly encourages family engagement in the development and education of young children. According to his idea, a child’s external environment has a tremendous impact on their growth and development.
Based on his ecological systems theory, investigate Bronfenbrenner’s five environmental systems. Identify each system and become familiar with the description, examples, and impact each system has on the learner’s growth and development. Think about your own environmental systems all of your life.
Choose two environmental systems for this assignment: microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, or chronosystem. Each environmental system should have two visual representations. Your visual representations can be sketched by hand and then scanned, or they can be created using software like Publisher.
Create a system for the first system.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWri
