Adapted by Dr. Vivian Baglien

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Learning Targets  Students will explore and learn about the field of ECE and the need for qualified instructors, professionals, child care services & early childhood teachers. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. You: Working with Young Children  People considering early childhood careers often want to knowearly childhood  if there will be a need for trained personnel  what the job responsibilities are  what personal characteristics are needed

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Social and Economic Changes  Changes in families  Changes in employers’ attitudes  Changes in education attitudes  Educational studies  Benefits to the economy Changing times mean a change in focus for how we think about ECE employment opportunities:

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Changes in Families Changes in Families Married couples are having fewer children Almost 75% of children have parents working or attending school Many working women are widowed, divorced, single, or separated Women are increasingly committed to careers 75% of children participate in a preschool program No longer have a mother as homemaker and a father as wage earner Many working women are widowed, divorced, single, or separated Women are becoming highly educated

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Food for Thought  Why do you think the level of education of women impacts the need for child care teachers? List three reasons.

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Changes in Employers’ Attitudes  Corporate or employer-sponsored child care is growing  On-site child care  Referral service  Sick child care  Emergency backup arrangements  Intergenerational care

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Question  What are some of the payoffs companies receive when offering child care benefits to employees?

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Changes in Education Attitudes 1970sToday 6% of children were cared for in child care centers 67% of children participate in an early childhood program 95% of the nation’s five-year-olds attend kindergarten programs

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Educational Studies  Studies have confirmed that  the first five years of life are critical  the benefits of early education are long-term  early brain development depends on a stimulating environment and nurturing continued

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Educational Studies  Children who receive early learning experiences are less likely to  have behavioral problems  be referred to special education  Many states introduced prekindergarten (PK) programs to support early learningprekindergarten (PK)

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Benefits to the Economy  Early childhood programs influence tomorrow’s economy  A sound investment  Saves taxpayers future costs  Pays great returns to children

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Career Opportunities in Early Childhood  Nannies and au pairs  Kindergarten teachers  Early childhood assistant/associate teachers  Child care teachers and directors  Family child care home  Licensing specialists  Other career opportunities

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Nannies and Au Pairs  A nanny provides care in a child’s homenanny  May live with the family  May receive health insurance, paid holidays, and room and board in addition to salary  An au pair is a person from a foreign country who lives with a family and performs tasks similar to those of a nannyau pair

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Kindergarten Teachers  Most states are providing opportunities to attend kindergarten  Teachers are needed in  public schools  private schools

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Early Childhood Assistant and Associate Teachers  Early childhood assistants or associate teachers are hired to  achieve the required adult-child ratios  provide support to lead teachers  Assistant or associate positions may require  specialized coursework or training  CDA credential  associate degree

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Child Care Teachers and Directors  Child care teachers are responsible for  planning curriculum  teaching children  Child care directors are responsible for  marketing the program  recruiting children  hiring and supervising staff  managing the budget

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Family Child Care Homes  Family child care homes provide child care for children ranging in age from 6 weeks to 12 years  This type of care allows  child care providers to work from home  child care providers to care for their own children  longer hours of operation  homelike atmosphere

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Licensing Specialists  Licensing specialists make visits to centers to observe Licensing specialists  if they follow the state licensing guidelines  adult-child ratio  size of the facility  food service  curriculum provided  building safety and health practices

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Other Career Opportunities  The field of early childhood offers a variety of positions  Parent educator  Community recreation leader  Social workers  Counselors and therapists  Health care providers continued

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Other Career Opportunities  The field of early childhood also offers the ability to run your own business as an entrepreneur entrepreneur  Family child care home  Consultants  Store owners  Designers of children’s products  Entertainers

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Question  What would be some of the advantages and disadvantages of having a family child care home business? AdvantagesDisadvantages

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Education and Training Needed to Work with Young Children Education and TrainingJobs High school education Teacher aid Playground supervisor Child Development Associate (CDA) CredentialChild Development Associate (CDA) Credential, plus postsecondary education Early childhood teacher Bachelor’s degreeDirector of child care program Graduate degree Consultant Researcher Early childhood instructor Professor

