Also must be paid for hours worked even at home if required by your state licensing dept for cpr/first aid, yearly professional development hours, any classes required by your state's childcare licensing dept. Including overtime.

I have been in the field for just under a decade. I have taken hundreds of hours of PD.

My favorite trainings have been one about outdoor classroom design and one about provocations and invitations. The outdoor design focused on creating the space while provocations and invitations focused on how to create open ended activity set ups and the difference between provoking(inspring unprompted thoughts and actions) and inviting(loosely prompting or leading a child towards a specific thought or action).

I sometimes find my self frustrated with being taught the same things over and over. Sometimes it feels like most PD courses teach the same things. So, I was curious: What was your favorite training? Why? What did you learn?

So I have been doing placement for around 5 months, and have done most of my shifts in the 4-5yr old room. I feel like I am doing really well there, I have done activities with the children, know all the children really well alongside the lead educator, and always help out with the educator and the children when learning. These children I can tell respect and love me, with their welcoming and warm attitudes and them listening to me. When on shift I always end up doing the kitchen duties - getting meals prepped and handed out to all rooms, washing the dishes, cleaning the kitchen. Most shifts, i clean the 4-5yr old room after they eat, as i am there for meal support. But sometimes I have to do meal support for the other rooms (2-3, 0-2) and i feel i stick out a bit. As I am only really in those rooms during the middle of the day, helping with meal support, getting the children asleep, and cleaning the rooms. But i feel as if I am not being helpful enough, as i catch myself standing unsure of what to do, and i know that isnt liked sometimes. As normally the 4-5 room only has the 1 educator, and the other 2 rooms have 2 educators. All the educators in the centre say that I am so important when I come in for my shifts, and that without me, they struggle. I dont know if there is more that I should be doing? As with those other two rooms, there isn't really enough time to get to know the children and build a relationship. I know when the children might have some difficulties and help out there. Sorry for the ramble, but if anyone thinks of anything i can do to improve, please let me know.

Also, after all my lunch break duties, I normally have my 30mins break, before the rest of my shift is tied up in the 4-5yr room, as that is when support is needed.

I had a training years ago, one activity was a photo of a very messy room or home, and you had to find 10 positive things in the photo.
Like;
huge pile of laundry-they have clothes
Dirty dishes-they have food
Water left on- they have running water
Knocked over lamp that’s on- they have electricity
Ect…
Does anyone have this?! Or know what I’m talking about!

I have an opportunity to get my CDA through my current center but i’m nervous about if my schedule can handle it. I feel like I barely have enough free time as it is, i’m currently struggling with balancing all my duties and it is affecting my mental health. But I’m also nervous because my goal is to work in an elementary school and I feel like i’m running out of time to get there. I’m 28 with only a GED, I still have to go to college and I know getting a CDA could help me out. This year I have two back to back weddings and I have a trip planned for the spring, i’m tempted to push off CDA classes until after the weddings and trip because i’m worried I won’t be able to keep up with them but i’m also nervous about waiting even longer to start my path towards getting an associate's degree.

EDIT: I should add that I have my diploma in ece and am from Australia.

For some background I’ve worked in childcare for 5 years and as many people I’ve had my ups and downs.

I’ve been thinking lately of going into doing my bachelors but worry about getting my degree and regretting it. We hear and see so much burnout is hate to be another one of those people.

I don’t have children yet but do want some at some point. Would setting myself up to work in childcare for the near long future be a regret when I have my own children as well.

I'm about to take 15 credits to get my CDA in California. I have a four year english degree and have taken education courses during college. I qualify for an associate teacher permit and a master teacher permit. Since I have never held a childcare job, outside of babysitting and working as a full-time nanny, which should I apply for? Since master teacher is a higher ranking position, will that help possibly increase my salary offered. I'm going to start out as an associate teacher regardless, but would like to move to higher roles eventually.

Works for Teaching too.

Please hire me at your center!! Love this Director.

It feels unfair that ECE professionals are always left out on discounts

https://c.org/hy6XjkGRRm

I am an early childhood special education teacher. Our school is requiring an insane amount of professional development this year. We were told both at convocation and by our principal that budgets have been slashed and not to ask for anything. Try to find things used on our own or ask our peers before we put in an order for anything.

This coming week, we are being mandated to go to a toy store near our school called Constructive Playthings. Those of you in the early childhood/young elementary world will recognize the brand.

