密歇根大学蒂尔博分校

Reimagine childhood as a time of incredible competence and creativity.

Early childhood elementary teachers are a unique group of educators who guide young learners during some of their most formative years. This major will prepare you to be a classroom teacher for children ages 0-8, with a unique academic program that emphasizes social constructivism and Reggio Emilia philosophies.

The Early Childhood Endorsement will enable you to teach in either a general early childhood education or special education classroom. Plus, graduates earn both a bachelor’s degree and faculty recommendation for the Michigan Elementary Standard Certificate.

What will I Learn?

Candidates for certification will be capable in their content specialty areas

Candidates for certification will be capable users of pedagogical knowledge

Candidates for certification will be reflective about their practice

Philosophy of UM-Dearborn Early Childhood Programs

The Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs are guided by the philosophy, objectives and standards promulgated by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) as well as those positions taken by the National Association of Early Childhood Educators (NAECTE) and the Standards of Quality for PreKindergarten through Second Grades and other State Department of Education guidelines. The program aims to not only meet these guidelines but often to exceed them.

The basic approach of the curriculum design for the ECE program is based on the view, consistent with NAEYC and the State Department of Education, that programs for young children must be developmentally appropriate taking into account the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of children while respecting the needs of families with diverse sociocultural backgrounds.

The ECE program is designed to provide graduates with a strong background in child development, family and societal studies, and the pedagogical knowledge and skills, which will enable them to plan and implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum, that is consistent with the most current thinking in early childhood education.

An essential component of the ECE program is field experience at the UM-Dearborn Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC), the NAEYC accredited on campus education and childcare center for children ages one year through kindergarten. The UM-Dearborn teacher education program and the ECEC share the same philosophy and goals, that is, the preparation of high quality teachers and high quality educational experiences for young children.

Both programs share a constructivist education philosophy based on the legacy of Piaget, Dewey and Vygotsky. This constructivist philosophy of the ECE program is consistent with CEHHS' “Teaching for Understanding” model. In addition, the ECEC and the teacher preparation program are nationally recognized for implementing the principles of the Reggio Emilia program, an innovative approach to the education of young children.