EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER ASSIST

Pay: USD $15.50–$21.44 per hour

About the role

Under the guidance of the Teacher, the primary responsibility is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children that encourages their social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development through designing and implementing a developmentally appropriate curriculum according to guidelines established by the Creative Curriculum, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 19 years of age and have a high school diploma or equivalency certificate (GED).
• Excellent communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Interact frequently, affectionately, and respectfully by smiling, touching, and holding children. Speak in a friendly, calm, soft, and courteous manner within close proximity of the child.
• Respect and observe children’s interests. Intervene when needed to maintain safety. Enhance children’s play with language, toys, and activities.
• Communicate directly with each child at the child’s level. Engage and communicate constructively with individual children during activities and routines. Take every opportunity to positively extend children’s thinking and actions.
• Be available and responsive to children’s needs, questions, and requests.
• Encourage and model social behavior and expectations that are developmentally appropriate.
• Acknowledge feelings with sensitivity and demonstrate appropriate expression of emotions.
• Practice positive discipline techniques in guiding children’s behavior according to Memorial Child Care’s Guidelines for positive discipline.
• Be attentive, flexible, and supportive of children and their families during transitions to and from classrooms.
• Implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum based on the guidelines set forth in the Creative Curriculum, reflecting observations and assessments of individual children.
• Assist in designing an environment that responds to children’s individual developmental levels, physical and emotional needs, and current interests through the use of Creative Curriculum.
• Foster positive self-concepts by supporting individuality, independence, and the ability to make choices.
• Encourage creative expression.
• Demonstrate respect for diversity by providing anti-bias, non-sexist language, images, and experiences that reflect both center and global communities.
• Share ideas in planning a daily schedule that provides a balance of activities using the Creative Curriculum lesson plan.
• Assist in documenting children’s accomplishments through anecdotal notes, observations, and portfolios.
• Acknowledge parents and all classroom visitors. Demonstrate a friendly, courteous, and professional manner.
• Respond to parents’ comments and concerns with sensitivity, interest, and respect. Maintain confidentiality.
• Participate in a Primary Caregiving relationship with individual children and their families.
• Share appropriate information with parents on a daily basis regarding the development and specific activities of the children in their primary care. Utilize appropriate written communication tools as assigned.
• Assist in planning and attend center/classroom events and meetings.
• Maintain and follow all safety and health rules of the center.
• Supervise children at all times. Demonstrate awareness of the entire group while working with a small group or individuals.
• Know the number of children in your group and maintain ratios at all times.
• Maintain accurate attendance records throughout the day.
• Complete appropriate paperwork (e.g., accidents, medication).
• Encourage children to utilize appropriate health, safety, and nutritional practices.
• Keep the environment and equipment safe, clean, and attractive. Encourage respect for classroom materials. Notify designated individual in advance when supplies are needed.
• Assist in the arrangement of space in clearly defined, well-organized activity areas.
• Organize a variety of materials on low, open shelves for children to use independently.
• Maintain confidentiality about issues concerning other faculty members, children, families, or Memorial Child Care management and operations. Do not involve parents in center concerns.
• Become familiar with ages and stages of development for children under your care. Understand the general areas of physical, social, cognitive, and emotional development for this age group.
• Support organizational mission, philosophies, values, goals, and policies to parents, co-workers, and the community.
• Ensure continuity of care for children by reporting to work on time and maintaining consistent attendance, arranging and communicating leave requests in advance.
• Respect and adhere to staffing schedules, which may be adjusted as program needs change and may include working in another classroom.
• Demonstrate flexibility and openness to new ideas in childcare practices.
• Attend faculty meetings, training sessions, and other center events.
• Continue professional growth by attending courses, asking for feedback, and reading professional literature.
• Receive constructive criticism with an attitude that indicates a willingness to improve. Give feedback in a respectful manner.
• Establish and maintain a relationship of cooperation and respect with co-workers.
• Assume a fair share of work. Look for ways to be helpful. Demonstrate initiative.
• Assume additional classroom and center responsibilities as needed (e.g., kitchen, pets).
• Offer and share ideas and materials with co-workers.
• Participate actively in the teaching team through communication, collaboration, and curriculum planning.
• Communicate directly, work to resolve conflicts quickly, and avoid gossip.
• Exercise care in expressing views regarding the personal attributes or professional conduct of co-workers. Statements should be based on first-hand knowledge and relevant to the interests of children and programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.