The aim of the course is to describe ways of designing effective learning environments and to focus on practical applications of Educational Psychology in the preschool classroom. The principles for designing and maintaining an effective learning environment will be introduced and strategies for establishing rules and organizing classroom procedures will be described. Then, possible difficulties of psychosocial adjustment of preschool children will be analyzed in detail and their distinction into internalized and externalized behavior will be attempted. In the next sections of the course, a) the behavioral and person-centered approaches of behavioral difficulties management in the classroom will be presented and b) specific practices to reinforce functional behaviors in the school context will be discussed. The socio-emotional development of preschool children and developmentally appropriate strategies for promoting social and emotional adequacy will be presented. Further, the self-concept will be analyzed, methods of boosting self-esteem will be described, potential difficulties in students’ interpersonal relationships will be presented and conflict management strategies will be discussed. Finally, issues related to effective school and family communication and collaboration will be addressed.
1) Basic principles of designing an effective learning environment
2) Rules establishment in the classroom
3) Psychosocial adaptation difficulties in the school environment I
4) Psychosocial adaptation difficulties in the school environment II
5) Behavior management approaches and strategies in class I
6) Behavior management approaches and strategies in class II
7) Emotions – Emotion Management
8) Self-concept, self-esteem – Self-esteem enhancement
9) Social competence – Social skills
10) Interpersonal relationships in the school environment
11) School and family communication
12) Presentations and discussion
13) Presentations and discussion