Development of Creative Expression in Early Childhood
Credit Hours: 3
Spring Semester 2007
Website: www.utpb.edu/music/index.html
Prerequisites: fulfillment of the visual and performing arts core credit & PSYC 3341
Location of class: MB 4147
Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:40pm to 6:55pm
Instructor: Mrs. Michelle S. Keast
Instructor's office & phone: MB 4146
Phone: 362-2590 (Please do not call after 10:00 p.m.)
E-mail (most effective): keastms@ector-county.k12.tx.us
Office Hours: by appointment.
Course Description: Focuses on understanding creativity and the development of skills to assist and encourage young children to express their creative natures. Characteristics and processes of creativity as expressed by children from age two to eight are reviewed. Planning and production of materials that enhance creativity in self-expressive thought and play are emphasized.
Text and Required Materials:
Isenberg, J. P. & Jalongo, M. R. (2006). Creative thinking and Arts-Based Learning (4th ed.). Upper Saddle Creek, NJ: Merrill Prentice-Hall. ISBN: 0131188313
Goals: The student will develop knowledge of appropriate activities to enhance and support creative expression in young children with emphasis upon the importance of the arts (music, visual art, drama, and dance) in play as a support for cognitive, physical, emotional, and social development. The student will: recognize the value of creative activity in music, art, dance, games, motor activities, construction activities, and drama for young children’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development; gain an understanding of the role of play and creative experiences in planning activities for young children;
Acquire skill in planning and executing activities which support play and creative experiences for young children;
Assess children's level of development in a variety of ways through specific observations of children's play and creative experiences;
Develop skill in creating media used in group settings to support play for young children; gain an understanding of the role of the adult in supporting young children's play and creative experiences within group settings; establish and maintain physically and psychologically safe and healthy learning environments for children; be able to provide a rationale for integration of play and creative media into early childhood programs; and develop skill in interpreting to parents and others the individual child's social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development using self-selected play activities and creative media as basal information.
Evaluation of Learning:
Formative Assessments: CB Attendance
10% Participation in class activities
10% Timely completion of readings
Summative Assessments:
Visual Arts: 10% Art critique
10% Art Project
Music & Dance: 5% Music/movement lesson
5% Homemade musical instrument
5% School concert attendance worksheet
Drama: 5% Story or poem activity
Other: 5% Group evaluations
5% Classroom Design
30% Final Exam
Attendance 0% (CB*)
Assignments 70%
Exams 30%
Specific details of all assignments referenced above are posted on WebCT and print copies may be obtained through that service. Any assignment posted on WebCT falls fully under the auspices of this syllabus.
Format for Papers:
14 point Times New Roman font
Double-spaced
1 inch margins (top, bottom, and sides)
APA or MLA Styles are acceptable
Please proofread your papers
Book and CD titles should be underlined or italicized
Chapters from books or newspaper articles and song titles should be in quotes
University Writing Center (552-2302, Mesa Building 201): FREE service for brainstorming, organizing your paper, proofreading, citing resources, and APA or MLA style guidelines.
All student work is graded on individual merit and completion of assignment's objective as per the standards set forth in the grading rubric distributed prior to the assignment's due date. Graded work will be returned to students as quickly as possible with feedback to support the grade earned.
Policy on Late Work:
All work is due the date set below or as announced. Late work is deducted 5% per day the assignment is late. "Late" is defined as beginning an hour after class is dismissed the day the assignment was due. If an absence is eminent, please notify the instructor in advance with a brief email stating the date and reason for the absence. Any work or exam scheduled for that day should be completed before the absence.
Calendar:
January 16 and 18: Syllabus, begin chapter 1 & article on creativity by Caroline Sharp
January 23: NO CLASS
January 26: Finish chapter 1 and begin chapter 2
January 30 and Feb. 1: Finish chapter 2
* February 1: Last day to drop the course without academic record
February 6 and 8: Visual Arts: chapter 3
February 13: Finish chapter 3 (DUE: art project)
* February 16: No Class TMEA Convention
February 20 and 22: Music & Dance: chapter 4 (DUE: art critique)
February 27 and Mar. 1: Finish chapter 4 (DUE: homemade instruments) (DUE: music/movement lesson plan)
March 6 and 8: Drama: chapter 5
March 14 and 17: Spring Break
March 20 and 22: Student presentations of puppet shows
* March 22: Last day to drop the course or withdraw from UTPB
March 27 and 29: Chapter 6
April 3 and 5: Chapter 7
April 10 and 12: Chapter 8
April 17 and 19: Chapter 9
April 24: Chapter 10
April 26: Course wrap-up & evaluations (DUE: school concert worksheet)
FINAL EXAM (cumulative): Tuesday, May 1 at 5:30 pm-7:30 pm in the Mesa Building 4147
Grading:
99-100% A+ 77-79% C+
92- 98% A 72-76% C
90- 91% A- 70-71% C-
87- 89% B+ 60-69% D
82- 86% B below 60% F
80- 81% B- Incompletes are highly discouraged and rare.
