1. You and Early Childhood Education
Early Childhood Education Today 11th Edition
By George Morrison

2. What Does It Mean to Be a Professional?
What is a professional?
The Five Goals of Professionalism
Developing a Philosophy of Education
Roles for Early Childhood Professionals Today

3. We will compile a list of everyone’s characteristics.
Journal
Recall your favorite teacher and list the characteristics that made that person your favorite teacher.
We will compile a list of everyone’s characteristics.
How do you measure up to this list?
Do you think that you would make a good teacher?

4. What Is A Professional?
Early Childhood is the period from birth to age 8.
Early Childhood Professional is an educator who…
Successfully teaches children
Promotes high personal standards
Continues to expand his/her knowledge and skills
What other qualities do you think characterize a professional?

5. The 5 Goals of Professionalism
Being a professional means far more than having an academic degree.
There are 5 goals that are integrated into becoming an Early Childhood Professional.
Each goal is designed to play a role in determining who and what a professional is and how they implement practices into the classroom.

6. The 5 Goals of Professionalism
Goal 1: Child Development and Learning
It is essential that you know how to promote child development and learning.
Knowledge of young children’s characteristics, needs, and multiple intelligences.
The ability to use this knowledge to create a healthy, respectful, supportive, and safe learning environment.
Ability to conduct Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP).

7. The 5 Goals of Professionalism
Goal 2: Building Family and Community Relationships
You will have to work with, involve, and advocate for parents and families.
You will need to understand the characteristics of children’s families and the community in which they live.
Your collaboration with families should be supportive and empowering.
Remember that all families are different and be respectful of each child and family.

8. The 5 Goals of Professionalism
Goal 3: Observing, Documenting, and Assessing to Support Children & Families
You will be responsible for assessing and collecting information about each child’s learning, behavior, academic progress, needs, and achievement.
This information is used to make decisions about the child’s education and future.
There are 3 parts to assessing children:
You (the professional) gather information and data.
This data is used to make instructional decisions.
Data is shared with parents to gain feedback and advice.

9. The 5 Goals of Professionalism
Goal 4: Teaching and Learning
Use developmentally effective and appropriate approaches.
Content Areas: language arts, math, arts, science, physical activity, and social studies.
Building meaningful curriculum.
Collaborative Planning
Reflective Practices

10. The 5 Goals of Professionalism
Goal 5: Becoming a Professional
You know and engage in ethical practices.
Engage in continuous lifelong learning and professional development.
Collaborate with colleagues, parents, families, and community partners.
Reflect and evaluate practices.
Advocate on behalf of children, parents, and families.

11. The Cycle of Reflective Practices
After
Have I been self reflective and thoughtful about my teaching?
Did I assess the success of my students?
How will I report student success to parents?
How will I provide feedback to students?
What will I do differently the next time I teach a similar lesson?
Before
What will I teach?
How will I teach it?
What resources will I need?
What background knowledge do my students have?
What interests do my students have?
During
Have I used students prior knowledge to gain their interest and focus?
Am I presenting the lesson well?
Am I constantly evaluating my students?
Am I responding to the needs of my students?
Am I introducing new concepts and ideas?
Am I motivating and challenging my students?

12. The Role of Advocacy
Advocacy- is the act of pleading the cases of children and families to improve their circumstances.
It involves more than day-to-day responsibilities and collaboration.
There is no shortage of issues to advocate for in the lives of children and families.
Ex: abuse, neglect prevention, poverty, health, good housing.
What is an issue related to early childhood education that you feel passionately about and would be willing to advocate for?

13. The Role of Advocacy- Ways you can get involved…
Join an early childhood professional organization.
Become familiar with organizations that advocate for children and families.
Participate in community activities that support children and families.
Investigate the issues that face children and families today.
Talk to others about the issues that face children and families.
Seek opportunities to share your knowledge.

