Being an early childhood education teacher allows you to engage with infants and children up to eight (8) years of age. Interacting with children helps them develop their wit and intellect as they converse with adults. Young educators help in the social development of the children as they play with the other children in class.
What do you need to be an early childhood education teacher?
Being an early childhood educator involves a number of factors that affect the journey to becoming an educator. It begins with the passion of teaching and helping children with their education.
Read through the article and learn if you have what it takes to be an early childhood teacher.
Engage with children
Early childhood teachers enthuse children through activities that involve their bodies, minds, and their peers. It begins with simple counting activities to introduce the concept of math. Then, teachers let children play with different materials to help them grasp the concept of art. While some teachers like physical activities to let children interact with each other, a number of teachers use films, field trips, and educational games as their primary choice.
Learning is fun, especially if done with friends. Spark their imagination through storytelling or role playing. Moreover, teachers engage them through singing nursery rhymes.
How can you succeed?
Building a career as an early childhood educator begins with patience, perseverance, and passion for teaching children. Possessing great communication skills helps when clarifying lessons to children, reassuring parents of their safety and progress, and keeping their focus on the discussion. Looking at their faces filled with laughter makes an educator’s confidence grow and feel successful.
Starting a career in this field gives an opportunity to share knowledge with children. The activities that teachers share at school molds and guides them to the path of success.
Widening your expertise
Building a career in early childhood education entails a continuous education on the part of the teacher and specialization in certain fields.
As the world diversifies, children across the country are becoming more bilingual. Bilingual teachers and qualified people to educate English as a second language have access to different career opportunities by using their skills in programs that cater to non-native English speaking children.
Careers as an early childhood education teacher
New jobs are readily available in the field of early childhood education. Teachers who continue on the early childhood education path look forward to different opportunities to expand their skills and develop the programs they teach. These improve the quality for the next generation of educators.
Any aspirant, no matter what background they come from, may enter the field of early childhood education through a degree or certification. An advocacy group, Pre-K Now, suggests that receiving a certification to become a child development associate (CDA), especially for teacher aides working with young children, toddlers and preschool. Remember that a bachelor’s degree and state teacher certification are required for those working with children in school.
What comes next?
Professors and teachers who earned their post-graduate degrees or specialization certifications may expand their careers through:
- Administering or managing a daycare center
- Founding a group of preschools or daycare centers in the community
- Becoming a researcher
- Sharing knowledge with aspiring educators
Work hours
A number of child care institutions operate all year long with long hours to accommodate working parents. Teachers work different shifts to cover morning and afternoon classes.
Other institutions offer discounts to teachers, especially for children’s tuition and fees. Moreover, some give benefits packages that include sick and vacation leave, insurance, and food allowances.
A rewarding role
One of the biggest benefits of working as a childhood educator is getting to develop the skills of children as they grow up and move on to preschool. An institution that encourages growth and career development motivates the teacher to do their best in any circumstance.
Salary
According to the BLS, the average annual salary that early childhood educators receive is around $29,000. Those working in elementary and primary schools earn an average annual salary of $45,000. Salaries vary on a number of factors which include:
- Specialization
- Certifications acquired
- Trainings or seminars attended
- Location
- Level of expertise
- Other factors
Improve your skills by attending trainings and seminars from National CDA Training and establish your career in early children education.