I work for an Early Head Start program where quality is
always being discussed especially since it helps with our funding. We use
different types of assessment to rate our quality such as the Infant/ Toddler
Environment Rating Scale (ITERS), and The Classroom Assessment Scoring System
(CLASS). We are rated using based on materials provided, interactions between children
and teachers, and health and safety to name a few.
We have professional development training almost every
month as well as online training that we complete. The online course is already
paid for and we have assigned courses to take but we are more than welcomed to
take other courses.
Some of my professional goals are to attend a national early
childhood conference. I believe there is so much I could learn from one of
these conferences. Also, it would be a great opportunity to network and meet
other professionals in the field. Some of the challenges are cost but I’m
grateful for the promotion I have received at work that has given me a major
increase in pay. I used to be one of the early childhood teachers who was
making $25-30 thousand a year and living in the Washington DC area that is not
a lot of money to live off of.
My ultimate goal is to be an advocate for the field. We must
advocate for teachers and children to really make improvements. If teachers are
making low salaries it is hard to give your all for the children, we service
because we often have to figure out how we will help ourselves.
Sharita,
ReplyDeleteI genuinely enjoyed reading your post. I look forward to the time to come where I too will attend conferences and become an active advocate for early childhood learners and beyond. Thank you for sharing your goals. Very well done !
Violanda -
Sharita,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your promotion. It's good to see your hard work not going unnoticed. “Children in full-day pre-kindergarten programs accrue greater, longer-lasting cognitive benefits than children in part-day programs. It is clear that while inequity begins early and runs deep, preschool can alter its trajectory” (Kagan, 2009). Therefore, advocating for teachers and children is a must!
Reference
Kagan, (2009). American early childhood education: Preventing or perpetuating inequity? (Equity Matters: Research Review No. 3). Retrieved from Campaign for Educational Equity website: http://www.policyforchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07Preventing-or-Perpetuationg-Inequity.pdf
I love your post this week. Your ultimate goal is so important to the field of early childhood education. It is important to remember the impact that we as educators make on the field of education. We should have the proper resources available to you in order to continue growth in the field.
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