Do you want to work with kids? If so, Wayne Valley’s Child Development (CD) classes are for you! Starting with CD I in sophomore year, you learn about how children grow and ways to keep them engaged in your lessons. Mrs. Folenta teaches this course and her love for kids is infectious. To gain experience, Valley runs its own preschool program. Each student gets their own preschool buddy, who they guide and help during fun assignments. The kids come two to three days a week based on the rotation day. If you enjoyed Child Development I, you are able to take CD II, also taught by Mrs. Folenta. You take CD II in your junior year. It is the same as CD I and you continue to work with the Wayne Valley preschoolers. Senior year, if you choose to continue the program, you take Child Development III: Project Teach. Miss Condon teaches CD III and prepares the class for field experience. In the seminar portion of class, students learn about the education system and how to reach different types of learners. In the later half of the year, field experience begins. Instead of having kids come to Wayne Valley, you are the one who goes to the kids’ schools. Students can choose any middle or elementary school within the district to shadow in. They contact former teachers and observe their classes, seeing how a real class is run. By completing seminar and field experience, you earn college credit—registered through Fairleigh Dickinson University.