Class Attendance: You are allowed three sick days during the semester. For each sick day taken in excess of three, your pay (grade) will be lowered by one grade increment (i.e.: A to A-). Documentation may be required for absences. Any sick day left at the end of the semester may be turned in and applied for 5% added to any assignment grade. Class will begin and end on time. As are all good students, you should plan to arrive to class early.
Civility Statement: Because this class needs to be a participatory community, if students are to fulfill their potential for learning, people who disrupt the community by their words or actions (rude, sarcastic, obscene, disrespectful speech, or disruptive behavior) will be removed from the class. In order to achieve our educational goals and to encourage the expression, understanding, and creation of a variety of ideas and opinions, respect must be shown to everyone. In order to protect the listening environment, please do not use cellular phones in the classroom. Simply turn them off to eliminate the distraction.
Food and Beverage Policy: Please feel free to bring beverages to class. Any sealable container is welcome to contain soda, water, juice, etc. Unacceptable containers include soda cans, cups, and McDonalds drink cups. The suggested container is a contour Coke bottle with screw top caps. I do ask that food be kept to a minimum. I suggest chips, crackers, trail mix, and smaller snacks that are less prone to mess. This is a beautiful facility, our goal is to keep it that way.
Web Enhanced Expectations: this course is registered with WebCT. Assignments, discussion questions, and other intercommunication from the instructor will be regularly posted on the site. Students are expected to locate a computer at home or on campus that provides reliable access to WebCT and check for announcements regularly.
Students should demonstrate professionalism when using WebCT and all e-mail. The following are considered as violations of that professionalism:
-intentionally damaging or destroying electronic information or resources
-intentionally invading the privacy of or disrespecting individuals or groups
-plagiarizing or violating copyright restrictions
-harassing others
All course documents, such as assignments, supplementary readings, syllabus, course calendar, due dates, student grades, and external links needed may be found within WebCT. The address for WebCT is: http://www.utpb.edu/reach/index.htm. Some of the supplementary readings are found within WebCT.
Academic dishonesty is fundamental to the activities and principles of a university. The academic community regards academic dishonesty as an extremely serious matter, with serious consequences. Any effort to gain an advantage not given to all students is dishonest whether or not the effort is successful. Any suspicion of academic dishonesty will be reported and investigated. A student who engages in scholastic dishonesty that includes, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, and collusion will receive an “F” for the course. All persons involved in academic dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with University regulations and procedures. For complete information on UTPB student conduct and discipline procedures consult the university’s handbook at: http://www.utpb.edu/utpb_student/students/studentguide/sg3_index_frame.htm#StudentWelfareandDiscipline. When in doubt about plagiarism, paraphrasing, quoting, collaboration, or Internet applications, consult Dr. Keast. Assignments generated by downloading or printing from the Internet are considered under the auspices of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this course.
Americans with Disabilities Act: Students with disabilities that are admitted to The University of Texas of the Permian Basin may request reasonable accommodations and classroom modifications as addressed under Section 504/ADA regulations. Students needing assistance because of a disability must contact Dr. Efren D. Castro, Director, Programs Assisting Student Study (PASS) Office, 552-2630, no later than 30 days prior to the start of the semester.
The definition of a disability for purposes of ADA is that she or he (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantively limits a major life activity, (2) has a record of such an impairment or, (3) is regarded as having such an impairment.
Students who have provided all documentation and are eligible for services will be advised of their rights regarding academic accommodations and responsibilities. The University is not obligated to pay for diagnosis or evaluations nor is it obligated to pay for personal services or auxiliary aids.
If you need accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with the instructor, or if you need special arrangements in the case the building must be evacuated, please inform the instructor immediately. It is best to contact the instructor after class or during his/her office hours.
Let this syllabus serve as an outline to the objectives and materials that we will cover.
This syllabus is subject to revision at the discretion of the instructor.
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