Abstract:
This paper analyzes the quality of early childhood educators, the importance of early childhood education, the difference between the children who have attended early childhood education and those who have not. In this paper, we are also going to observe the challenges that are faced by early childhood educators as well as what to be done to improve their well being so as to see them through successfully in their career as they take care of the minors.
Introduction:
Early childhood education is of paramount importance in minors since, it nurtures and empowers young minds with crucial ideas in preparations to what to expect later in their lives. The effective execution of moral early childhood upbringing requires a lot of painstaking measures and accurate efforts during this application. Therefore, in order for such system to be conveyed well and successfully, it must be portrayed in a way that the recipient (who in this case is a minor) will be comfortable and unafraid of taking it. In this circumstance, whoever that is entrusted to carry this message to minors must convey it intelligently to the intended destination bearing in mind that the recipient’s level of reasoning is still elementary. Therefore, the ambassador to take this message, or in other words the educator, must be someone who is patient, meek, and selfless enough to sacrifice his life in order to carry out this imperative exercise which appears to be practically simple but theoretically, a very complex puzzle full of challenges.
According to Bridget Amory, a deputy principle of Early childhood center Lincoln Delaware, an early childhood educator must undergo a sound training which will help him/her develop some additional qualities and eliminate unnecessary characters which are not required when carrying out the exercise of dealing with minors. Therefore, programs are there to enhance the quality of early childhood educators. Amory reiterates that the purpose of the training of the teachers who teaches early childhood education is to Prepare them to understand and integrate the knowledge of physical, cognitive, social, and emotional developmental as well as educational progress. Also, these programs are intended to prepare students so that, they become effective early childhood educators as well as good caregivers to infants, toddlers, and the children who have attained the age of pre-school by enabling them to teach necessary content for the kindergarten, primary and the pre-kindergarten, as well as the primary curricula according to the pertinent Learning Standards.
Another crucial core element is to nurture educators to effectively apply a variety of teaching methodologies and strategies, to incorporate the effective use of a varieties of technology to their instructional repertoires, develop and teach literature based, standards, a curriculum of early childhood education interdisciplinary and prepare them to be able to work collaboratively with their colleagues as well as other stakeholders. These skills help them grow to maturity and behave ethically and responsibly in making decisions as well as in their interactions with the children who they are going to be entrusted with. There are some of the core values which must be observed by the students who want to be successful child educators. They must demonstrate competency in effective communication by either, through learning the course or taking the challenge exam. In New York for instance, early childhood educator students must earn and maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA then they must get a C+ grade and above in every respective education course that is in the program. . (Amory, B. 2008)
According to Doctor Heckman’s observation, the child’s future adjustment depend largely on early quality childhood education programs that have tangible and positive effects on children’s aspects. Early childhood raises productivity of schools and promotes social adjustment. Generally, the children who often attend programs of early childhood education are less likely to fail or be held back purposely to repeat grades or classes in school contrary to those children who do not attend early childhood education. Early childhood education is so imperative since it gives birth to reduced teenage pregnancy rates, reduction of school dropout rate as well as reduced delinquency rates in the near future. It promotes a dedicated academic spirit where by this kids are most likely to make better citizens and secure well paying jobs as Heckman suggests. Therefore, in this case, an early childhood educator must be ready to plant the right seeds which will guarantee the future harvest of good characters
Heckman echoes psychologists remarks that preparations of professionals depend largely on separate diverse traditions. And this has led to the creation of two discrete qualms full of tribulations. But still, there are so many benefits to be achieved from both sides. Early childhood professions must be taken care of since; they are drastically dropping in numbers. As preschool teachers struggle while trying to establish their professional development ladders, there are some of the most crucial issues that must be looked into so as to ensure that they are retained. Good working conditions and handsome wages are some of the things that will attract and retain the top notched quality work force. This should as well apply equally to all early childhood educators irrespective of whether they are pre- kindergarten, kindergarten or simply elementary school educators. There are as well some of the factors that affects the quality of early childhood educating programs. Some of these major factors are, teacher to pupil ratio, amount of duration in the program, poor lesson planning, poor arrangements in classrooms, and even the size of school, just to mention a few. Since a child’s best interest is of paramount importance in a society, it is also wise to acknowledge the fact that an educator is also the central pillar and he is the quality determinant in early childhood program and so, his interests must be taken into account by employers who are either the government, or individual own such institutional centers. Teachers play very fundamental roles as facilitators of developing minds. For instance, an educator actively mediates the upbringing of a child’s social competence either directly or indirectly. The government should also follow up and ensure that early childhood educators in private sectors are not oppressed economically and it should start as an example. (Heckman, J. 2009)
What the child re-produces or is transformed to in life, depend largely on the culture of primary care he was given, peers and the media which they interacted with from their earliest years also matters a lot. Pereira suggests that educators and caregivers are continuously engaged in the modification and perpetuation of their various cultures of origin via encouraging, modeling, direct instruction of specific response styles, and ways of understanding events, forms of interactions and enacting of implicit beliefs. Apart from being neutral culturally, a training curriculum of an early childhood educator is simply a cultural construction based majorly in the world views, attitude and norms of those conceptualizing to teach the curricula. A training experience that shapes and sharpens early child educating practices may determine which culture and also what aspects of traditions are remanufactured through consequent design and deliberations of various programs for children. In turn, teaching curricula may extensively shape the traditional identity, the children’s allegiance and competency as well.
