NSCC's Early Childhood Program offers students a unique practice teaching sequence through the Laboratory Preschool. The sequence consists of two courses. The first course is CCE 120 - Observation and Participation. It combines three activities: (1) one morning per week observing children in this room using an elaborate series of structured observations and data counts, (2) one morning per week participating as an assistant teacher implementing the activities that the advanced students have planned, and (3) one morning per week discussing the classroom and the data with other CCE 120 students in order to gain an in-ddepth understanding of values and ideals in teaching.

CCE 120 Laboratory Participation
6 credits

The systematic observation of young children and their teachers and participation as an assistant teacher in the laboratory preschool on campus. Seminars focus on the data gathered by the class and a discussion of what inferences can be drawn. Students must meet standards for performance, called Basic Teaching Skills, as a prerequisite to many of the courses in the program.

CCE 290 Laboratory Practice Teaching
12 credits

The intensive, capstone experience of collaboratively teaching and managing a half-day preschool program for 3 to 5 year-old children. Under faculty supervision and videotape analysis, teachers rotate roles to creatively meet the educational needs of the on-campus laboratory preschool children. Prerequisites: CCE 120 and CCE 121. Recommended: CCE 125, CCE 106, PSY 260, CCE 245, CCE 265, and CCE 234.

After CCE 120 initial experience with children here, and after additional courses, usually in Program Planning and Art for Young Children, students are eligible to enroll in the second practice teaching course CCE 121 Field Participation. There students work in select, quality, accredited early childhood schools, such as the NSCC Child Care Center, and learn to implement child-responsive learning activities in an employment environment. On Fridays, students meet together in seminar to discuss the problems of building a quality school for children, making change happen, being courageous, and clarifying one's own values. An important assignment in this class is a Child Observation where one child is assessed across all skill areas by observational study.

Finally, at the end of the program, students are eligble to enroll in CCE 290 Laboratory Teaching. Here is the team of 6 students who have completed nearly every class for the degree (it has taken one of them 6 years to get here). They cooperatively teach 20 children, ages 3 to 5, who are not in the picture. You also can't see the thousands of dollars of instructional materials and supplies that enable students to try almost anything they wish. Each group of students has 10 weeks to build the best school they know how.

These students are getting intimate test of themselves as risk takers, as continuing learners, and as members of a teaching team. The feedback they get comes from the children, principally, the other students, and also from Ms Daniel and her videotape recordings. Our remote video recording capability and wireless microphones that the students wear, enable her to make recordings of key experiences with the children. Instead of one's memory, which is usually foggy and emotionally skewed, the video allows students to re-live the event, see the children more clearly, and watch themselves act and react. They learn to see teaching with a clear eye. Although thankful when it is over, almost everyone agrees that this class is one of the most intense and significant learning experiences of their lives.

What Students Say about the ECE Program:

Ruth Tajon

The classes I took in Early Childhood Education at North Seattle Community College have helped me in at least three ways... They gave me the knowledge and confidence I needed to set up a small daycare center at one of our neighborhood churches. They enabled me to work more effectively with young children in a multi-ethnic Head Start program. They have given me a greater appreciation for the amazing capabilities and special gifts of young children.

Shawn Severin

I graduated from NSCC's Early Childhood Education program in 1990 and now, ten years later, I still regard it as one of the most positive and influential decisions of my life. I left the program with the confidence, skills and attitude needed to become a professional in a career increasingly recognized for its importance. I continue to teach as well as administer at a large private preschool and feel my success in this field is largely due to having recieved my education there. I continue to utilize the materials I developed in my classes, refer to my wealth of articles supplied by my instructors and put to use specific techniques and curriculum ideas I was exposed to at North Seattle. I continue to recommend NSCC's program to all who are considering a career with children.

Tiana Traylor

WHAT YOU'LL FIND AT NSCC
Tremendously talented teachers who are: Creative and caring and kind, who will: Know you by name and befriend you for life. Through their gentle guidance you'll go on a journey, A quest from which you'll begin, To grow as a person, a leader in life, And discover the teacher within. Not just a talented teacher you'll find, But a wizard with wands full of magic that can: Give voice to a child so painfully shy that he hides underneath the table. Find love in the heart of an angry child when no one else is able. Plant seeds in young minds that will blossom and grow with stories, art, dancing, and song. Share with parents a bit of the magic to help as they struggle along. The knowledge you gain in this powerful place, Will be yours when the journey is done. And you'll smile in thanks as you realize That your journey has only begun.

Elisa Jonsdottir, Iceland

It was a wonderful experience to be a part of the Early Childhood Education Program here at North Seattle Community College, even better when one comes as an international student. The teaching is excellent and the courses are all really exciting. The faculty and other students made me feel welcome and accepted, even though I was hesitant to use my English at first. This program has definitely changed my view of life and the world around me. When I returned to Iceland I shared much of what I learned with my colleagues who were very excited by what I was able to tell them. I remain thankful for the experience and the skills I have gained. I feel very lucky to have found such a good school.

Chiyo Miyazaki, Oita City, Japan

I am so glad that I chose to come to the Early Childhood Program as my major at North Seattle Community College. Before I came to the United States I had not had any experiences about the field of education in Japan. However, as soon as I started to learn I was attracted to the deep content. My classes encouraged me to be spontaneous as well as teaching me to be a good teacher. All of the classes I have taken at this college were very practical. They taught a lot of essential information that teachers should acquire. I deeply feel that we teachers need to grow up and learn many teaching methods before we actually teach children. I also enjoyed learning with all the friendly and thoughtful instructors and classmates. They have tremendously influenced my personal growth in America. I appreciate all of them. I finished my certificate degree here in one year. Now I am excited to apply what I have learned teaching children in Japan.

Padma Prasad, Fiji

This has been a very beneficial program for me. I really like the Early Childhood Education Program here because it teaches me how to work with young children in a child-centered environment. It is enjoyable, rewarding, and fun being an early childhood educator. I am very excited to teach the skills which I have learned in this program to the children in my home land.