teacher and teacher assist rolls

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Childcare Chatboard

teacher and teacher assist rolls

by M Peckham

Feb 15, 2009

2/15/09

I have been a toddler teacher for ages(19ms-30ms)for going on 6 yrs.

Always a turnover of assistants. They stay one to two years-assist. go away to school, get jobs making more money, or pregnant.I have had a lot of behavioral, anxiety, moody diabetics, mean, etc. helpers come to help who don't stay long.

How does one work as a team with an assist.? I was taught the teacher takes the lead, and the teacher should lead the class in circle time. I guess lead in general. I try including the assist.by having her read the story book at circle time. I ask for assist. input when I'm instructing during circle time which could be as little as ten min.of teaching to 30 min depending on attention of toddlers. I always welcome ideas from assist. for projects, holidays, etc., or to add to project we are doing.

I don't see where I should let assist. lead the circle time curric. and myself assist. Am I looking at this incorrectly. The teacher before me, taug...See More

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questions.... After reading your post, I wondered if you had an assistant that is consistent, and always there throughout the day, or do you have people coming and going? That would make the difference in how much of a permanent role you should allow them to take.

I love the toddler age, and have worked with the little ones for the last 16 years. I'd b...See MoreAfter reading your post, I wondered if you had an assistant that is consistent, and always there throughout the day, or do you have people coming and going? That would make the difference in how much of a permanent role you should allow them to take.

I love the toddler age, and have worked with the little ones for the last 16 years. I'd be happy to help in any way I can, but some of the responses provided below may not be what you are looking for...

I answered some of your post in-line, below....

> Always a turnover of assistants. They stay one to two > years-assist. go away to school, get jobs making more > money, or pregnant.I have had a lot of behavioral, anxiety, > moody diabetics, mean, etc. helpers come to help who don't > stay long.

If the assistant is permanent and always with you, they need to WANT to work with toddlers. This is such a different age, and if you don't want to work with this age, people won't last long.

> How does one work as a team with an assist.? I was taught > the teacher takes the lead, and the teacher should lead > the class in circle time. I guess lead in general. I try > including the assist.by having her read the story book at > circle time. I ask for assist. input when I'm instructing > during circle time which could be as little as ten min.of > teaching to 30 min depending on attention of toddlers. I > always welcome ideas from assist. for projects, holidays, > etc., or to add to project we are doing. > Also, if these assistants are working with you for one to two years, and you don't allow them - even challenge them - to grow and accept more responsibility, the work becomes one of monotony and no personal growth. Again, why would they choose to stay in a dead-end job? It is our job as lead teachers to prepare new teachers to take over and/or to challenge themselves, just as we should constantly be growing and learning ourselves.

> I don't see where I should let assist. lead the circle time > curric. and myself assist. Am I looking at this > incorrectly. The teacher before me, taught the class for 11 > years, and she instructed me how to run the class. Checking > with other highly recommended centers, I was instructed > correctly. I also have taken many many child resource > classes to be the best I can be. However, I always have > someone complaining.

Although they may be complaining, there may also be some validity to what they are saying. Have you really sat and listened to what is being said? Perhaps the message behind the complaints is more subtle...are they asking for more responsibility and input in areas where it could/should be allowed? > > Anytime someone suggests something, I'm asked to make a > change. I have had low stress in organization and > management of room, and one that was fun for kids. Nothing > but positive feed back from parents. Kids love me. However, > there seem to be a lot of trouble makers and jealous people > who work at center.

This can be a difficult one....and what I'm suggesting is that you really look at yourself, your philosophy, your program, etc. Are you 'stuck' in your ways and don't want change? Is your director someone who simply wants to avoid confrontation, or are they asking you to extend out of your comfort zone? Have they given you any reasoning as to why they want the changes, or are they trying to please everyone without making waves?

If I can help or offer assistance, please email me. > > I would like to hear my boss tell others that I am a > successful teacher in the way I run my room, but it is > always changing things for the worse.Most really don't want > to work, just gossip. They don't want to clean up after > kids. We teach them to clean up, but they can only do so > much. Teachers complain they are tired. When asked why, > they say was up late watching tv. etc. > > > Most of my work and monthly curric. planning is done at > home,for there is no time before we start circle time. I > start work at 7am and immediately sent to infant/waddler > room until 8am. 8 A.M. I transition my toddler class to our > toddler rm which we go through our play area before > entering our main room. After their vroom down the slide we > enter our room and other parents drop off their kids which > leads right into diaper time at 8:30. 9 A.M. is snack,then > our circle time. I don't even have time to get my daily > papers for circ. time out until last minute which is > hectic. > > Talking to my assist. other than hello and letting her know > important things about kids morning drop off is about it. > Assist. comes in at 8:45 has to mark lunch items to be > ready to bring kids over to lunchrm at 9:00 while I'm > finishing diapers and greeting parents and calming kids > that miss their parents.Before it worked better. Parents > put bags in refrig and while kids were seated and eatig un > lunchrm, we were able to label everything. The fifteen min > assist was there before 9:00 brkfst was spent helping clean > up and tending to parents and kids with me. I need myself > and assist at hectic drop off for our attention on the kids > not marking for lunch. Changes for the worst. > > I don't get any free time to do much of anything unless I > use my lunch time. This is toddler age where they can't > really do much for themselves. We are teaching them to > learn, so I prepare most at home. That way I just have to > grab it out of my travel bags. All prep is done and ready > to go. People fail to remember that toddlers 19-30 don't > wait long, and that is besides a span diff. in age. My > assist. has freedom to go in any of my work bags and read > any curriculum papers, or use any of my childcare > belongings when she wants to. > > One more issue. My boss wants to put push toys in the room > along with ovens for play on a full 8hour 5 day basis which > is stressful,for it is a distraction for my age group when > I need to teach, get ready to put mats down, and especially > when diapering when in room by myself, or when I need to > use certain areas of room at certain times, like reading > circle etc. The toddlers climb on them, sit, stand, jump, > and knock over them if and when I can't get to them fast > enough. I'm trying to tell my director that it is stressful > for we need all our attention on the children-biters, hair > pullers, sick, cranky, etc. That this is the terrible two > ago. She says we need to teach them. I let her know we are > busy putting the time in with the kids, if all the other > apparatus is in the room, all we are doing in redirecting > them. We get new 19-20mos olds all the time,and have to > keep teaching them over and over again. For four years all > I needed to be concerned with is our shelf toys-which is a > lot, and all concentrated in on area, so rest of room was > for play, circle time-table and chairs, reading circle > exercise, diapering etc. When we useto have our dish-oven- > sink time, we pushed it in the room, then took it out to > change over to next activity---no worry about kids > climbling, standing, jumping and falling on their face, > knocking anything over which means stopping story being > read to keep redirecting over and over and over again. > Taking away from quality time with my toddlers. > > I know how to run my class to make the kids happy, and cut > my stress down, but boss keeps putting obstacles in my way > which is nothing but stress. I feel disrespected. > > Her reasoning for added toys in room----to prepare them for > the next class so they don't take all toys out at one time. > She is even giving this story to the waddler room-walkers > to 19ms. My remark to boss: The next class teacher has to > teach her class the rules of their room,and that every age > group and class is different. My kids don't take all toys > out at one time, we have a change over of play items every > 10 to 15 min depending on the children's attention span. I > allow the children to choose what they want to play with. > Ex. large cars, med. cars, puzzles, dishes, etc. Basically, > between 9:00 to 11:00, at which time11:00 is lunch we > have a structured day. After 3:00 it is down time, so from > 3:00 to 5:45, it is relaxed play time,and again they choose > what and how long they would like that station play. We > have two rooms. Our main room for all mentioned above, > and another side with a slide and cars for large motor > skills. That is where the push toys and oven are from. It > is a nice set up, but we need to keep those toys that they > can knock over and climb and jump out of for designated > time, like a station time. Those toys are like magnets to > the kids, and it interfers with teaching anything, as > little as reading in circle time. Mats on the floor for > naptime and those push toys and oven is a teacher's > nightmare. > > PLease help! Getting through to boss, and letting assist > feel working like a team. Am I off somewhere? > > Thank you! > M Peckham > [email removed]

Feb 15, 2009

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Schari These are good answers to your questions. One more thought - do you have a monthly meeting time with your asst? When there are no children around? My assts. often said they felt better after we were able to meet privately and discuss things. I always feel like an after hours meeting gives you time to discuss things that can't be discussed during a ...See MoreThese are good answers to your questions. One more thought - do you have a monthly meeting time with your asst? When there are no children around? My assts. often said they felt better after we were able to meet privately and discuss things. I always feel like an after hours meeting gives you time to discuss things that can't be discussed during a busy work day.

On 2/15/09, questions.... wrote: > After reading your post, I wondered if you had an assistant > that is consistent, and always there throughout the day, or do > you have people coming and going? That would make the > difference in how much of a permanent role you should allow > them to take. > > I love the toddler age, and have worked with the little ones > for the last 16 years. I'd be happy to help in any way I can, > but some of the responses provided below may not be what you > are looking for... > > I answered some of your post in-line, below.... > >> Always a turnover of assistants. They stay one to two >> years-assist. go away to school, get jobs making more >> money, or pregnant.I have had a lot of behavioral, anxiety, >> moody diabetics, mean, etc. helpers come to help who don't >> stay long. > > If the assistant is permanent and always with you, they need > to WANT to work with toddlers. This is such a different age, > and if you don't want to work with this age, people won't last > long. > >> How does one work as a team with an assist.? I was taught >> the teacher takes the lead, and the teacher should lead >> the class in circle time. I guess lead in general. I try >> including the assist.by having her read the story book at >> circle time. I ask for assist. input when I'm instructing >> during circle time which could be as little as ten min.of >> teaching to 30 min depending on attention of toddlers. I >> always welcome ideas from assist. for projects, holidays, >> etc., or to add to project we are doing. >> > Also, if these assistants are working with you for one to two > years, and you don't allow them - even challenge them - to > grow and accept more responsibility, the work becomes one of > monotony and no personal growth. Again, why would they choose > to stay in a dead-end job? It is our job as lead teachers to > prepare new teachers to take over and/or to challenge > themselves, just as we should constantly be growing and > learning ourselves. > >> I don't see where I should let assist. lead the circle time >> curric. and myself assist. Am I looking at this >> incorrectly. The teacher before me, taught the class for 11 >> years, and she instructed me how to run the class. Checking >> with other highly recommended centers, I was instructed >> correctly. I also have taken many many child resource >> classes to be the best I can be. However, I always have >> someone complaining. > > Although they may be complaining, there may also be some > validity to what they are saying. Have you really sat and > listened to what is being said? Perhaps the message behind > the complaints is more subtle...are they asking for more > responsibility and input in areas where it could/should be > allowed? >> >> Anytime someone suggests something, I'm asked to make a >> change. I have had low stress in organization and >> management of room, and one that was fun for kids. Nothing >> but positive feed back from parents. Kids love me. However, >> there seem to be a lot of trouble makers and jealous people >> who work at center. > > This can be a difficult one....and what I'm suggesting is that > you really look at yourself, your philosophy, your program, > etc. Are you 'stuck' in your ways and don't want change? Is > your director someone who simply wants to avoid confrontation, > or are they asking you to extend out of your comfort zone? > Have they given you any reasoning as to why they want the > changes, or are they trying to please everyone without making > waves? > > If I can help or offer assistance, please email me. >> >> I would like to hear my boss tell others that I am a >> successful teacher in the way I run my room, but it is >> always changing things for the worse.Most really don't want >> to work, just gossip. They don't want to clean up after >> kids. We teach them to clean up, but they can only do so >> much. Teachers complain they are tired. When asked why, >> they say was up late watching tv. etc. >> >> >> Most of my work and monthly curric. planning is done at >> home,for there is no time before we start circle time. I >> start work at 7am and immediately sent to infant/waddler >> room until 8am. 8 A.M. I transition my toddler class to our >> toddler rm which we go through our play area before >> entering our main room. After their vroom down the slide we >> enter our room and other parents drop off their kids which >> leads right into diaper time at 8:30. 9 A.M. is snack,then >> our circle time. I don't even have time to get my daily >> papers for circ. time out until last minute which is >> hectic. >> >> Talking to my assist. other than hello and letting her know >> important things about kids morning drop off is about it. >> Assist. comes in at 8:45 has to mark lunch items to be >> ready to bring kids over to lunchrm at 9:00 while I'm >> finishing diapers and greeting parents and calming kids >> that miss their parents.Before it worked better. Parents >> put bags in refrig and while kids were seated and eatig un >> lunchrm, we were able to label everything. The fifteen min >> assist was there before 9:00 brkfst was spent helping clean >> up and tending to parents and kids with me. I need myself >> and assist at hectic drop off for our attention on the kids >> not marking for lunch. Changes for the worst. >> >> I don't get any free time to do much of anything unless I >> use my lunch time. This is toddler age where they can't >> really do much for themselves. We are teaching them to >> learn, so I prepare most at home. That way I just have to >> grab it out of my travel bags. All prep is done and ready >> to go. People fail to remember that toddlers 19-30 don't >> wait long, and that is besides a span diff. in age. My >> assist. has freedom to go in any of my work bags and read >> any curriculum papers, or use any of my childcare >> belongings when she wants to. >> >> One more issue. My boss wants to put push toys in the room >> along with ovens for play on a full 8hour 5 day basis which >> is stressful,for it is a distraction for my age group when >> I need to teach, get ready to put mats down, and especially >> when diapering when in room by myself, or when I need to >> use certain areas of room at certain times, like reading >> circle etc. The toddlers climb on them, sit, stand, jump, >> and knock over them if and when I can't get to them fast >> enough. I'm trying to tell my director that it is stressful >> for we need all our attention on the children-biters, hair >> pullers, sick, cranky, etc. That this is the terrible two >> ago. She says we need to teach them. I let her know we are >> busy putting the time in with the kids, if all the other >> apparatus is in the room, all we are doing in redirecting >> them. We get new 19-20mos olds all the time,and have to >> keep teaching them over and over again. For four years all >> I needed to be concerned with is our shelf toys-which is a >> lot, and all concentrated in on area, so rest of room was >> for play, circle time-table and chairs, reading circle >> exercise, diapering etc. When we useto have our dish-oven- >> sink time, we pushed it in the room, then took it out to >> change over to next activity---no worry about kids >> climbling, standing, jumping and falling on their face, >> knocking anything over which means stopping story being >> read to keep redirecting over and over and over again. >> Taking away from quality time with my toddlers. >> >> I know how to run my class to make the kids happy, and cut >> my stress down, but boss keeps putting obstacles in my way >> which is nothing but stress. I feel disrespected. >> >> Her reasoning for added toys in room----to prepare them for >> the next class so they don't take all toys out at one time. >> She is even giving this story to the waddler room-walkers >> to 19ms. My remark to boss: The next class teacher has to >> teach her class the rules of their room,and that every age >> group and class is different. My kids don't take all toys >> out at one time, we have a change over of play items every >> 10 to 15 min depending on the children's attention span. I >> allow the children to choose what they want to play with. >> Ex. large cars, med. cars, puzzles, dishes, etc. Basically, >> between 9:00 to 11:00, at which time11:00 is lunch we >> have a structured day. After 3:00 it is down time, so from >> 3:00 to 5:45, it is relaxed play time,and again they choose >> what and how long they would like that station play. We >> have two rooms. Our main room for all mentioned above, >> and another side with a slide and cars for large motor >> skills. That is where the push toys and oven are from. It >> is a nice set up, but we need to keep those toys that they >> can knock over and climb and jump out of for designated >> time, like a station time. Those toys are like magnets to >> the kids, and it interfers with teaching anything, as >> little as reading in circle time. Mats on the floor for >> naptime and those push toys and oven is a teacher's >> nightmare. >> >> PLease help! Getting through to boss, and letting assist >> feel working like a team. Am I off somewhere? >> >> Thank you! >> M Peckham >> [email removed]

Feb 16, 2009

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