Summary
Assists an early childhood education teacher in the care, supervision, and instruction of pre-school aged children, in classrooms, common areas, and playgrounds at a center dedicated to pre-kindergarten children. Assists in developing play-oriented curriculum.
Distinguishing Career Features:
The ECE Assistant is the first level of a career path for instruction specifically assigned to pre-kindergarten children. The Assistant requires completion of 12 college units in early childhood education and a demonstrated ability to conduct reading and other activities with proper spoken English. Advancement to ECE Associate Teacher requires an Associate's degree early in childhood education and meet licensing requirements using the Child Development Permit Matrix established through the California Department of Education.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
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Assists one or more Teachers to implement lesson plans by providing positive, play-based learning experiences for children.
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Assists with organizing specific activities such as, but not limited to reading stories, basic arts and crafts, individual and group play, and games. Assists in maintaining classroom order by observing and focusing the activities and behaviors of the children toward group activities.
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Assists in preparing and modifying play-oriented curriculum to meet needs and challenge children.
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Gives each child individual and special attention each day. Responds to each child's particular needs and characteristics.
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Gives individual attention to children with special mobility needs and cognitive abilities. Talks to, comforts, and gives emotional support to children.
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Reports signs of illness or distress observed in the children. Aids in dealing with the situation, as appropriate.
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Responds to the physical and hygiene needs of children by escorting, assisting, diapering, and attending to routine health care needs. May be required to respond to hygiene needs of children with mobility problems.
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Assists in administering a variety of informal and formal assessments and tests such as the kindergarten readiness assessment and other screening tools.
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Assists with recording attendance. Contacts parents about child's attendance.
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Sets up and arranges supplies and equipment used in the classroom or other environment for instruction and projects.
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Provides for the physical and hygiene needs of children. Prepares teaching aids, labels, charts, bulletin boards and displays. Performs various clerical duties such as maintaining charts and logs, developing, and preparing forms, and preparing files and basic correspondence.
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May assist with recording attendance and obtaining parent signatures. May contact parents regarding a child's attendance.
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Performs other duties as assigned that support the overall objective of the position.
Knowledge, skills, and abilities:
The position requires basic knowledge of the goals, principles, of and practices for implementing age-appropriate child development and guidance in a pre-kindergarten environment. Requires a basic knowledge of play-oriented subjects and learning sufficient to assist children with individual and group activities. Requires basic knowledge of child mobility, cognitive, and hygiene needs. Requires basic knowledge of arithmetic, grammar, spelling, language and reading sufficient to assist students with reading, games, and projects. Requires sufficient human relations skills to work cooperatively and exercise patience and sensitivity when interacting with students, staff, and parents. May require knowledge of and conversational competency in a second language.
Requires the ability to perform the essential responsibilities and work tasks of the position. Requires the ability to understand and interpret an instructor's instructions to work with small groups of children, including those with special needs. Requires the ability to understand the needs and differences of children and to reach and motivate them. Requires the ability to balance emotional support and discipline to deal with behavior problems. Ability to perform clerical and classroom support duties with minimum supervision. Work is performed in a classroom setting, presenting minimal exposure to health or safety hazards.
Physical abilities:
Requires the ability to perform work indoors and outdoors in a classroom or playground environment engaged in work of a moderately active nature. Requires normal hearing and speaking skills to communicate with staff and students. Requires near visual acuity to read and write printed materials and observe the activities of children. Requires sufficient ambulatory ability to move about classroom, common area, and playgrounds, assist with presentations, and reach classroom materials. Requires the ability to stand, walk, and sit upright on a floor-level surface for extended periods of time (greater than 1 hour), and to lift, push, and pull light to medium objects on an occasional basis (10-50 lbs). Requires personal appearance, grooming, attitudes, and language patterns that provide a suitable example to children.
Education and experience:
Six semester units of child development OR completion of an accredited Home Economics and Related Occupations (HERO) or Regional Occupation Program (ROP) in Child Development Related Occupations.
Licenses and certificates:
May require a valid driver's license. An appropriate level of certification from the California Department of Education.
Working conditions:
Work is performed indoors and outdoors with some, yet infrequent exposure to health and safety considerations.
