Lecture Note Week 03

UNIT 3
BECOMING AN EARLY CHILDHOOD PRACTITIONER
The seven roles of the early childhood teacher are:
1. The early childhood teacher as a communicator
We know that part of the teaching process is communication, but often we don’t reflect on our own
communication skills. The words we use, our tone of voice, our mannerisms, facial expressions and body
language are all aspects of communication with children. Children are learning their social cues both
from our intentional and unintentional communications with them. We can also forget sometimes that
part of our role as a communicator is to interact in a professional manner with our team. This is not
specific to early childhood teachers but to all individuals who need support, encouragement and advice
from peers.
2. The teacher as a facilitator

As a facilitator rather than the traditional view of a didactic teacher, the early childhood teacher is not
simply passing information and knowledge to children they work with. Instead, they are trying to
support children to become independent learners. To be an effective facilitator the teacher is interested
in setting up the environment, planning programs to suit individual children’s needs and reflecting on
practice. The job of the facilitator is to create learning opportunities for children, pointing out lessons
that can be learned in everyday actions and activities. You are bridging educational theory with practice.
3. The teacher as a coach

As a coach the early childhood teacher tries to encourage the children they work with. You observe play,
make suggestions on how the environment, social relationships or teaching strategy can be improved;
you also work to bring the best out of each child and to give children activities and exercises in order to
enhance their teamwork.
4. The teacher as a model

When you are in your setting you are constantly being observed by lots of tiny eyes, eyes that are taking
everything in and learning norms and values of the setting. Children are very alert, very sophisticated
and aware of the world around them, perhaps even more so than when we were young. They often
question adult practices and ask why their mother, brother or teacher acted in a certain way. Where we
are acting in our professional capacity, we want to model the kind of behavior we expect from them. This
requires a lot of thinking about ourselves, our deepest set beliefs, the elements of our personality that
we bring to the classroom and the values that we emphasize in our teaching.
5. The teacher as a storyteller

As you are probably aware, being able to grab and hold attention is an important skill. Many children
may not be used to hearing stories at home, stories that are read or stories that are passed on from
parents to children about their family history. Telling or reading stories in the classroom is an important
part of a child’s education. It can be a vehicle for you to deal with cultural issues or a difference in family
backgrounds or language issues. If you choose books, you read wisely, then you can start a conversation
about why children with additional needs have the same experiences, families and feelings as others.
6. The teacher as a keeper of time.

This is quite a controversial topic because we are all trying too hard to accomplish tasks within a
separate timeframe. We are putting pressure on children to achieve an outcome by the end of a lesson
or by the end of a week and we are setting deadlines which limit their learning. Instead, we should be
questioning the validity of timekeeping and of time frames. That we shouldn’t be dividing the learning
into designated or prescribed blocks of time. Instead, we should be trying to create constant learning
opportunities. Whether it’s a break time, or drop off time or outdoor time. Researchers say we should
ask ourselves what kind of message we are sending children at such a young age. If we are telling them
to finish their painting in 30 minutes, or they need to finish their game in 20 minutes. Their conclusion is
that we are telling children that we are less concerned with the quality of their experience or their
output or more concerned with meeting the deadline. Learning is constant and we should never see
young children’s learning as being limited to the times of the day when we are actively trying to teach
them a song or modelling certain activities. However, it is true that many children, particularly some
children with additional needs favor routine. Keep to the clock for break times, outdoor time, nap time
etc. This can be very useful to prevent children from getting anxious or stressed.
7. The teacher as a researcher.

The role of the early childhood teacher as a researcher is becoming more and more emphasized across
all levels of education. Being a researcher is more than just collecting data and writing research papers. It
is about using your observation and reflection to inform your practice. Every day that you include
children or parents’ opinions and reactions into your learning programme, then you are doing research
and using it to inform what you do. Similarly, if you have problems solving challenges that arise in
relation to children with additional needs, partnership with parents or how to create an inclusive
strategy for your setting then you will most likely turn to experts; books, articles or policies before you
make a plan for change. This too is research. Finally, as a professional in the early years’ sector, you are in
a perfect position to help further our knowledge about working with young children; child development,
pedagogy and children’s learning.
Early Childhood Educator Responsibilities:
 Helping in developing and implementing a teaching program

 Creating lesson plans and assigning homework to the students
 Analyzing every child’s performance and adapting the program to suit their needs
 Keeping children engaged via innovative teaching methods
 Creating fun ways to impart knowledge in children
 Discussing the child’s progress with the parents
 Promoting teaching methods that help in the social and emotional growth of the children
 Attending teacher’s training programs and conferences to upgrade skills
 Resolving any queries and complaints from the children
 Attending staff meetings with the Principal as and when required
 Adhering to the educational guidelines and promoting a positive learning environment
How to become a childcare worker
1. Get your checks
You’ll need to gain the following checks, usually before starting your course:
 Working with Children check  Police check
Depending on where you’re applying to work, you may also need to register with the Department of
Human Services.
2. Get qualified
The level of qualification you hold will allow you to work in different settings or progress into more
senior roles. Qualifications are stackable, so you can start with a Certificate III and add more training
later. The childcare qualifications you can choose from include:
 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113)

