Interview with an early childhood educator
What have you learned about diversity from working with parents?
I have leant that parents are diverse. This is mainly because they have different needs when it comes to what they want for their children. Therefore, it is important to meet parents regularly in order to discuss what they want for their children, as this will help in ensuring that the parent’s views are taken into account in school.
Think of an example of a way that you supported or engaged a family in a respectful, reciprocal relationship that benefited your classroom or your center.
I have supported a family in a respectful, reciprocal relationship that benefited my classroom by ensuring that I express any issues that I have about a child to his or her parent.
Think of an example of a way that you supported or engaged a part of your local community in a respectful, reciprocal relationship to help your classroom or your center
I have supported a part of my local community in a respectful, reciprocal relationship to help my classroom by engaging children in my classroom in community activities such as environmental cleaning up. These important skills will ensure that children understand the need for being part of the community.
Recall and describe a negative experience with parents. Was there a better way you could have handled the situation?
I had a negative experience with a parent who came to my class complaining and shouting that I was not paying attention to his child. The situation would have been handled differently if the parent had been polite.
Recall and describe a positive experience with parents. Was there anything you did helped this situation be more positive?
I had a positive experience with parents when I helped a child who was a slow learner grasp class concepts by offering additional tuition to the child. The child’s performance greatly improved over time and his parents were very happy about it.
Interview with a parent
What have you learned from your child’s teachers?
I have learned from my child’s teachers that in order for my child to be successful I have to be involved in his schoolwork.
Think of an example that you were involved in a reciprocal relationship with a teacher that benefited either your child’s classroom or the center
I was involved in a reciprocal relationship with a teacher where I strived to know the teacher personally in order to increase my involvement in my child’s school development.
Think of an example that you were NOT involved in a positive reciprocal relationship with your child’s teacher. How do you believe this could have had a more positive outcome? What could the teacher have done? What could you have done?
I was involved in a negative relationship with a teacher once with a teacher who did not care about the progress of my child. The teacher never communicated with me and never provided me with updates on how my child was performing in class. This relationship would have been improved if the teacher communicated more with me.
How would you prefer a teacher to address an issue with your child?
A teacher should always feel free to invite me to school at any time in order to address an issue with my child.
Describe how the teacher typically communicates with families. Are you satisfied with the level of communication with the teacher? How could it be improved?
The teacher communicates through notes and letters addressed to the parent. The teacher can also call the parent in case of an emergency. I am satisfied with this level of communication with the teacher. This communication can be improved if the teacher can provide the child’s weekly progress reports.
NAEYC Professional Code of Ethics:
How could you use this information an early childhood educator?
The information contained in the professional code of ethics can be used by an early childhood in guiding them on how to interact with teacher and parents. This is attributable to the fact that it provides a guide to a teacher on how to conduct himself or herself when dealing with young children.
How would you use the NAEYC Professional Code of Ethics in your work with parents?
I would use the NAEYC Professional Code of Ethics to resolve any ethical dilemmas with parents that arise in the classroom.
Which of the NAEYC Professional Code of Ethics do you feel are most important for an educator to practice and why?
Section 1 of the NAEYC Professional Code of Ethics is the most important for an educator as it addresses the ethical responsibility to children. It is essential for an educator to be able to understand the ethical responsibility that they have over the children that they teach.
