Benefits of ECEs for Teachers
Fact: There are Opportunities for Collaboration
Early Childhood Educators will have the chance at “participating in reporting to parents (ie. calls home, interviews, IPRCs and newsletters)” (OSSTF/FESO, 2010). The teacher in the classroom will have a partner working with them in the learning environment, providing him/her with supporting each assessment and adding information about development and academic progress to the parents. The Early Childhood Educator contributes with the teacher, any necessary information that has to be sent out to notify the parents regarding what is happening in the room. In their training, Early Childhood Educators have 2 years of child development under their belt. They have learned how to communicate effectively with parents of children in their care during the day. Early Childhood Educators will talk about way to help improve the children’s developmental domains through their course in Full Day Kindergarten. Fact: ECEs are Specialists in Child Development The Early Childhood Educator will work together with the teacher in the room in “delivering the Early Learning Program with a collaborative team focus” (OSSTF/FESO, 2010). Early Childhood Educators are taught about children’s development and they focus on domains of the child (cognitive, social/emotional, language, fine/gross motor skills). By having an Early Childhood Educator in the room, they will help the teacher with understanding more about the domains of children. Early Childhood Educators can help teach the teacher to recognize where the child needs improvement and what skills the child is showing the most strength in. Fact: ECEs in the Room will Provide Better Ratios
By having the ECE in the room it will help provide better ratios for smaller group learning to take place in the room. The children will receive more one on one attention by “utilizing large and small group instruction with a schedule that reflects the responsibilities for both the Teacher and ECE” (OSSTF/FESO, 2010). “The ratio for a kindergarten class room with an Early Childhood Educator in it is 1:12” (Friendly, Ferns & Prabhu), providing an ideal scenario with 24 children to and ECE and the Kindergarten teacher. This helps by having more control and less stress in the classroom for both professionals. As stated in People For Education, a typical class size now compared to before has decresed in size, with 98% of all Kindergarten to grade 3 classes in Ontario having 25 or fewer students in them ("Ontario schools," 2007) |
Benefits of ECEs for Families
Fact: ECEs Provide Family-Centred Practice
Parents play a big part in their child’s education experience. “Family-centred practice includes three key elements: (1) an emphasis on strengths, not deficits; (2) promoting family choice and control over desired resources; and (3) the development of a collaborative relationship between parents and professionals” (ESPE-SHERWINDT, 2008). Parents like to be involved when it comes to their child’s education especially in their early years. “When families are involved in their children’s Early Childhood Education, children may experience greater success once they enter elementary school” (Midel & Reynolds, 1999). The Early Childhood Educator in the room has experience working with children in their early years. Through training they get the family involved by having the family come into the class to work with their child to support the child’s best interests. Fact: Parents see their child’s confidence grow
Parents can be assured that “A child whose developmental needs have been met is more likely to grow into a self-reliant, responsible caring and contributing member of society” (“Early Childhood Services” 2012). Anxiety of parents can be put to rest knowing that Early Childhood Educators are taught to go into great depth with the children and support their confidence. The ECE would have practiced this during their time in field placement. Early Childhood Educators help challenge that child so he/she can grow to their full potential. Fact: Readiness for Grade 1 The Full Day Kindergarten Program is designed to make sure children are ready for school. In a survey done in the Canadian Teacher Magazine, parents had found higher quality of education in their children, “Key findings reported that parents of FDELK children rated their children as being “more ready” than parents of the control children for social, academic and physical activities” (Sipos-Smith, 2012). Children are now starting to self-regulate themselves by this age group, instruct themselves, reinforce themselves, and monitor themselves. This is all taught in Kindergarten by the Early Childhood Educator and helps the parents focus more on academic success rather then behaviors. |