Early Childhood Careers

Jobs Associates Degree/2 year College/Tech Certification Programs On the Job Training/Apprenticeships Jobs: – Preschool Teachers – Childcare Worker Nannie Teacher Assistant Child Care Assistant

Preschool Teacher Instruct preschool-aged children in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth needed for primary school in preschool, day care center, or other child development facility. May be required to hold State certification.

Preschool Teacher Tasks Establish and enforce rules for behavior, and procedures for maintaining order. Organize and lead activities designed to promote physical, mental and social development, such as games, arts and crafts, music, storytelling, and field trips. Teach basic skills such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills. Observe and evaluate children's performance, behavior, social development, and physical health. Read books to entire classes or to small groups. Attend to children's basic needs by feeding them, dressing them, and changing their diapers. Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play. Assimilate arriving children to the school environment by greeting them, helping them remove outerwear, and selecting activities of interest to them. Serve meals and snacks in accordance with nutritional guidelines. Teach proper eating habits and personal hygiene.

Nanny Care for children in private households and provide support and expertise to parents in satisfying children's physical, emotional, intellectual, and social needs. Duties may include meal planning and preparation, laundry and clothing care, organization of play activities and outings, discipline, intellectual stimulation, language activities, and transportation.

Nanny Tasks Perform first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when required. Instruct children in safe behavior, such as seeking adult assistance when crossing the street and avoiding contact or play with unsafe objects. Model appropriate social behaviors and encourage concern for others to cultivate development of interpersonal relationships and communication skills. Observe children's behavior for irregularities, take temperature, transport children to doctor, or administer medications, as directed, to maintain children's health. Teach and perform age-appropriate activities, such as lap play, reading, and arts and crafts to encourage intellectual development of children. Assign appropriate chores and praise targeted behaviors to encourage development of self-control, self- confidence, and responsibility. Help prepare and serve nutritionally balanced meals and snacks for children. Instruct and assist children in the development of health and personal habits, such as eating, resting, and toilet behavior. Remove hazards and develop appropriate boundaries and rules to create a safe environment for children. Work with parents to develop and implement discipline programs to promote desirable child behavior.

Teacher Assistant Perform duties that are instructional in nature or deliver direct services to students or parents. Serve in a position for which a teacher has ultimate responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services.

Teacher Assistant Tasks Provide extra assistance to students with special needs, such as non-English- speaking students or those with physical and mental disabilities. Supervise students in classrooms, halls, cafeterias, school yards, and gymnasiums, or on field trips. Tutor and assist children individually or in small groups to help them master assignments and to reinforce learning concepts presented by teachers. Enforce administration policies and rules governing students. Discuss assigned duties with classroom teachers to coordinate instructional efforts. Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage. Observe students' performance, and record relevant data to assess progress. Present subject matter to students under the direction and guidance of teachers, using lectures, discussions, or supervised role-playing methods. Prepare lesson materials, bulletin board displays, exhibits, equipment, and demonstrations. Organize and supervise games and other recreational activities to promote physical, mental, and social development.

Child Care Assistant Attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions. Perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play.

Child Care Assistant Tasks Maintain a safe play environment. Dress children and change diapers. Observe and monitor children's play activities. Communicate with children's parents or guardians about daily activities, behaviors, and related issues. Sanitize toys and play equipment. Keep records on individual children, including daily observations and information about activities, meals served, and medications administered. Support children's emotional and social development, encouraging understanding of others and positive self-concepts. Identify signs of emotional or developmental problems in children and bring them to parents' or guardians' attention. Assist in preparing food and serving meals and refreshments to children. Instruct children in health and personal habits, such as eating, resting, and toilet habits.

Careers Bachelor’s Degrees Careers: – Education Administrators – Preschool/Child Care Director – Special Education Teacher – Social Worker – Kindergarten Teacher – Career & Technical Education Teacher (Secondary)

Education Administration Plan, direct, or coordinate the academic, administrative, or auxiliary activities of public or private elementary or secondary level schools.

Education Administrator Tasks Enforce discipline and attendance rules. Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities, policies, and student behavioral or learning problems. Observe teaching methods and examine learning materials to evaluate and standardize curricula and teaching techniques, and to determine areas where improvement is needed. Collaborate with teachers to develop and maintain curriculum standards, develop mission statements, and set performance goals and objectives. Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate primary and supplemental staff. Evaluate curricula, teaching methods, and programs to determine their effectiveness, efficiency, and utilization, and to ensure that school activities comply with federal, state, and local regulations. Counsel and provide guidance to students regarding personal, academic, vocational, or behavioral issues. Establish, coordinate, and oversee particular programs across school districts, such as programs to evaluate student academic achievement. Set educational standards and goals, and help establish policies and procedures to carry them out. Plan and lead professional development activities for teachers, administrators, and support staff.

Preschool Director Plan, direct, or coordinate the academic and nonacademic activities of preschool and childcare centers or programs.

