Laura Hutton EDUC216

Welcome to Child Health, Safety, and Nutrition!

Description

This course examines the health, safety, and nutritional needs of children in the childcare setting.  It provides students with information concerning health and nutrition policies, the creation of safe learning environments, the development of lesson plans, and current issues in health, safety, and nutrition

Text

Roberston, C. (2002). Safety, Nutrition, and Health in Child Care. Albany, NY: Delmar/Thomson Learning.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course of study:

1. recognize potential child health problems and discuss their impact on overall health (HCC academic outcomes: communication, interpersonal skills)
2. identify the symptoms and means of transmission of communicable diseases affecting children  (HCC academic outcome: communication)
3. provide a safe, healthful environment for the childcare setting through application of good safety and hygiene practices (HCC academic outcome: critical thinking)
4. identify common childhood accidents and injuries and determine first aid procedures needed (HCC academic outcomes: communication, critical thinking)
5. identify the signs and symptoms of child abuse and prepare appropriate reports (HCC academic outcomes: personal and self-management skills, communication)
6. describe the nutritional needs of the preschool child and plan snacks and meals to meet those needs (HCC academic outcomes: communication, critical thinking)
7. inspect classroom health records including health appraisal, immunization record and emergency card, for compliance with regulations (HCC academic outcome: information literacy)
8. maintain accident reports and medication records (HCC academic outcome: personal and self-management skills)
9. apply knowledge of community resources to address the specific health needs and problems of children (HCC academic outcome: culture and society)
10. create lessons that promote health, safety, and/or nutrition (HCC academic outcome: personal and self-management skills)

Grading

A total of 300 points may be accrued throughout the course. They are as follows:

Grading Scale:

• 270 to 300 points = A
• 240 to 269.5 points = B
• 210 to 239.5 points = C
• 180 to 209.5 points = D
• <180 = F

Course Policies

1. LATE ASSIGNMENTS- Assignments are expected to be turned in on or before the stated due date.  Late assignments will be subject to a cumulative deduction of 10% of the points possible for that assignment for each calendar day late (e.g., if an assignment due 3/4 is turned in 3/6 it will be subject to a deduction of 20%) up to a maximum deduction of 50%.

2.  ACADEMIC DISHONESTY - Students who commit acts of academic dishonesty (e.g., cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, and plagiarism) will be subject to formal disciplinary action and will receive a grade of 0 points on the test, drill, or assignment involved.  This includes incidents that occur in the Test and AssessmentCenter.  In addition, students will be referred to the Associate Vice President for Student Development for a Student Code violation.

3.  WRITTEN WORK- All submitted written work must be word-processed.  The instructor reserves the right to refuse a paper that does not reflect correct format and/or contains sloppy grammar and mechanics.  Clarity and correct grammar are a must for all written assignments.  If multiple grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors (including awkward construction) exist within any written assignment, the overall grade will be reduced by 10% of the points possible for that assignment.

4.  EXTRA CREDIT AND RESUBMISSIONS - Bonus points will be given for professional development activities such as attendance at Future Educators of America meetings.  Bonus points will not be given for attending activities required for employment or for which a student it paid.  No other extra credit will be given.  However, if a student is dissatisfied with an assignment grade, the student may revise and resubmit the assignment.  Revised assignments should be submitted along with the original assignment.  In addition to deductions for any errors the student did not fix, 10% of the points possible for that assignment will be deducted from the assignment grade for the revision.  Class participation and tests may not be revised and resubmitted.

5.  STATEMENT ON LEARNING DISABILITIES - HarfordCommunity College is committed to serving students who have documented physical, psychological, or other disabilities.  Students who have a disability are responsible for contacting Learning Support Services at 443-412-2402 to discuss their needs for accommodations.  All information shared with Learning Support Services will be held in confidence.

Assignments

Article Reviews (35 points)

The student will select a topic related to education.  The student will then find three articles from professional journals or reputable websites (minus 2 points for each article not from a reputable, professional source) related to that topic (minus 4 points if all three articles are not on the same topic).  In order to be considered from a profession source, the article must include a list of references or works cited.  The student will submit the articles and their sources (minus 2 points for each article missing) along with a single, short write-up summarizing all three articles.  The write-up should contain the following: a short (i.e., one paragraph) abstract for each article summarizing its major points (7 points per article), a paragraph describing what the student learned about the topic (7 points), and the student’s personal reaction/opinion regarding the topic (7 points).  THE STUDENT WILL COMPLETE ONE WRITE-UP, APPROXIMATELY FIVE PARAGRAPHS IN LENGTH,  SUMMARIZING WHAT WAS LEARNED ABOUT THE TOPIC FROM ALL THREE ARTICLES.