Teacher effectiveness has influenced positive results for students due to teaching standards being increased all over the world. Standards tell a teacher how to improve and become better in anything they do since they are taught that learning does not only apply in students but also to them as teachers. There are number good reasons for National Early Childhood Educator Standards. For instance, Career pathways are made visible during early childhood teaching which involves teachers through their core business in classrooms, attractions and retaining of talented graduates is seen and career pathways are completely explicit. It also exercises leadership in the profession, and more importantly, National Early Childhood Education Standards helps educators to monitor their self improvement and establish senior developmental pathways thus assisting educators to know what to do if they desire to become even more ideal teachers. This program also makes explicit early childhood educator’s job due to what it entails especially through its community recognition. According to Pereira, through this program the early childhood educator’s job is professionalized thus earning teachers a lot of respect. Both in the community and also worldwide and through this way it leads to the creations of compatibility across the nation hence, exercising leadership in the profession.
There are some of the most fundamental duties that should not escape a quality early childhood educator’s attention. Some of them are; he should implement and develop special program designed exclusively to meet social, physical, cultural, intellectual, emotional and developmental need based in a play like environment. He should also be able to build a child’s social interpersonal skills as well as self esteem and this can be well established by laying specific routines and positive guidance policies which will allow a child to feel comfortable safe and secure. Imperative still, they should establish and maintain clear communication with a child, children’s development agencies as well as the family of a child. (Pereira, 2009)
Helm observes that some of the programs that are also based on child’s best interest in child care, and should be observed by a quality childhood educator include playschool child care programs. This includes the utilizing of an individual by creating small and large groups activities which are both outdoor and indoor plays. They should also include field trips, outings and developing of learning centers and all these is to value and enhance the reinforcement of continuity. These activities are diverse and therefore pre-mediated to accommodate the unique abilities of children. For instance, a typical a day’s schedule might include, outdoor plays, event or field trip with, or, to meet a special guest, Play experiences in various fields like dramatic plays, science, art swimming and literacy among others. They should also be allocated time for nap or rest time where they are free to share with each other their own experiences. An ideal early childhood educator should bear the fact that a child’s well-ingenious learning environment for includes privileges to develop their independence, learning skills, literacy, problem solving and various creative developments like hide and seek and imaginative plays.
Also, the educator should not forget to keep in mind that Out Of School care programs are also essential to a preschooler. These programs have got activities that are structured to compliment the school programs by providing artistic opportunities by providing useful recreational centers where children’s unique needs are met. In this capacity, early childhood educators are required to provide a secure, safe, fun and a relaxing playfield for children to go during break time, lunch and even during holidays. Helm thinks that good early childhood educator must be on his feet in most time of the day and he must meek so as not to scare away babies. He must be ready to routinely lift up babies and children especially those weighing below twenty kilograms. He must be able to promote possible positive attitudes and therefore must be able to act as a role model to the children he/she is taking care of. In that case, they must be able to teach the children about proper hygiene, appropriate language, they must highly consider observance over the minors since minors do not reason like adults and therefore can get lost anytime. They themselves must practice proper hygiene for the sake of the minors’ health. They should also have the ability to communicate efficiently and work with children closely, parents and colleagues as well.
