Students will use their understanding of young children’s characteristics and needs, and of multiple interacting influences on children’s development and learning, to create environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for all children.   Students will know about, understand, and value the importance and complex characteristics of children’s families and communities; and will use this understanding to create respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and empower families, and to involve all families in their children’s development and learning.   Students will know about and understand the goals, benefits and uses of assessment, and will understand and use systematic observations, documentation, and other effective assessment strategies in a responsible way, in partnership with families and other professionals, to positively influence children’s development.   Students will know, understand, and use positive relationships and supportive interactions as the foundations for their work with young children.   Students will identify and conduct themselves as members of the early childhood profession; they will know and use ethical guidelines and other professional standards related to early childhood practices; they will be continuous, collaborative learners who demonstrate knowledgeable, reflective and critical perspectives on their work, making informed decisions that integrate knowledge from a variety of sources; they will be informed advocates for sound educational practices and polices.   Students will know, understand, and use a wide array of effective approaches, strategies, and tools to positively influence children’s development and learning.   Students will understand the importance of each content area in young children’s learning; they will know the essential concepts, inquiry tools, and structure of content areas, including academic subjects, and will be able to identify resources to deepen their understanding.   Students will use their own knowledge and other resources to design, implement, and evaluate meaningful, challenging curriculum that promotes comprehensive developmental and learning outcomes for all young children.   Students will integrate their understanding of and relationship with children and families; their understanding of developmentally effective approaches to teaching and learning; and their knowledge of academic disciplines to design, implement, and evaluate experiences that promote positive development and learning for all young children.