14. Professional Disposition
Professional Disposition are the values, commitments, and professional ethics that that you have.
These will influence students, families, colleagues, and communities.
They will affect student learning, motivation, and development.
What values, commitments, and ethics to do you have that will contribute to your professional disposition?

15. Diversity
Your classroom will be a diverse environment full of students from different backgrounds and cultures.
It is important that you teach with respect and show students the value of all cultures.
Strategies to help:
Look at your own views attitudes- they may need an adjustment.
Make every child feel welcome.
Make every parent feel welcome.
Collaborate with your colleagues to learn how to meet the various cultural needs of students.
Become active in your community.

16. Philosophy of Education
A philosophy of education is a set of beliefs about how children develop.
It includes what and how you believe children should be taught.
It is based on what you believe about yourself, others, and about life.
Everyone has a different philosophy of education.
It will be what guides and directs your daily teachings.

17. How do I develop a Philosophy of Education?
READ!
Read everything- textbooks, journals, professional literature.
Subscribe to blogs and newsletters from organizations that coincide with your beliefs and interests about teaching.
Explore historical and contemporary ideas and theories.

18. How do I develop a Philosophy of Education?
REFLECT!
I believe the purposes of education are…
I believe that children learn best when they are taught under certain conditions and in certain ways. Some of these are…
The basics of my curriculum include…
Features of a good learning environment are…
Every child has basic needs that must be met, these include…
I would meet these needs by…
A teacher should have certain qualities and conduct him/herself in a certain way. Qualities that I think are important to teaching are…

19. How do I develop a Philosophy of Education?
DISCUSS!
Talk with successful teachers and other educators about their philosophies and practices.
This will help you gain ideas and thoughts about your own philosophy.
It will also help you understand how theory translates into practice.

20. How do I develop a Philosophy of Education?
WRITE!
Once you have thought about your own philosophy, write a rough draft.
Have another professional that you trust read it and provide feedback.
Make sure that others can understand your philosophy- they do not have to agree with it.

21. How do I develop a Philosophy of Education?
EVALUATE!
Does my philosophy accurately relate my beliefs about teaching? Have I been honest with myself?
Is it understandable to me and others?
Does it provide practical guidance for my teaching?
Are my ideas consistent with one another?
Now finalize your draft into a polished copy.
Your philosophy will be your compass throughout your career.

22. Jobs in Early Childhood Education & Education Levels
Pass out Figure 1.4 from the textbook pg. 20.
Read and discuss as a class.
Are there any careers on this diagram that you are interested in? Highlight it- you will be conducting a child development career research later on in the semester!

23. Roles for Early Childhood Professionals
Teacher as an instructional leader-
Planning what children will learn
Guiding and teaching
Assessing what children have learned
Arranging the classroom environment
Teaching state, district, and program goals and standards.
Lessons and curriculum are rooted in standards, objectives, and goals.
What is the intention or purpose of the lesson?

24. Roles for Early Childhood Professionals
Performance-based accountability for learning.
In the past- “I taught Mario how to…”
Today- “What did Mario learn? Can Mario perform at or above grade level?”
Teaching of literacy and reading.
Reading is a main component in all early childhood curriculum.
Increased emphasis on what children learn.
Strong relationship between assessment and planning.

25. Roles for Early Childhood Professionals
New meaning of child-centered education.
Children are the center of the teaching and learning process.
This must be a priority.
Ideas that children can achievement, they are eager to learn, and they are capable of learning.

26. Preparing for the Future in the Early Childhood Profession
Rapid Change.
Old ideas will be challenged by new ideas and methods.
You may have to adapt as the field changes.
Increased Use of Technology.
Technology will have an affect on how you teach, what you teach, and how children learn.

27. Preparing for the Future in the Early Childhood Profession
Relationship with Politics.
Politics has always influenced education.
Advocacy for early childhood becomes increasingly important.
Acceleration of early childhood teacher education and training.
Constant and continuous education for teachers is necessary to keep up with changes.