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ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following and other duties that may be assigned.
Demonstrates knowledge and competency of basic child development and professional early childhood care and education practices. Demonstrates an ability to apply developmental theory to practice with children.
Assists the teacher in writing and implementing individualized learning plans.
Collaborates with the classroom educational team in implementing program objectives.
Attends to the cognitive, social, emotional, health, and physical care of the children in an assigned group.
Provides warm, positive, sensitive, and responsive care for each child. In collaboration with the teacher and the family, establishes positive care giving routines for each child and for the group. Provides individualized learning opportunities and experiences for children in a respectful manner.
Attends to the cognitive, social, emotional, physical, safety and health needs of children in an assigned group. Facilitates and reinforces sensorimotor exploration, physical and cognitive development, language/early literacy development, development of a positive self concept, development of self-regulation, and development of positive interaction with others through daily interactions and a range of planned activities with individuals and group.
Participates in planning field trips and other activities that involve both children and their families.
Provides children, individually and within small groups, with opportunities for making choices, exploring safely, and problem solving, and when developmentally appropriate for learning to plan, review, and assess their actions.
Participates in implementing learning plans and in creating a calm, nurturing, and safe environment in which children can learn.
Provides necessary child guidance and classroom management in a calm, positive, professional, and non-threatening manner, in accordance with agency's policies regarding child discipline.
Report any instances of suspected child abuse or neglect to the Associate Director of Infant/toddler program and/or teacher and to DCFS, following agency procedures.
Complies with funding source, state and federal program requirements, these include the following; Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Licensing requirements, Community Memorial Foundation Grant requirements for the Infant and Toddler program, Illinois Department of Human Services, Illinois Child and Adult Food Care Program and the Head Start Performance Standards.
Initiates and models for children appropriate social interactions through respectful, appropriate interactions between the classroom teaching team and with parents.
Interacts in an honest, respectful and professional manner with children.
Assists in the preparation of reports and individualized plans for each child, ensures that all paper work is legible and submitted in a timely manner. Assists in completing all other required program records and reports, including daily attendance, meal participation records, parent communication and/or contact forms, etc.
Assists in maintaining a file on each child. This may include samples of child's work, photographs, observational records, anecdotal reports, screening, assessments, individualized plans, individualized family service plans, and records of the child's developmental growth.
Attends consultation meetings with program staff to determine treatment and or educational plans or individual family services plans for individual children and/or children with special needs.
Develops a relationship based on mutual trust with families of children in classroom. Develop partnerships with parents to establish and meet parenting and child development goals in a manner sensitive to and respectful of cultural differences. Collaborates with parents in establishing individualized care giving routines and developing and implementing learning plans.
Communicates effectively with parents daily regarding child behavior, activities, and development. Participates in discussion of the children's progress with parents regularly, including assisting teacher in conducting semiannual parent teacher conferences (these may be scheduled in the early evening or morning hours).
Assist in interpreting the program to parents and models positive developmentally supportive interaction with children.
Makes home visits to parents as required by program, at least two a year.
Assures that safety rules are observed and guards against potentially harmful situations in the classroom, on field trips, walks, and or outdoor play areas.
Assist in proper maintenance of the classroom, shares responsibility with classroom team for cleaning up after classroom activities in order to ensure a safe, healthy and sanitary environment for the children.
Increases knowledge and skills by participating in a minimum of 15 hours annually in seminars or workshops in child development, early childhood education, health, safety, program policies, procedures, etc.
Assist in the childcare facility as needed; this means may be temporarily assigned to another classroom.
Provide guidance on classroom activities and procedures to teacher aides and volunteers and other temporary classroom help, as needed.
Maintain productive relationships with the community at large. |