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. The Teacher’s Responsibilities  Know how children grow and develop  Plan a developmentally appropriate curriculum  Prepare the environment  Communicate effectively  Demonstrate teamwork continued

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. The Teacher’s Responsibilities  Manage time wisely  Participate in professional organizations  Follow ethical standards  Continue to learn

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Part 2 How Do Children Grow & Develop

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. To Know How Children Grow and Develop  This understanding helps teachers to  prepare inviting and developmentally appropriate environments  design educational experiences to promote growth  develop curriculum that is challenging and interesting without being difficult or discouraging  work effectively with individuals and groups of children

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. To Plan a Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum  Developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) is a set of guidelines that focus on the outcomes of learning activities Developmentally appropriate practice (DAP)  Whole child programs focus on  physical development  social development  cognitive development  emotional development

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. To Prepare the Environment  Teachers prepare inviting and stimulating learning environments to encourage children to  independently experiment, explore, and manipulate materials  engage in positive social activities  develop physically, socially, cognitively, and emotionally

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. To Communicate Effectively  As a teacher, positive communication skills help you to  form and maintain a close relationship with the children in your care  exchange information with parents and guardians  form meaningful relationships with colleagues

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. To Demonstrate Teamwork  Staff in early childhood programs need to work as a team, which helps to  make coworkers feel respected and important  show empathy by recognizing others’ feelings  share ideas and information  encourage meaningful interactions with children  resolve conflicts effectively

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. To Manage Time Wisely  Time management skills help teachers  work smarter, not harder  organize time  set priorities  distinguish between important and urgent matters  make good choices and use time wisely

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. To Participate in Professional Organizations  Professional organizations help you keep up with current developments in the field  National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)  Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)  National Child Care Association  National Head Start Association

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Discuss  How can professional organizations help you find career opportunities in the field?

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. To Follow Ethical Standards  When working with young children, rely on your ethics to help make tough decisionsethics  Maintain the highest standards of professional conduct  Follow the code of ethical conduct created by NAEYC for early childhood professionals  Choose ethical behavior, which is not always easy

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Characteristics of Successful Teachers  Fondness for children  Patience  Compassion  Confidence  Sense of humor  Commitment  Personal desire  Physical and mental health

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Fondness for Children  The most important trait of an early childhood teacher is fondness for children  Establish rapport with children  Make children feel understood and accepted  Show love for each child  Be kind, firm, and understanding

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Patience  Effective teachers allow children time to explore, solve problems, and create continued

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Patience  Young children need to  have extra time to complete tasks  have the opportunity to repeat tasks  be able to repeat questions

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Compassion  Compassionate teachers accept others without prejudice  Accept any emotion from others  Are sensitive to both positive and negative feelings  Compliment children for their successes  Avoid actions that make children feel worthless  Help children understand feelings of others

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Confidence  Having confidence in your abilities helps you relax in the classroom  Have a calming effect on the children  Make sensible decisions  Stand by your choices so children accept them

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Sense of Humor  Children enjoy adults who have a sense of humor  Children relax and feel content  Children tend to be more positive and cheerful  Work is more enjoyable  You see the humor in situations  You laugh with the children

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Commitment  Meeting the demands of the field requires commitment  Be an expert in child development, guidance, and curriculum  Keep up with current developments  Be fully prepared for all activities  Balance the pace of the activities  Provide appropriate curriculum

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Personal Desire  Knowing you really want to teach young children is important to your success  Examine your  interests  feelings  satisfactions

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Physical and Mental Health  Teaching young children is demanding physically and mentally  To be alert and able to multi-task,  eat nutritious meals  get enough sleep  stay physically active  learn to reduce stress

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Did You Know? According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of preschool teachers is projected to grow faster than average through 2018.

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Reflect  What are some of the qualities you possess that would make you a good early childhood teacher?