University of Findlay's Pre-Kindergarten Special Needs Endorsement is for individuals who are looking to become qualified to teach children with special needs from birth to six years of age. Offered through a blend of on-campus and online courses, our 18 credit hour program fulfills the necessary state requirements and can be completed as a part time or full time student.
State of Ohio requirements for the Pre-K Special Needs Endorsement
- Holder of a valid pre-kindergarten certificate, special certificate for education of the handicapped, an early childhood or an intervention specialist license
- Performance based assessment of the candidate
Findlay's Pre-K Special Needs Endorsement Consists of 6 courses:
All courses meet state and federal mandates.
Curriculum & Discovery Environment for Children (EDCI 540)
Children are instinctive explorers, always observing and asking 'why?'. How a teacher sets up their classroom environment has a huge impact the ability of their students to self-engage and learn from the world around them. This course will help you develop your personal philosophy of early childhood education and classroom practices while focusing on the philosophies of Montessori, Reggio Emilia and other sensory learning experiences.
Early Childhood Assessment & Observation (EDCI 542)
Assessment doesn't have to take place at the end of the day in an excel sheet. Throughout the day teachers have many opportunities to assess their student's academic, psychological and physical development. In this course you will discuss a variety of topics including the nature of development in young children and its relationship to measurement, the art and science of observation, when and how to select appropriate assessment methods and instruments and the role of tests and ongoing classroom assessment in curriculum planning.
Program Evaluation & Public Policy in Early Childhood (EDCI 573)
In the 2017-2018 school year alone, over 80 bills were enacted by the Ohio General Assembly and countless others were presented before the legislature. That's a lot to keep track of. This course is designed to update you on recent changes to public policy and teach you how to convey that information to others, find state resources available to support early childhood classrooms affected by legislative mandates and develop skills needed for program development and evaluation.
The Intervention Specialist's Role in Consultation and Collaboration (EDIS 525)
As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. As a special need educator, you will work together with general educations, administrators, community service personnel and physicians to coordinator care. In this course, you will learn models of consolations and collaboration and discover sources of information, services and networking.
Families of Children with Special Needs (EDIS 535)
When working with people with special needs, the relationship you have with their family is oftentimes just as important as your relationship with the student. In this course you will learn skills in family assessment, interviewing techniques, communication and proactive support strategies to ensure you are prepared to create the best team available.
Intervention Techniques: Young Children with Disabilities (EDIS 550)
The special needs population is comprised of many different exceptionalities and they cannot be approached the same way. Go in-depth on a variety of exceptionalities and learn about adaptations, modifications, assistive technologies and related services that can be utilized in your service.
Have questions about the program? Contact Dr. Melissa Recker, [email protected] or 419-434-4314.