Education and Training

909311—Child Development I (Relationships & Families)
Prerequisite: None
Grade Placement: 9, 10, 11, 12
Length of Course: 1 semester
Credit: 1/2

Child Development 1 is the beginning course in the Education and Teaching Pathway. This class focuses on building strong relationships and families. Students will study interpersonal, problem solving, conflict resolution, and communication skills. Students will apply these skills in order to become effective caregivers. It is important to know how to be an effective caregiver in all aspects of life whether it is at home, at your workplace, or in the community. Becoming a parent is a huge decision. We will examine the many responsibilities it takes to be a parent and how to effectively guide children.

909312—Child Development II (Prenatal-Early Childhood)
Prerequisite: Child Development I
Grade Placement: 9, 10, 11, 12
Length of Course: 1 semester
Credit: 1/2

Students have the opportunity to explore the facts, issues, and development involved in being a parent or child care provider. Students will gain a better understanding of children as individuals and their behavior as it relates to their environment. Topics include: child development theories, parenting roles, health concerns, safety, guidance, and areas of development (physical, social, emotional, and intellectual). This course is designed to increase understanding of the basic concepts of prenatal and early child development. This course is the foundation for planning appropriate activities for children and establishing appropriate expectations of young children.

909401—Child Development III (School Age through Lifespan)
Prerequisite: Child Development I and II
Grade Placement: 10, 11, 12
Length of Course: 1 semester
Credit: 1/2

Child Development 3 introduces students to the central issues in the basic areas in human development. The students will learn about development between biological, cognitive, social, and cultural aspects of development across the lifespan. Topics that will be covered include: characteristics of developmental stages, managing life's transitions, and explore careers. Child Development is studied in the context of family, school, community, and society. Multicultural and intercultural variations in development are examined.

996803—Senior Survival
Prerequisite: None
Grade Placement: 12
Length of Course: 1 semester
Credit: 1/2

This course prepares seniors for life after high school with hands-on experiences for surviving on their own. Students will develop the life skills to handle situations encountered when living away from home. Topics include quick and easy meal preparation, simple clothing care, nutrition and  wellness, surviving on a budget, independent living, and everyday home repairs. Students will create a personalized handbook to serve as a reference and resource for  future use.  

996842—Working in Education
Prerequisite: “C” or better in Child Development I and II or Teach and Lead program
Grade Placement: 10, 11, 12
Length of Course: 1 year
Credit: 1/2 per semester

Thinking about becoming a teacher, then this is the  course for you. Semester One: you will receive a general introduction  to the area of education and teaching. Course topics include: learning styles, teaching methodologies,  assessments, cultural responsiveness and focus on   data-driven decision making in the schooling system.  Students will prepare and present several lesson plans, along with designing their own school, bulletin boards, and design activities for different grade levels. Semester Two: Students will focus on skills and strategies for the early childhood - high school aged students while building an educational portfolio.  Students will experience and  evaluate the process of lesson plans and learn effective teaching techniques and strategies. Students will learn the requirements of becoming a licensed teacher, observe and work with students under the supervision of professionals through placement in the grade level of their choice  (prek- 12th), and implement lessons of their own design. Students may earn 15 hours of mentoring/tutoring for the  A+ program. 

909354—Mentoring in Education
Prerequisite: 2 credits in the Education and Teaching Pathway
Grade Placement: 12
Length of Course: 1 semester
Credit: 1/2

This senior capstone course provides an opportunity for students to work with certified teachers to gain real world experiences in early childhood educational settings in the Ritenour School District. Activities include planning lessons, teaching lessons, preparing bulletin boards, and other activities. Students can earn mentoring/tutoring hours for the A+ program and will prepare to earn an industry recognized credential.