By Noli Brown
Grand Rapids Community College Child Development program has two degree pathways that are connected with the preschool here on GRCC’s main campus which offers benefits for the students with children attending GRCC.
Students here at GRCC can get a jumpstart on their degree for child development by working with hands-on lab experiences at the GRCC Early Childhood Learning Laboratory Preschool and other sites in the community.
Child Development offers two degree pathways, the first one is a Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) degree in Child Development 120 or a Child Development 180 degree.
Students who are in the child development program can earn a Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) to prepare them for a four-year university.
Upon completion of an Associate’s degree, students also become qualified to direct child care centers, Head Start programs, part-day preschools, and work as a Pre-K to third grade teachers aide in public schools.
They are required to complete the GRCC General Education Courses for MTA and other program-required courses for this certain degree of Child Development.
This degree seamlessly transfers to articulated agreements with Grand Valley State University, Western Michigan University, and Ferris State University where students can move forward earning degrees in Elementary Education, Child Development, Family Studies and Child Life Specialist careers.
The Child Development 180 degree will allow GRCC students to be qualified to teach in child care centers, or work as a Pre-K to third grade teachers aide in public schools.
Students earning this degree participate in experiences in the field. Upon degree completion, students are qualified to direct child care centers, Head Start programs, and part-day preschools.
They must fulfill the GRCC General Education Courses and other mandatory courses specified for the Child Development 180 A.A.A.S. degree.
Students earning the child development 180 degree will also complete an additional nine credits by enrolling in the CDA fast track program or completing EDU 105 and two elective courses.
Deb Vilmont, professor for education here at GRCC explains how the students get a jump start on teaching from completion of an Associate’s degree.
“Throughout a student’s coursework, they have numerous opportunities to be involved in a variety of hands-on lab experiences with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school-age, and special needs children at the The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accredited Fratzke Early Childhood Learning Lab (ECLL), Grand Rapids Public Schools and other sites in the community,” Vilmont wrote in an email.
Students earning an Associate’s degree at GRCC participate in labs that are specifically designed to help students meet the standards and content taught in each course.
Lab experiences offer students a non-judgemental, safe space to learn with guided mentorship from tenured teachers. There are many learning opportunities at the ECLL and former students have stated that they are thankful for what they learned.
“Former students have stated, ‘Early and immediate exposure is key to making sure this is what you want to do.’ After doing labs in classrooms, some students realize they love working with children and this is what they want to do for a career and some students take a different path,” Vilmont wrote in an email.
Jenna Castle, assistant director and faculty at the early childhood learning laboratory explained how the students here at GRCC majoring in early childhood education get to be a part of Learning Laboratory Preschool.
“This involves spending two hours every week observing children and teachers, planning and implementing activities. Students who are enrolled in EDU 280/285 can complete their internship with us, obtaining on the job training and mentoring!” Castle wrote in an email.
Depending on what classes the students are enrolled in they get to have different opportunities and experiences with the children in the learning laboratory. Castle explains what exactly students get to do and how it’s always something different.
“Completing observations and playing with children, leading large group or circle time, they may bring in an art, math or science activity, to name a few! Each week looks a little different, and depends on which age group of children students are with. We have infants as young as six weeks, and up to five years of age, when they are ready to start kindergarten,” Castle wrote in an email.
The daily day inside the preschool looks different each day depending on what age range of the children they are working with.
Castle wrote that it’s, “busy and fun! Each classroom has a slightly different routine. Our infants are sleeping, eating and playing on individual schedules throughout the day. Our toddlers and preschoolers have a more consistent routine of arrival, breakfast, classroom play and activities, outdoor time, then lunch and a rest period, followed by more play and activities for the afternoon, before their families arrive and they go home.”
Many of you may or may not know this information, but if you are attending GRCC and have children you can get a discount at the preschool that is located right on campus.
In most of the classrooms at the preschool they will reserve spots for children of GRCC students and the tuition is partially funded through two grants students can qualify for, CCAMPIS (Child Care Access Means Parents In School) and Occupational Support.
If you would like to see if you qualify for either of these grants, you can contact Occupational Support at https://www.grcc.edu/schools-departments/occupational-support
It is a special feeling and opportunity for all the teachers and professors that get to watch and teach the children of GRCC students and then watch the parents graduate.
“We love being able to care (for) and educate the children of GRCC students and watch the parents grow through their educational journey as well. Many of our staff attend graduation and we feel a sense of pride when “our parents” walk across the stage, knowing that we were one of their support systems,” Castle states.
