The Teacher’s Aide & Early Childhood Development Program prepares learners with the academic, instructional, and developmental knowledge needed to effectively support children from birth through age eight in school settings. By combining professional paraprofessional preparation with a deep understanding of early childhood growth and development, the program equips learners to assist instruction, manage classroom dynamics, and respond to children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical needs. This comprehensive approach supports success in diverse, inclusive learning environments.
Module 1: Understanding Public Schools
Public education systems, diversity, curriculum purpose, paraprofessional roles, classroom management, inclusive practices, exceptionalities, and language diversity.
Module 2: Developing as a Paraprofessional
Education law and ethics, team communication, mentoring, stress‑reduction language, family communication, instructional strategies, learner differences, and professional growth.
Module 3: Basic Mathematics for Classroom Support
Foundational math skills including operations, number systems, fractions, decimals, equations, estimation, and factoring.
Module 4: Geometry and Pre‑Algebra Skills
Ratios, proportions, percents, algebraic and geometric concepts, graphing, functions, and applied problem solving.
Module 5: English Grammar
Parts of speech, sentence structure, verb forms and tenses, voice and mood, spelling, vocabulary, and diction.
Module 6: English Composition
Writing mechanics, punctuation, the writing process, thesis development, organization, editing, research, citation, and common errors.
Module 7: Introduction to Early Childhood Development (Birth–Age 8)
Overview of young children, developmental and learning theories, and methods for studying early development.
Module 8: Learning in Early Childhood
How children learn, learning through play, and the role of adults, families, and sociocultural contexts.
Module 9: Prenatal, Infancy, and Toddler Development
Prenatal development, heredity and environment, infancy development, and early cognitive and affective growth.
Module 10: Toddler Development Toward Independence
Autonomy, physical and motor development, and toddler cognitive and emotional growth.
Module 11: Physical and Motor Development (Ages 3–6)
Growth, health, safety, nutrition, and motor skill development.
Module 12: Cognitive Development (Ages 3–6)
Language development, intelligence and creativity, and adult support of cognitive growth.
Module 13: Affective and Social Development (Ages 3–6)
Emotional growth, social development, and the adult role in affective learning.
Module 14: Development from Ages 6–8
School readiness, continuity in education, affective and cognitive development, social interaction, moral development, and technology in schools.
Module 15: The Whole Child
Holistic child development and integrated approaches to supporting children’s learning and well‑being.
By completing this program, the learner will be able to:
Explain the structure and purpose of public schools and the role of teacher’s aides
Support classroom management, inclusivity, and student engagement
Apply effective communication, mentoring, and collaboration strategies in educational teams
Demonstrate foundational math and English skills to assist classroom instruction
Analyze developmental milestones in early childhood across physical, cognitive, and affective domains
Apply child development theories to support age‑appropriate learning and behavior
Promote whole‑child development while upholding ethical and professional standards
Upon successful completion of this course, learners will be prepared for an entry-level position in the field and to sit for the ETS’ ParaPro Assessment Certification exam.
This class is an independent-study course. Students will have all the resources needed to successfully complete the course within the online material. A student helpdesk is available for technical support during the course enrollment.