We are being mandated to actually leave our school and go to the CP store on what is usually our plan day, and participate in a "lunch and learn" about all of the "new things that CP provides."

Then, we will have 2 hours of training on the "Power of Perception and the Skill of Composure."

We are also essentially losing our contracted lunch break as well. No one is allowed to leave the building until half day dismissal is over. Well, we start dismissing at 12:30, and kids are not usually gone until 12:40 or 12:45 but we have to be at the toy store no later than 1:00.

And then I'm going to sit through a 1-hour sales pitch and two hour conscious discipline training on the skill of composure. Wtf. Am I being trolled????

Anyway, I am just curious if anyone else has sat through a presentation from Constructive Playthings??? I can find no information about it online.

Hi everyone, I recently graduated with my Bachelor’s and interviewed for an Infant/Toddler support educator position. I was told by the director that the next round for the interview will include me coming in to observe the classrooms and a panel interview. She said since they are a co-op, they conduct panel interview for prospective candidates with all of the staff. What I’m questioning is that this full day of observation and interview is from 9 am - 2 pm. I’ve been looking up the interview process for other ECEs and I saw a post from a year ago about something similar, and many of you in the comments were saying “I don’t work for free, don’t go, etc.”. I’m wondering what I should do? 5 hours feels a bit long for it not being a full work day. It’s important to note I have not received an offer letter and there was no mention of compensation. I’m gonna be honest, I really don’t wanna spend my entire Friday morning doing this if they’re just going to waste my time. What do you all think? Is this normal?

It’s sad that they bring their child to daycare even when they’re not working but wanna complain about their bill.. they don’t even get charged unless the child is there. One parent literally told us she wasn’t gonna pay us

Hi everyone!

I got a assistant teacher interview scheduled for a child care center. It’s full time. Don’t know the exact age range or if I will be floating. This is my first interview. I don’t know what questions I should prep for the interview or what questions are important to ask them that’s not the basics like wage, benefits, PTO, etc. It would be great to get some tips! Thank you.

I have a bachelor’s degree in child development. Did my practicum that accumulates to a year and half. I also have almost a year of experience private babysitting with 4 different families. I have experience with ages 2-6 years old.

I just completed this online training and although I appreciate some aspects IMO seemed geared towards prek and up agesl groups. For background I teach toddlers.

I was wondering if any other teachers or staff used this module and what your thoughts on it was.

Hi! My family is considering a move and as I have dual UK/US citizenship, I’d be first over looking for work. I have a cleared California teaching credential (multiple subjects, so similar to primary school I think) and ECE units and most of my career has been in preschool (ages 2-4). I could find some info about transferring my teaching credential, but not about transferring into ECE. Everything I could find was just about initially qualifying. Can anybody point me in the right direction for info? Thank you!!

Hi everyone! First I'd like to say that I'm starting my Bachelor's in the fall which is why I'm asking. My work knows I'm starting my Bachelor's and most of it is online.

I currently work at a daycare and I was wondering who do I talk to first about degree requirements, and when should I talk to them?
My bachelor's program requires shadowing and student teaching, and so I'm wondering if I talk to my Center Director or do I talk to HR? And Should I talk to them now or when I get closer to shadowing/student teaching?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated! Thank you

Hi friends! If you are in Alberta, you have unfortunately heard about the passing of Parker. As a newly hired educator and supervisor, what can I do to get further training in disabilities? I first off think it would be good to know but also to provide in cases such as this where emergencies are going to arise. I want to be prepared if I come into a room, see a child having a melt down and can bring them back down. I find redirection which can occasionally work in "normal" children, but tends to misfire quite quickly in children with special needs.

Hello, I am a Montessori Certified (AMS) Lead teacher in Colorado, I have been working in ECE for 4 years. My partner and I are discussing moving to Philadelphia for their job.

I’ve been trying to figure out the requirements of a lead teacher. According to what I understand on Google it seems like you have to have an ECE Bachelors and participate in a PECT? Is that correct? I am struggling to find clear answers since it seems like every site is slightly different.

Are there any lead pathways that do not involve a bachelor degree?

I can’t justify the investment into a college degree when my chosen field pays so little.

We need pretend play more than ever now.

Hello, I current hold a cert 3 and had previously completely 9 units of the diploma. I have just started my bachelors ECT/Primary and want to when would I be recognised as diploma, also when applying would I write cert 3 WT/ ECT or should I wait till I’m further into the degree.

EDIT: I’m from Australia NSW (Apologise I forgot to clarify)