 Certificate IV in School Age Education and Care (CHC40113)
 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC50113)
During your course, you’ll be required to learn about children’s emotional, physical, mental and social
development, as well as how to plan and carry out activities for children and the code of ethics in
childcare. Complete 120 hours of work placement.
3. Get your first-aid certificate
Although not always required, it’s a good idea to get your First Aid certificate (including CPR,
Anaphylaxis, and Asthma Awareness training). Employers are more likely to hire you if you have them
since it will make staff scheduling easier. If you’re planning to work in family day care, you must have all
three. You’ll need to renew your training every three years and take a refresher course in CPR each year.
Qualities of early childhood educators
Patience, communication, and a love of young children are just a few of the qualities you’ll need if you
want to become an early childhood educator.
1. Patience
Full of curiosity and excitement, and eager to learn, touch, and do, little kids can be impulsive and
reactive. That’s why it’s so important for the adults in their lives to be patient, understanding, and calm.
You need to understand that the children in your care may not always grasp what’s appropriate. It’s up to
you to teach them. Show them the way and give them your unhurried time and attention.
2. Passion for Teaching

Teachers of all kinds step into the role because they just can’t imagine doing anything else. They were
born to teach. Do you feel the same way? If you’re not excited about the work and responsibility of
teaching young learners, you may need to find another career path.
3. Love for Young Children
Little kids can’t tie their shoes or zip their jackets or reason the way children even just a few years older
can. But they’re so darn cute! If you’re going to shape their future, you have to love the age group and all
the very different personalities you’re likely to encounter.
4. Caring and Compassion
Children require nurturing, tenderness, and love. You need to be warm and genuine to gain their trust
and attention. And you have to care about the whole person and understand the obstacles they might
face, whether it’s a boo boo at play time, or a home life that’s less than perfect.
5. Flexibility
You may begin your day with a fully formulated plan and then get completely derailed by your students.
And it could be a regular occurrence. These youngsters are still growing and developing and sometimes
operate on their own schedules. It’s important to be a thoughtful and organized planner, but also be
willing to pivot when the circumstances call for it.
6. Empathy
Imagine being little and scared? It’s been a long time since you were a child, but you need to be able to
empathize with those little kids and their big emotional feelings.
7. Creativity
Teaching this age group requires a comfort with arts and crafts, storytelling, exercise, and educational
games. It’s important to keep things fresh and try new activities to keep your students and their short
attention spans engaged.
8. Organization
Young children thrive on structure and predictability. Being well-organized will help you multitask,
respond to competing needs at the same time, and have a structure in place that keeps things running
smoothly. To hone your organizational skills, use whatever calendars, apps, and tools you can—so it
makes your life—and those of your students—easy.
9. Communication Skills
You may be a great communicator with people your age, but how are you when it comes to children? It
takes strong listening skills and the ability to articulate what you mean in a way that they’ll understand.
You will also need to shift communication gears when you speak to parents, coworkers and members of
the administration.
10. Dedication
Your job will come with a lot of responsibility and reward. If you’re dedicated to helping young children
adapt, learn, and grow during this young age, you will be effective and successful.
Increasing the social status of the early childhood educator
 What is the degree of respect for teachers in relation to other professions?

 What is the social position of teachers?
 Do teachers want their children to teach?
 How many hours do you think teachers work per week?
 And how much should teachers be paid?
Low social status of early childhood and preschool teacher profession has not been significantly
improved, neither in the context of continuous emerging of new professions in the late modernity,
neither in the context of flourishing of different approaches to professional development. For this
reason, determining the attitudes of early childhood and preschool teachers about the position and
relevance of their profession in our society, as well as whether there is a connection between the
mentioned attitudes and early childhood and preschool teachers’ attitudes to professional development.
A research result showed that early childhood and preschool teachers believe they perform an
extremely responsible job which is professionally and materially undermined in our society. However,
the results also showed that there is a certain connection between positive cultures of educational
institutions, professional development of early childhood and preschool teachers and their positive
perception of the social status of early childhood and preschool teacher profession. If the teaching
career is respected, if teachers are adequately paid there will be more people interested in dedicating
themselves to this profession, and the academic performance of the students will improve.

Lecture Note Week 03

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Lecture Note Week 03

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UNIT 3

BECOMING AN EARLY CHILDHOOD PRACTITIONER

The seven roles of the early childhood teacher are:

1. The early childhood teacher as a communicator

2. The teacher as a facilitator

3. The teacher as a coach

4. The teacher as a model

5. The teacher as a storyteller

6. The teacher as a keeper of time.

7. The teacher as a researcher.

Early Childhood Educator Responsibilities:

 Helping in developing and implementing a teaching program

How to become a childcare worker

1. Get your checks

 Working with Children check  Police check

 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113)

3. Get your first-aid certificate

Qualities of early childhood educators

2. Passion for Teaching

3. Love for Young Children

4. Caring and Compassion

Increasing the social status of the early childhood educator

 What is the degree of respect for teachers in relation to other professions?

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