There are several reasons as per to why most teachers are drawn into the profession of early childhood education even though they differ. Some of the major reasons are; Monetary rewards, others realize that they have a natural call of caring for the young ones while others realize at a young age they wanted to become early childhood educators. Destiny also leads others to do this job since they discover that this is the only job available. Joanna Phinney (2010) longtime kindergarten educator entered this field of early child hood education because she wanted to make a difference in the world. She felt that the ideal field to commence with was with kids since her mission was to bring big reforms in the world. She also proceeds that she is not regretting joining the field and she also assures that even if a research is conducted among early childhood educators, few will regret to have joined this career while majority will be proud of their jobs. She gives reiterates that if a group of forty three are interviewed, it is much likely to happen that there will be no single regret. According to my observation, these remarks have no basis since there are majority of early childhood educators who are forced to join this profession due to lack of other opportunities. Such teachers do not make ideal child educators since theirs is not a call but just professions. (Helm, 1999)
According to ‘trade ability’ a Canadian center for early childhood education, there are some additional fundamental characteristics that a quality early childhood educator must possess in order for him /her to see kids through successfully as Fleer views it, they must be passionate about kids irrespective of how much money they take home at the end of the day. Naturally, someone does something much better when he has passion in it. An early childhood educator must be enthusiastic to children since enthusiasm gives birth to a truly ideal and effective teacher. Secondly, Perseverance is another significant characteristic that any early childhood educator must possess. It is another characteristic that is regularly cited whenever early childhood education is mentioned. Thirdly, Children require someone who has the willingness to take risks. Successful child educators must be willing to embrace the status quo to see them through their goals. Patience is also very crucial when dealing with children. Since children do not behave the same way as adults do in terms of reasoning, they should be handled from a very different point as compared to adults. Children themselves are of three categories, and these are, slow learners, moderate learners and quick learners.
A good teacher should understand that a slow learner should not be blamed for not catching up with the quick learner since creations are diverse and therefore natural. ‘Trade ability’ stresses that, equality should be observed when treating pupils. Flexibility is also very paramount to any individual who is entrusted with minors. This means that an educator will encounter abrupt changes among children and therefore he must be a good counselor toward children to help them understand themselves. Another core value is Respect. Respect for children at their earlier stages is very helpful since children emulates what their seniors are doing especially their teachers. Creativity is another key to guide kids through their lives. Children must be taught how to be innovative especially during problem solving amongst them. A teacher can improvise techniques which will help kids understand and know how to relate to each other. This can be successfully applied through extra curriculum activities like scouting.
Audibility should also be observed by teachers. A good child teacher ensures that he applies audibility in a very careful and calculated way so that it does not scare children. When talking, a teacher should not shout insensibly, neither should he talk in a very low voice to an extent that he cannot be heard by pupils who are behind. If an educator is over shouting, children will be afraid and fearful. This will destruct a child’s morale in learning since he will think that you want to beat him. A good educator must make a child feel as free as possible and should therefore not shout at the child even if the child has messed. Children need love and care and that is the reason why most children prefer to be friends with their mums rather than their dads and this is due to their ways of talking whereby men appear to be of no nonsense when it comes to children unlike the mothers who at all times pacifies their children by getting them some gifts which fathers have no time for.
Still in classrooms, quality early childhood teachers should not talk too slowly because others might not get him clearly and naturally at their tender age, they are afraid of asking the educator to repeat what he has said unlike the mature ones who are unafraid of the teacher. The teacher and the entire supportive staff should put settings in place which will enhance the proper upbringing of children. They must understand that as the second parents to the child they are taking care of, they are believed in with parents of these children and must therefore do their job to the best of their levels to ensure that as they were given the kid to take care of, they have to give back an adult who is responsible enough that they can be proud of. Basically, the communal constructivist approaches encompasses best knowledge about attractive learning. A good child educator must be able to treat each child with respect and equality irrespective of the parents’ financial statues, culture, religion, creed, and political status. Any early child educator that is found to go against any of these core elements should be prosecuted under the laws of the land which defend children. A good child educator believes that children are innocent angels who incase of any suffering, are suffering innocently. (Trade Ability, 2009)
Conclusion:
Children are not young adults but children. This means that they should be treated with extra attention and care since they are innocent in front of the world. Early childhood educators have a responsibility ahead of them which requires a lot of care. A quality early childhood educator must know that a school is like a factory where they are workers with the responsibility to do their best and come out with the best product. In this case, they should know that the children in this factory are the raw materials whereby they have power over them to mould them to whatever shape they want. Given all these powers by the parents, they should make sure that by the end of the day, they transform these children into responsible adults in a society. The governments also have roles to play. They should safeguard the interests of their children since those are the future leaders of the same governments.
References:
Heckman, J. (2008): Investing Early Is More Cost-Effective. Derived September 26, 2010 from
http://ffyf.org/why-it-matters/investing-early-is-more-cost-effective
Pereira, t. (2009): Early Childhood Teacher. Derived September 26, 2010 from
http://www.careers.govt.nz/default.aspx?id0=20103&id1=J35420
Trade Ability. (2009): Early Childhood Teacher. Derived September 26, 2010 from
http://www.tradeability.ca/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=3404&Lang=en
Helm, H. (1999): Early Childhood Education. Derived September 26, 2010 from
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/students/earlycld/ea100.htm
Amory, B. (2008): Seven Steps to Effective Early Childhood Education Programming. Derived
September 26, 2010 from http://www.naesp.org/resources/1/Principal/2008/M-Jweb1.pdf
