THE HOLISTIC CHILD PROGRAM GOALS

The Holistic Child Program at Mercer University offers an academic perspective to the candidate that values the individual and authentic worth of the young child through the inclusive lens of the regular classroom.  Following an integrated, technologically immersed curriculum, the candidate will experience varied field and life experiences within the culture of diverse school and community populations.  Having completed this four-year program of study, the Holistic Child candidate will become a reflective practitioner, advocating the needs and rights of the young child, while collaborating and establishing partnerships with parents, schools and communities.

The Holistic Child
Program Objectives

Upon completion of the Holistic Child Program, the candidate will:

Content and Process:  To Know

• Understand the young child from a holistic perspective with an emphasis upon the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains – as well as the child's environment.
• Recognize the participatory and advocacy role of an educator of young children.
• Understand the collaborative relationship that is necessary with other professionals and parents in planning and implementing instructional programs.
• Appreciate the importance of community in working with all children and their diversity; including ethnic, language, cultural, socio-economic, disabilities, and gender.

Application:  To Do

• Integrate technological advances as a routine part of the curriculum (InTech-based instruction)
• Construct and implement an integrated, developmentally appropriate curriculum for all areas of a child's development, including cognitive, emotional, social, and physical.
• Demonstrate competency in developing and implementing a wide variety of diagnostic and assessment techniques and strategies.

Attitude:  To Be

• Know self as an individual and recognized one's point of growth along the continuum of teaching as an emerging, developing, and transforming practitioner.