The Child Care Teaching Assistant is responsible for assisting in the planning and carrying out of the activities for an assigned classroom. The AmeriCorps Member must have knowledge of child development as evidence by professional references, education, experience and on-the-job performance
Service Activities
• Participate in mandatory trainings, service projects and team building activities throughout their 10-11 month full time term of service.
• Work cohesively with the lead teacher’s plans to prepare and deliver instructional activities that facilitate active learning experiences.
• Assist in guiding every child through self-directed activities, allowing them to develop at his or her own pace.
• Along with lead teachers, foster a nurturing, safe, and stimulating, non-competitive environment.
• Demonstrate verbally and by role modeling a sounds knowledge of good teaching practices.
• Maintain a safe, clean and pleasant environment.
• Tend to the physical care, safety and wellbeing of all the children in the group.
• Provide information to parents regarding their children as well as general child development information.
• Responsibility for setting the tone for and maintaining classroom discipline.
• Actively participate in the Healthy Futures education project for AmeriCorps. Providing health education materials to teachers, children and family.
• Participate in an AmeriCorps site health project, by introducing health education to the current curriculum. Work with Lead Teacher’s to develop lesson plans on this health intervention series.
Community Need Addressed
Barriers in education, child-care, and child-development education to low-income families.
Position Outcomes
Increase academic skills and child readiness for K-5 education.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Stipend, Training
CPR Certification offered if not already obtained.
Education Benefits
GED/High School Diploma
CPR Certification training offered if not already obtained.
Skills you will gain
Time Management, Child Care and Child Development, Nutrition, Youth and Family activities, Public Speaking
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Lead group discussion, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Turn taking, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Improvise
Teamwork
Derive consensus, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization