Child Development 207 Syllabus

Course Description:  This course will provide teachers, intervention assistants, administrators, and parents the tools necessary to support and empower families of children with disabilities and other special needs in early childhood and school age programs.  Techniques, strategies, and resources will be provided to support children in a natural and/or inclusive educational setting and to help guide parents to be advocates of their children.  

Textbook Information:  Sileo, N. M, & Prater, M. A. (2012). Working with families of children with special needs:  Family and professional partnerships and roles. Pearson. ISBN-978-0137147403

Course Syllabus:  Kimmel CDEV 207 66840 Spring 2019 Syllabus-1.pdf

Additional Course Information (Technical Requirements): 

1. Have frequent and dependable internet access with a high speed modem.
2. Utilize a computer that has anti-virus software installed.
3. Utilize Microsoft Office 2010 or newer (word, powerpoint, excel, publisher).
4. Type and electronically submit all assignments through Canvas.

Course Objectives:  Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to communicate with current and operational terminology between families, programs, and settings.
2. Discuss and utilize structured communication techniques.
3. Define and identify various roles within the family, interdisciplinary teams, administrators, and programs.
4. Be able to clearly empower, communicate, and support families.
5. Describe the steps for establishing and maintaining positive working relationships within various settings.
6.  Demonstrate effective communication, strategies, management, and documentation.
7. Increase awareness of challenges to parents, children, and professionals across various settings.
8. Demonstrate the ability to identify and operationalize student challenges using appropriate language and communication techniques.
9. Identify resources and steps to the referral process for IFSPs and IEPs.
10. Identify additional resources within the community for parents, students, and schools.
11. Describe the challenges families, schools, and students face regarding changes and eligibility.

Meet Your Instructor:  

Michelle Kimmel has sixteen years of experience in education.  Specifically, she has taught first grade primarily along with K-3 reading intervention, K-3 English Language Development, fourth and fifth grade, and served as an elementary assistant principal.  Dr. Kimmel also worked as an adjunct teaching elementary education and/or early childhood courses at UCSD, USC, CSULB, and SAC.  Most recently, she taught a first grade Sheltered English Immersion class in Irvine Unified School District. At SAC, she instructs both on campus and online CDES courses as well as facilitating SAC’s Online Training Certification program through Distance Education.  Her educational interests and research focus on the impact of Response to Intervention (RTI), school readiness, and Thinking Maps.  Dr. Kimmel’s educational degrees include a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, a Master of Arts in Education specializing in curriculum and instruction, a Master of Arts in Education specializing in early childhood education, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from USC.  In her spare time, she likes to spend time with her nephew and niece, read for pleasure, and walk her dog.

Welcome and Course Tour Video: