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Childcare Chatboard

looking for a new job in childcare: advice needed

by substitutepreschoolteacher

Jan 27, 2011

I haven't been scheduled many hours in months and I am now a substitute "on-call" daycare teacher for a private preschool and daycare. When I am looking for new jobs, I have been creating these very professional resumes and personalized cover letters and mailing them to the the directors of the childcare facilities. How should I follow up with thes...See More

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montmo Not yet. I pretty much have decided to go for an associate's degree instead of the CDA. I had emailed the person listed for information at the community college but just like all other people in these positions regarding my situation, I have gotten no response. I guess I will have to call sometime during work to see if I can get someone to talk to ...See More

Jan 27, 2011

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Cheryl/NH Oh montmo, I'm sorry you will have to start over like that. Just seems so ridiculous. I admire your determination...you obviously want to stay in this field and are dedicated to the children of this age. And you are foster parents?! Wow! You are inspirational! Post here if you EVER need support or just to vent!

BTW: Congrats on taking you...See More

Jan 29, 2011

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project ideas

by nicole

Jan 28, 2011

Anyone have ideas on projects about animals for 3 to 5 year olds?

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Cheryl/NH On 1/28/11, nicole wrote: > Anyone have ideas on projects about animals for 3 to 5 year > olds?

Hi Nicole, Is there a specific animal theme you're thinking of? And are you looking for just art projects or others?

I do have a Winter Animals theme on my website. Feel free to use any of the activities. The link is listed below....See More

Jan 29, 2011

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Would This Be Considered A Long-Term Sub Job?

by Elizabeth

Feb 2, 2011

I was hired for the month of January to fil-in for the 2s coordinator and teacher at a small, private home turned daycare center.

I'm currently in the process of updating my résumé.

Would this be considered a long-term sub position?

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Cheryl/NH Hi Elizabeth,

I would list it as a substitute position and not consider it a long-term sub position. Typically that phrase would be used for 8 weeks or longer such as covering a maternity or surgery leave, or for a teaching term (semester or quarter).

Cheryl

Feb 3, 2011

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Discount tuition for children of daycare teachers??

by PaintGirl

Feb 2, 2011

Hi all- sorry for asking this question here, but I don't know quite where to find out the answer.

I am currently an elementary school art teacher. I worked at a preschool one summer and loved it. I always thought about returning to work at a daycare/preschool one day.

I am now pregnant with my first baby and I am considering makin...See More

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Cheryl/NH I agree with montmo, I would ask. There are many people who apply at centers and want their child with them. Ask if there is an employee rate for employee's children.

As you said, each center is different, it mainly depends upon the number of spaces. For example, in NH, there is a 1:4 ratio for infants. If they only have 4 infant spots, th...See More

Feb 3, 2011

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Elizabeth On 2/02/11, PaintGirl wrote: > If anyone has any insight, I would be really grateful. I > can't quite call up daycares and ask if they have open > teaching positions, and by the way, would my baby get a > discount on tuition as well?

Most daycares, childcares, and preschools, if not all, WILL offer their employees free or disco...See More

Feb 17, 2011

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Tuesday evening chats--Question for all of us!

by Cheryl/NH

Feb 3, 2011

On Tuesday evenings here at teachers.net there is one hour designated for early childhood chats. That would be from kindergarten age and lower. It's at 9:00 EST.

It is not visited often and I was wondering if everyone knew about it?

Also, Meeha/HI and I were thinking that perhaps if there were specific topics or things on our min...See More

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Cheryl/NH Yup, reminders are good! I'll do that on Monday nights, good idea.

Karen, on the preschool board, also brought up the time. 9:00 is late for us on the east coast, but it's only 6:00 on the west coast so any earlier and west coast teachers may not be home yet.

What are everyone's thoughts on nights/times?

Not sure what we...See More

Feb 6, 2011

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Schari That is hard to coordinate a time that will work with all the time zones.

I'm sometimes available on Mon and Wed nights. But like everyone else, there is a lot to accomplish each day.