ARTICLE REVIEWS SHOULD:

• be succinct
• focus on a single topic related to education
• clearly summarize each article
• include specific facts the student learned about the topic
• include a personal reaction or opinion (e.g., “I think . . .”)

Playground Evaluation (30 points)

The student will complete a playground safety checklist, provided in class, on a home, community or school playground of the student’s choosing.  The student will submit the checklist along with a short write-up including: a brief description of the playground, the student’s overall evaluation of the playground, suggestions for improvements, and the student’s personal reaction to this experience (e.g., Was the student surprised by the results?  Does the student feel that the checklist is feasible for the average home daycare provider?  Does the student believe that the checklist adequately covers playground safety issues?).

THE EVALUATION SHOULD:

• include the completed checklist (5 points)
• include a write-up of approximately four paragraphs containing:
  • a description of the playground (5 points)
  • the student’s overall evaluation of the playground (8 points)
  • suggestions for improvements (7 points)
  • the student’s personal reaction to this experience (5 points)

Meal Plan (30 points)

The student will create a week’s meal plan for a day care setting for children over age two including breakfast, lunch, and snack.  The meal plan should be presented in a table with the foods simply written in the block for each meal as follows:

THE MEAL PLAN SHOULD:

• Include appropriate proportions of foods from each food group (8 points)
• Contain foods appealing to young children (5 points)
• Limit ingestion of refined sugars, fats (particularly saturated fats), and highly processed foods (8 points)
• Contain foods which reflect a respect for cultural diversity (5 points)
• Contain meals with relatively short, simple preparation or which can be prepared in advance or which can be prepared with the students as a group activity (i.e., a soufflé is not appropriate) (4 points)

Group Work (90 points)

Six small group activities will be assigned, each worth 15 points.  Students will complete this work in small groups assigned by the instructor at the beginning of the semester.  Groups will be assigned based on students’ schedules.  Activities will require students to review a variety of websites and compile information related to child health, safety, and nutrition.  Groups are expected to get together, in the assigned course chat room, at the beginning of the assignment to divide the websites.  Individual members should then review their assigned websites and identify pertinent information.  Groups are then expected to get together a second time, in the assigned course chat room, to compile information.  Additional small group chat rooms may be scheduled by groups as needed to accurately complete the assignment.  Each student should then submit a worksheet containing all the information required by the assignment.  Assignments will be graded based on the accuracy of information and on individual participation within group chat rooms.  Specific grading criteria will be included with each assignment.

Chat Rooms (12 points)

Students are expected to participate in three chat rooms worth four points each: one on health, one on safety, and one on nutrition.  These are in addition to chat rooms needed for completion of group work.  Two different times are scheduled for each chat room to accommodate a variety of student schedules.  Students must participate in ONE chat room on each topic.  Full credit will be assigned if students log onto the chat room within five minutes of posted start time and remain logged on until the chat room is ended by the instructor.  In addition, students must participate in the chat room by answering questions, asking questions, or making appropriate comments to earn full credit.  The length of each chat room will be determined by the ability of students to answer instructor questions and the number of student questions posed, but it is anticipated that chat rooms will last 30-45 minutes.

Exams

This course includes three brief tests worth 15 points each and a final exam worth 30 points.  A week before each test and exam is assigned, a review sheet will be posted on the content page.  Please use it to study.  Your tests and exams will be online but you will need to go to the test center to take them.  They are untimed but you will want to allow at least an hour for each test and an hour and a half for the final exam.  You will access the tests and exam by entering WebCt and clicking on the tests icon.  A test center employee will then enter an access code to allow you to take the exam.  For test center hours, call 443-412-2352.

Class Participation

Class participation points will be assigned for introductions, for completing activities within lessons, and chapter check-ups. Chapter check-ups must be repeated until 100% accuracy is earned to receive credit. Each content module is worth two class participation points.  All class participation work must be completed by the stated due date or credit will not be given.