CTE Month Highlight: Inside the Student-Led Preschool at Crescent Valley

The Career and Technical Education Month focus for today is on our Early Childhood Education Program and the Child Development 1 class at Crescent Valley High School, where students run a functioning preschool. With support from teacher Julie Serna, students rotate through the roles of teacher, helper, and planner. While the planners develop lesson plans and activities for the children to participate in, the teachers and helpers guide the children through activity rotations that engage their minds and bodies, focusing on gross motor skills, oral communication, color and shape identification, and name recognition. 

Creating Connections

In addition to the activity rotations, preschoolers also participate in classroom activities such as coloring, letter tracing, and snack time. These interactions allow high schoolers to talk with the children at their level while helping them develop fine motor skills, social habits, and healthy routines like handwashing before snack. Students also manage other real-world scenarios, such as parent interaction, child safety, and the daily adjustments needed when absences occur. 

Building a Career Path

For those looking to pursue a career in early childhood education, they can progress to Child Development 2 & 3. In Child Development 3, students complete work-based learning. Often, students are placed in Corvallis School District elementary schools for this experience. These students serve as additional classroom supports, and staff are grateful for experienced helpers from our own schools.