Edited by Dr. Vivian G. Baglien
as adapted from Dr. Yvonne Gentzler
To Communicate Effectively
 As a teacher, positive communication skills help you to
 form and maintain a close relationship with the children
in your care
 exchange information with parents and guardians
 form meaningful relationships with colleagues
To Demonstrate Teamwork
 Staff in early childhood programs need to work as a
team, which helps to
 make coworkers feel respected and important
 show empathy by recognizing others’ feelings
 share ideas and information
 encourage meaningful interactions with children
 resolve conflicts effectively
To Manage Time Wisely
 Time management skills help teachers
 work smarter, not harder
 organize time
 set priorities
 distinguish between important and urgent matters
 make good choices and use time wisely
To Participate in Professional
Organizations
 Professional organizations help you keep up with
current developments in the field
 National Association for the Education of Young
Children (NAEYC)
 Family, Career and Community Leaders of America
(FCCLA)
 National Child Care Association
 National Head Start Association
Discuss
 How can professional organizations help you find
career opportunities in the field?
To Follow Ethical Standards
 When working with young children, rely on your
ethics to help make tough decisions
 Maintain the highest standards of professional conduct
 Follow the code of ethical conduct created by NAEYC for
early childhood professionals
 Choose ethical behavior, which is not always easy
NAEYC; code of ethical conduct
• Appreciate childhood as a unique and valuable stage of
the human life cycle
• Base our work on knowledge of how children develop
and learn
• Appreciate and support the bond between the child
and family
• Recognize that children are best understood and supported
in the context of family, culture,* community, and
society
• Respect the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of each
individual (child, family member, and colleague)
• Respect diversity in children, families, and colleagues
• Recognize that children and adults achieve their full
potential in the context of relationships that are based
on trust and respect
To Continue to Learn
 Professional development is ongoing
 Lifelong learners utilize
 conferences
 in-service training
 course work
 journals
 study groups
 books
Characteristics of Successful
Teachers
 Fondness for
 Sense of humor
children
 Patience
 Compassion
 Confidence
 Commitment
 Personal desire
 Physical and mental
health
Fondness for Children
 The most important trait of an early childhood teacher
is fondness for children
 Establish rapport with children
 Make children feel understood and accepted
 Show love for each child
 Be kind, firm, and understanding
Patience
 Effective teachers allow children time to explore, solve
problems, and create
continued
Patience
 Young children need to
 have extra time to complete tasks
 have the opportunity to repeat tasks
 be able to repeat questions
Compassion
 Compassionate teachers accept others without
prejudice
 Accept any emotion from others
 Are sensitive to both positive and negative feelings
 Compliment children for their successes
 Avoid actions that make children feel worthless
 Help children understand feelings of others
Confidence
 Having confidence in your abilities helps you relax
in the classroom
 Have a calming effect on the children
 Make sensible decisions
 Stand by your choices so children accept them
Sense of Humor
 Children enjoy adults who have a sense
of humor
 Children relax and feel content
 Children tend to be more positive and
cheerful
 Work is more enjoyable
 You see the humor in situations
 You laugh with the children
Commitment
 Meeting the demands of the field requires
commitment
 Be an expert in child development, guidance, and




curriculum
Keep up with current developments
Be fully prepared for all activities
Balance the pace of the activities
Provide appropriate curriculum
Personal Desire
 Knowing you really want to teach young
children is important to your success
 Examine your



interests
feelings
satisfactions
Physical and Mental Health
 Teaching young children is demanding
physically and mentally
 To be alert and able to multi-task,
 eat nutritious meals
 get enough sleep
 stay physically active
 learn to reduce stress
Did You Know?
According to the U.S. Department of Labor,
employment of preschool teachers is projected to
grow faster than average through 2018.
Reflect
 What are some of the qualities you possess that would
make you a good early childhood teacher?
Review
 True or False. Social and economic changes in society
continue to create a need for child care services.
 Name five career opportunities in the early childhood
field.
 What are four characteristics of successful early
childhood teachers?
Glossary
 au pair. A person from a foreign country who lives with a
family and provides child care in exchange for room,
board, and transportation.
 Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential. A
national credential that requires postsecondary courses
in child care education and a minimum number of hours
of child care experience.
Glossary
 developmentally appropriate practice (DAP). A set
of guidelines that focus on the outcomes of learning
activities.
 early childhood. The period of life from birth to nine
years of age.
 entrepreneur. A person who creates and runs his or
her own business.
Glossary
 ethics. A guiding set of moral principles, either those
held personally or those determined by a professional
organization for its members.
 licensing specialist. A person employed by a state to
ensure that the state’s child care rules and regulations
are followed.
Glossary
 nanny: A child care worker who usually provides care
in the child’s home and may receive food and housing
in addition to wages.
Glossary
 prekindergarten (PK). The full range of early
childhood programs including school-based programs
for three- and four-year-olds, preschool, child care,
Head Start, and home-based child care. The goal is to
enable every child with skills needed to succeed in
school.