Early Childhood Education Careers
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Early Childhood Education Career Overview
Careers in Early Childhood Education involve working with, caring for, and teaching young children, in preschool, daycare, or elementary school settings. These are both challenging and rewarding careers, and particularly important ones, too, as Early Childhood Education workers help to equip children with basic learning skills they will use for the rest of their lives.
Early Childhood Education workers should above all have a strong interest in the promotion of child welfare and education, and be committed to providing the children they work for with support, care and education to the best of their ability. They will need excellent communication and interpersonal skills, patience and tact, and the ability to successfully work with children, parents, and other teachers and members of staff.
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In all US states, Preschool and Elementary School Teachers must hold a Bachelor’s degree, complete an approved Teacher training program, and obtain a license that is granted by their state’s Board of Education.
Head Start Teachers must obtain at least an Associate’s degree to begin working in the field. However, many employers require that Head Start Teachers hold or work towards gaining a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development.
A Daycare Center Director should hold at least a Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and development. They will also require experience working in a daycare center before they can obtain a Director’s position. Most employers will also require they have experience or education in business administration.
Early Childhood Education Career & Salary
According to US Department of Labor predictions, employment of Early Childhood Education careers is expected to grow at a rate of approximately 12% through to the year 2016; however this growth will vary by region.
The majority of Preschool Teachers earn a salary of between $18,000 and $40,000, depending on their level of experience and geographic location. The median salary for Preschool Teachers is approximately $23,000. For Elementary School Teachers, the salary range is $30,000 to $72,000, with a median salary of $45,000. The average salary for a Head Start Teacher is approximately $27,000, and for Daycare Center Directors, the average salary is $42,000 to $45,000.
Career Fields/Specializations
Preschool Teacher Career
Preschool Teachers play a very important role in early childhood development, because they are involved with the child’s first experience of learning in a classroom-like setting. This is particularly important because a child’s experiences of learning at a young age can shape their entire future. The primary role of a Preschool Teacher, therefore, is to introduce learning to their students in a way that makes it a positive experience, and fosters an interest in learning in their students.
Preschool Teachers use games, story-telling, music, and other activities to introduce learning concepts and subjects such as language and mathematics, and awareness of science and nature. For example, they might use counting games to introduce number concepts, and use story-telling or verbal games to help children develop their vocabularies.
A Preschool Teacher must have a strong interest in helping children develop early learning skills, and be able to develop good relationships not only with the children they teach, but also with parents and other members of staff. They should be able to work well both alone and in a team, have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as well as patience and tact.
Head Start Teacher Career
Head Start Teachers work with children of three to five years of age, as part of a special Head Start Program designed to promote welfare and learning in young children who live below the poverty line in the US.
The primary role of the Head Start Teacher is to provide their students with basic education to prepare them for beginning formal elementary school education. This includes developing methods of teaching basic skills in language, literacy, and numeracy. The Head Start Teacher typically uses media such as stories, games, art, and music to teach these skills, often working with small groups of children, or one-on-one with individuals.
Head Start Teachers should have a strong interest in helping children develop the early learning skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. They should be able to develop good relationships with the children they teach, and also with parents and other members of staff. In addition, they must be able to work well both independently and with other teachers, have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as well as patience and tact.
Daycare Center Director Career
Daycare centers typically provide care – and sometimes early childhood education – for children less than five years of age. In some cases a daycare center may provide care for older children after school hours. The role of the Daycare Center Director is to plan, direct and manage the running of a daycare center.
A Daycare Center Director’s responsibilities include supervision staff, planning schedules, addressing the needs of children, and addressing any concerns their parents may have. In addition they will spend part of their time dealing with administrative duties such as budget preparation and staffing issues. However, the focus is on developing an environment in which the welfare of the children they care for is the most important issue.
Daycare Center Directors must have a broad range of skills, including interpersonal and communication skills, organizational, problem-solving and time-management skills. In addition, they must have a strong focus on promoting child welfare, and have a good understanding of early childhood development and education.
