Child Development

The Child Development program is designed for 7th grade students to learn about early childhood, and themselves, as they work as “student-teachers” in the 4-5s classroom. In addition to supporting the 4-5s teachers with daily classroom activities and routines, the 7th graders do regular observations of work areas or different materials. Through weekly group meetings where they ask questions, share observations, and watch a series of early childhood films, the students begin to understand the cognitive development of young children. The 7th graders plan and teach a lesson (cooking, language arts, movement, or the arts), and at the end of the year, each 7th grader writes a story for an individual 4-5s student.