So, I’ve been messing around with this whole early childhood education thing at Ivy Tech, and let me tell you, it’s been quite the ride. I decided to give it a shot because, well, kids are our future, right? And I figured, why not be a part of shaping that future?
First thing I did was dig into what Ivy Tech actually offers. They’ve got a couple of different paths you can take – an Associate of Science and an Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education. Both sounded pretty legit, but I went for the Applied Science one, thinking it’d be more hands-on. You know, get my feet wet with some real-world experience.
The classes, oh boy, they were something else. We dove into all sorts of stuff like the basic Introduction to Early Childhood Education, and classes on child growth, how to plan lessons, and even how to deal with the little ones’ health and nutrition. I’m not gonna lie, it felt like drinking from a fire hose at times. But hey, learning is messy, especially when you are in classroom activities.
One thing that really stuck with me was this idea they kept pushing – learning is way more impactful when you’re actually doing stuff, not just sitting there listening to lectures. So, we got to try out different teaching methods, create our own activities, and even spend some time in actual preschools. It was wild seeing all those theories put into practice.
- ECED 100 – Introduction to Early Childhood Education (3 credits)
- ECED 101 – Health Safety and Nutrition (3 credits)
- ECED 103 – Curriculum in (another 3 credits)
I also learned that Ivy Tech is pretty connected. They’ve got all these partnerships with state agencies. It’s like they’ve got their finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the field, which is reassuring when you’re trying to break into a new career.
Now, this whole journey wasn’t just about getting a degree. I mean, sure, that’s a big part of it, 60 credit hours, to be exact, and now I am career-ready. But it’s also about prepping for what comes after. I found out that this degree can actually be a stepping stone to a bachelor’s in elementary education. That’s something I’m seriously thinking about now. It’s like, why stop here when I can keep climbing?
So, yeah, that’s my experience with early childhood education at Ivy Tech. It’s been challenging, eye-opening, and honestly, pretty rewarding. I’m walking away with a whole new set of skills, a fresh perspective on education, and a clear path forward. If you’re thinking about dipping your toes into early childhood education, I’d say Ivy Tech is a solid place to start. Just be ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work!
