Child Development
Department of Early Childhood Studies
3214 Austin Street, Houston, TX 77004
713-718-6303 phone 713-718-6235 fax
CDEC 1319 – Positive Child Guidance
Required Component – This assignment is required for completion of this course. If this assignment is not completed with 70% of possible points, you will not
receive a passing grade in this class.
NAEYC Accredited Center – All practicum assignments must be completed at a NAEYC accredited childcare center. To find an accredited center, go to the
NAEYC website, www.naeyc.org Click on Accredited Program Search and a new window will appear. Type the zip code of the area in which you would like to find
an accredited childcare center. Call any childcare center from the approved list of NAEYC accredited centers. Identify yourself as a HCC student and ask
permission to observe their child care center in order to complete the laboratory assignment.
Visit – You will be expected to visit for at least three (3) hours. This may be completed in one three hour period or several shorter times. Complete the lab
assignment required for your class by completing the checklist, answering the questions and/or writing anecdotes. Complete the form documenting your hours.
Have someone from the childcare center sign as documentation of your 3 hour visit.
Student's Name
Phone
Accredited Center Name
Address
City
Date
TX Zip Code
Time In
Date
Time Out
Contact person’s signature
Phone
Total hours
Paper – Complete the assignment per directions written on the assignment sheet and those provided by your instructor. After completion of the lab assignment,
write a minimum one-page summary. The summary must include:
(1) Reactions of your visit,
CDEC 1319 practicum I – page 2
(2) Comparison of information obtained from your textbook, other readings and in class discussions to the lab assignment. (How are they alike? How are
they different?)
Return the completed assignment and summary to your instructor. Send a thank you note to the contact person of the center that you visited thanking them for
allowing you to complete the lab assignment at their center.
The Child Development student should enter the classroom and quietly choose a seat to observe the classroom activity and answer the following questions. You
may want to take notes on separate paper and later write the answers to each question.
1. Observe the classroom arrangement. How does the arrangement of the classroom act as an indirect guidance technique?
2. Locate the schedule for the classroom. How does the organization of the child's day act as an indirect guidance technique?
3. Observe the materials and equipment in the classroom. How does the type and amount of material affect guidance?
4. Watch the teacher and give an example of how she models positive behavior for a child or children. Give an example.
5. Observe the children's activity. When a child exhibits an inappropriate behavior the teacher will redirect them to a more acceptable activity. Give an example to
a situation you observed where redirection was used.
6. Setting clear limits for the children is important. How did the teacher set clear limits? Were consistent, clear rules explained?
CDEC 1319 practicum I – page 3
7. Cite and example of how one of our rules (Be kind, Be safe, Be neat) was used in guiding a child.
8. The best form of positive guidance is prevention. What did the teacher do to plan ahead in order to prevent problems?
9. Give an example of how positive reinforcement and encouragement were used to help children behave constructively.
10. The teachers are constantly encouraging pro-social behavior in children. Give an example of how children were encouraged to cooperate, help or take turns.
11. As the children's language development progresses, the child is encouraged to use words to solve problems. Give an example of how a child was encouraged
to talk about his or her feelings or to solve a problem with another child.
12. What methods were used by the teacher to help children deal with anger, sadness, and frustration?
13. Children need the freedom to make choices. Give an example of how the teacher offered a choice to an individual child or the class.
14. What causes the learning environment to be nurturing, relaxed and playful?
CDEC 1319 practicum I – page 4
15. Consistency and persistence are the keys to positive guidance. Give an example of how the teacher was consistent and persistent with a child.
16. Give an example of inappropriate behavior exhibited by a child. How did the teacher handle this behavior?
17. Listening to children is very important. What did the teacher do to practice attentive listening with the children?
18. Independence in children is always encouraged. Give an example of the teacher allowing the children to resolve their problems independently?
19. How does the teacher convey to the child that they are valued and loved regardless of their behavior?
20. Look at the children's faces, what exactly do you see? Are they happy and relaxed, involved in play? Do you feel positive guidance techniques by the teacher
play a part in this feeling? Explain.
Revised 8/10