Preschool Director Tasks Monitor students' progress, and provide students and teachers with assistance in resolving any problems. Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities and policies, and students' behavioral or learning problems. Set educational standards and goals, and help establish policies, procedures, and programs to carry them out. Plan, direct, and monitor instructional methods and content of educational, vocational, or student activity programs. Direct and coordinate activities of teachers or administrators at daycare centers, schools, public agencies, or institutions. Prepare and maintain attendance, activity, planning, accounting, or personnel reports and records for officials and agencies, or direct preparation and maintenance activities. Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate primary and supplemental staff, and recommend personnel actions for programs and services. Teach classes or courses, or provide direct care to children. Determine allocations of funds for staff, supplies, materials, and equipment, and authorize purchases. Determine the scope of educational program offerings, and prepare drafts of program schedules and descriptions, to estimate staffing and facility requirements.

Special Education Teacher Teach elementary school subjects to educationally and physically handicapped students. Includes teachers who specialize and work with audibly and visually handicapped students and those who teach basic academic and life processes skills to the mentally impaired.

Special Education Teacher Tasks Administer standardized ability and achievement tests to kindergarten or elementary students with special needs. Collaborate with other teachers or administrators to develop, evaluate, or revise kindergarten or elementary school programs. Confer with other staff members to plan or schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula. Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, or other professionals to develop individual education plans (IEPs). Confer with parents, guardians, teachers, counselors, or administrators to resolve students' behavioral or academic problems. Coordinate placement of students with special needs into mainstream classes. Develop individual educational plans (IEPs) designed to promote students' educational, physical, or social development. Develop or implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of disabilities. Employ special educational strategies or techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, or memory. Encourage students to explore learning opportunities or persevere with challenging tasks to prepare them for later grades.

Social Worker Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.

Social Worker Tasks Counsel individuals, groups, families, or communities regarding issues including mental health, poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, physical abuse, rehabilitation, social adjustment, child care, or medical care. Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, assessing their situations, capabilities, and problems, to determine what services are required to meet their needs. Serve as liaisons between students, homes, schools, family services, child guidance clinics, courts, protective services, doctors, and other contacts, to help children who face problems such as disabilities, abuse, or poverty. Maintain case history records and prepare reports. Counsel parents with child rearing problems, interviewing the child and family to determine whether further action is required. Refer clients to community resources for services such as job placement, debt counseling, legal aid, housing, medical treatment, or financial assistance, and provide concrete information, such as where to go and how to apply. Consult with parents, teachers, and other school personnel to determine causes of problems such as truancy and misbehavior, and to implement solutions. Counsel students whose behavior, school progress, or mental or physical impairment indicate a need for assistance, diagnosing students' problems and arranging for needed services. Address legal issues, such as child abuse and discipline, assisting with hearings and providing testimony to inform custody arrangements. Develop and review service plans in consultation with clients, and perform follow- ups assessing the quantity and quality of services provided.

Kindergarten Teacher Teach elemental natural and social science, personal hygiene, music, art, and literature to kindergarten students. Promote physical, mental, and social development. May be required to hold State certification.

Kindergarten Teacher Tasks Instruct students individually and in groups, adapting teaching methods to meet students' varying needs and interests. Teach basic skills such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills. Observe and evaluate children's performance, behavior, social development, and physical health. Establish and enforce rules for behavior, and policies and procedures to maintain order among students. Demonstrate activities to children. Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play. Read books to entire classes or to small groups. Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to children. Prepare materials, classrooms, and other indoor and outdoor spaces to facilitate creative play, learning and motor-skill activities, and safety. Identify children showing signs of emotional, developmental, or health- related problems, and discuss them with supervisors, parents or guardians, and child development specialists.

Career and Technical Education Secondary Teach occupational, career and technical, or vocational subjects at the secondary school level in public or private schools.

CTE Secondary Tasks Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health. Prepare materials and classroom for class activities. Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by law, district policy, and administrative regulations. Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students. Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injury and damage. Instruct students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods, such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations. Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students. Instruct students in the knowledge and skills required in a specific occupation or occupational field, using a systematic plan of lectures, discussions, audio-visual presentations, and laboratory, shop and field studies. Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress. Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.

Other possibilities Pediatric Medicine (Nurse, Doctor, Orthopedics, Dental, Psychiatry) Literature (author, illustrator, publications) Entertainment

Career Research Specifications Project ID Page Table of Contents Cover Letter Dividers Self Assessment Evidence or Career Research Career Planning College Coursework Works Cited

Project ID Page Name Child Growth and Development B2/W1 Junction City Senior High School Junction City, Kansas Career Choice

Table of Contents Cover Letter Self-Assessment Career Research Career Planning College Coursework Works Cited

Cover Letter A letter of introduction Explain who you are and why you are interested in a particular job Paragraph 1: Short Biography Paragraph 2: Why you are interested in your chosen career Paragraph 3: How you plan on accomplishing your goal

Dividers Must include dividers to separate different project elements, you can easily make these out of paper no need to buy.

Self-Assessment Career Aptitude Tests I recommend: Print off results

Evidence of Career Research Construct a fact sheet about your chosen career including: – Description – Duties & Responsibilities – Qualifications – Entry-level positions – Advancement opportunities – Job outlook – Salary I suggest:

Career Goals In essay format state your career goals, how you will accomplish them, plans for high school and beyond.

College Coursework Find 3 post-secondary facilities that offer a degree for your chosen career/job and find their curriculum guides. These are documents that state all the courses that must be completed to obtain a degree.

Works Cited/Bibliography Your portfolio should include at least 5 sources – 1. Self-Assessment – 2. Career research – College coursework (curriculum guides)