CDA 106 - Promoting Safe, Healthy Learning Environments

Description
This course is designed for students who are working in the early childhood field to complete the CDA formal training hours related to Competence Standard I: Safe, Healthy, and Learning Environments, and introduces Competence Standard VI: Professionalism, specifically, educating with intentionality and reflection and making ethical decisions. Students develop resource collection components for the professional portfolio, write the competency standards, and demonstrate knowledge related to the functional areas: health, safety, and learning environments and professionalism.

Credit Hours: 2
Contact Hours: 2
Prerequisites/Other Requirements: None
English Prerequisite(s): None
Math Prerequisite(s): None
Course Corequisite(s): None
Academic Program Prerequisite: None
Consent to Enroll in Course: No Department Consent Required
Dual Enrollment Allowed?: Yes
Number of Times Course can be taken for credit:
General Education Requirement:
None
Course Learning Outcomes:
1. Each student will document valid and current certificates of completion (or cards) from: a) any first aid course and b) an infant/child (pediatric) CPR course offered by a nationally-recognized training organization (such as American Red Cross or the American Heart Association). Online training is not acceptable.

2. Each student will write a one week feeding schedule or menu.

3. Each student will write a Reflective competency statement about CDA Competency Standard I: To establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment.

4. Each student will write a weekly plan that includes goals for children’s learning and development, brief descriptions of planned learning experiences, and also accommodations for children with special needs, indicating the age group(s) for which the plan is intended.

5. Each student will write a reflection on why he/she chose to become an early childhood professional.
Course Outline:
I. Safe

A. Maintaining a Safe Physical Setting

B. Teaching Children About Safety

C. Modeling Safe Practices

D. Implementing Emergency Plans

E. Involving Parents in Classroom Safely

II. Healthy

A. Promoting Wellness

B. Responding to Illness

C. Providing Nutritious Snacks and Meals

D. Learning Good Health Practices

E. Partnering with Families

F. Identifying/Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect

III. Learning Environment

A. Designing the Indoor Setting

B. Selecting Appropriate Materials

C. Defining Quality Curriculum for Young Children

D. Developing the Daily Schedule

E. Implementing the Daily Schedule

Approved for Online and Hybrid Delivery?:
Yes
Instructional Strategies:
Lecture: 25-35%

Facilitated Discussion: 20-30%

Workbook Reflection: 25-35%

Videos/Resource Materials: 10-20%
Mandatory Course Components:
Quizzes

Essentials for Working with Young Children textbook by the Council for Professional Recognition

Essentials Workbook by the Council for Professional Recognition

The Child Development Associate National Credentialing Program and CDA Competency Standards (Infant/Toddler, Preschool, Home Visitor and Family Child Care) by the Council for Professional Recognition.
Name of Industry Recognize Credentials: CDA credential

Course-Specific Placement Test:
Course Aligned with ARW/IRW Pairing: NA

Mandatory Department Assessment Measures:
Resource Collection components related to competency statement Standard 1 and Standard 6a and grading rubric

Course Type:
Program Requirement- Offering designed to meet the learning needs of students in a specific GRCC program.
Course Format:
Lecture - 1:1
Total Lecture Hours Per Week: 2
People Soft Course ID Number: 104730
Maximum Course Enrollment:
General Room Request: None

School: School of Liberal Arts
Department: Education
Discipline: ED
Faculty Credential Requirements:
Master’s Degree (GRCC general requirement), Professionally qualified through work experience in field (Perkins Act or Other) (list below), 18 graduate credit hours in discipline being taught (HLC Requirement)
Faculty Credential Requirement Details:
Early Childhood Education or equivalent

Major Course Revisions: Prefix
Last Revision Date Effective: 20220217T16:05:14
Course Review & Revision Year: 2026-2027