On 2/06/11, Cheryl/NH wrote: > Yup, reminders are good! I'll do that on Monday nights, good > idea. > > Karen, on the preschool board, ...See More

Feb 7, 2011

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TOPIC ideas for chats?

by Cheryl/NH

Feb 6, 2011

Yup, another post!

What are some topics that you would all like to bounce around with other providers? Perhaps we can focus some of the chats and other discussions around what we are all needing support on?

Some ideas so far:

Transitions during the day

Circle Time--best use of the group time we have.

Ass...See More

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How To Land Work In Daycares, Childcares, and Preschools

by Elizabeth

Feb 7, 2011

I know what it's like to try and find work in the ECE field in the daycare, childcare, and preschool centers/programs. (I've been doing it myself for several years.) Teacher and Assistant Teacher positions are rarely advertised and it's not like there's a central location online where you can go to browse open positions. This means you have to be a...See MoreI know what it's like to try and find work in the ECE field in the daycare, childcare, and preschool centers/programs. (I've been doing it myself for several years.) Teacher and Assistant Teacher positions are rarely advertised and it's not like there's a central location online where you can go to browse open positions. This means you have to be active in your search and approach potential employers on your own. But how do you do it? Where should you start? How aggressive should you be? These are just a few questions I'll be answering as I share my tips and advice for landing work in the daycare, childcare, and preschool sector.

Ready? Let's begin!...

-Determine your maximun drive time. Just how far are you willing to drive for work? 10-15 minutes? 20-25 minutes? 30- 35 minutes? 40-45 minutes? 50 or more minutes?

-Mass E-Mail potential employers. Once you determine just how far you're willing to drive for work, start sending out mass E-Mails (make sure you use BCC) to every single potential employer within your determine drive time.

-Attach your résumé to the E-Mail and use the body of the E- Mail as your cover letter. Introduce yourself, talk about your experience, explain your qualifications, and, above all, SELL YOURSELF! Explain why you'd make a good candidate, why they should hire you or how you're uniquely different from other candidates.

-Put 'SEEKING WORK', 'SEEKING EMPLOYMENT' or the like in the subject line of the E-Mail. Be up front with potential employers. Let them know that you ARE looking.

-Mass E-Mail consistently 3 times a year. The E-Mail should go out every spring (March/April), summer (June/July), and fall (September/October). If you want to do it a 4th time, then I suggest mid winter (December/January). By being consistent, you're helping to really get your name out there.

-Be persistent with potential employers. If there's a place in particular you'd like to work, never give up trying to get in. For example: I live near the Great Lakes Naval Base where MWR is responsible for the staffing of its CDCs (child development centers) and YCs (youth centers). MWR retains applications and other employment materials for 3 months. So every 3 months, I simply re-apply.

-Consider all your options. Everyone wants to work full- time hours and many people can't afford to work anything but full-time hours. However, in a downturned economy where there are more individuals than jobs to go around, be open to working part-time hours or even subbing. More often than not, subbing will lead to permanent work and part-time work will lead to full-time work. Besides, there are employers out there who will only start out new hires on an on-call or part-time basis. So by being open, you show potential employers that you can be flexible to their needs. Employers like individuals who can be flexible and work around their needs.

Being we're in a downturned economy where there are more individuals than jobs to go around, means you also have to be competitive, especially since a lot of certified teachers who were laid off in the public and private schools are now flooding the daycare, childcare, and preschool sector hoping to maintain contact with children and still have some semblence of "teaching experience" going for them so when the economy improves they can easily return to the public and private schools and regain the pay and benefits they had before the economy got bad.

Education wise, of you have a CDA I'd consider getting an Associate's degree in ECE. If you have an Associate's degree, I'd consider getting a Bachelor's degree in ECE. If you have a Bachelor's degree, I'd consider getting a Master's in ECE. There's many great non-licensure degree programs out there and the more education you have, the better chance you stand in terms of being competative, especially against the certified teachers flooding the daycare, childcare, and preschool sector.

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