Pre-K Teacher Assistant

Job Summary:

Incumbent works collaboratively in partnership with the classroom teacher for the establishment, maintenance and management of classroom activities.

Major Responsibilities/Activities:

Interaction between Staff and Children

• Maintain confidentiality about issues concerning other staff members, children and families of Enrichment Services Program.
• Understand and demonstrate knowledge of ages and stages of development. Understand the general areas of physical, social, cognitive and emotional development for this age group.
• Staff interact frequently, affectionately, and respectfully by smiling, touching, and holding children. Speak in a friendly, calm, soft, courteous manner within close proximity of the child.
• Staff respect and observe children's interests. Intervene when needed to maintain safety. Enhance children's play with language, toys, and activities.
• Staff communicates directly with each child at the child's level.
• Engage and communicate constructively with individual children during activities and routines. Take every opportunity to positively extend children's thinking and actions.
• Assist and be responsive to children's needs, questions, and requests.
• Encourage and model social behavior and expectations which are developmentally appropriate.
• Acknowledge feelings with sensitivity and demonstrate appropriate expression of emotions.
• Practice positive discipline techniques in guiding children's behavior according to NAEYC.

• Be attentive, flexible and supportive of children and their families during transitions to and from classrooms.
• Assist in implementing daily lesson plans and daily schedules.
• Assist with recording daily observation in Teaching Strategies GOLD
• Assist in organizing and maintaining learning centers within the classroom.
• Recruit volunteers and solicits in-kind contributions.
• Attend meetings, trainings and workshop as required.

• Maintain cleanliness of classrooms and adjoining restrooms.
• Serve as an advocate for the Head Start Program, families and children.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum which reflects observations and assessments of individual children and goals jointly developed with parents/guardians.

Physical Environment, Health, Safety and Nutrition:

Maintain and follow all safety and health rules of the location.

• Supervise children at all times. Demonstrate awareness of entire group while working with a small group or individuals.
• Know the number of children in your group and maintain ratios at all times.
• Maintain accurate attendance records throughout the day.
• Complete appropriate paperwork (i.e., accidents, medication, and allergies).
• Encourage children to utilize appropriate health, safety and nutritional practices.
• Keep environment and equipment safe, clean, and attractive. Encourage respect for classroom materials. Notify designated individual in advance when supplies are needed.
• Assist in arrangement of space into clearly defined, well organized activity areas.
• Organize a variety of materials on low, open shelves for children to use independently.

Minimum Requirements:

• Early Childhood Education (ECE) Diploma; Current Child Development Associate (CDA) or Associate Degree in ECE or equivalent credentials, AND
• Minimum of one year work experience in a childcare setting.

Essential Mental Functions:

• Ability to communicate effectively with parents, children and staff.

Essential Physical Functions:

Incumbent is regularly required to walk, sit, use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear. Regularly required to stand, climb, balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.

Regularly lift and/or move up to ten (10) pounds and frequently lift and/or move up to twenty five (25) pounds. Specific vision abilities required including close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equipment Used:
Office equipment such as P.C., telephone system, calculators, fax machines and copy machines.