Classroom Aide - School Age - After Care (School Year 26-27/DC)

Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day•Washington, DC

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Why Work for Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day? Play isn't just fun, It's fundamental! Children need playtime, it is crucial for healthy development. Children learn about the world by exploring ideas, manipulating objects, investigating creative materials, and problem-solving with others. Using imagination and creativity, children take on new roles and test new concepts. Wonders teachers use observation and planning to create learning experiences that are intentional and provide meaningful context for children to practice skills and express ideas. Join the Wonders family of caring, dedicated, and fun educators! About Wonders Our Mission - To cultivate curiosity, resilience, and social responsibility in children by fostering high-quality, nurturing, and inclusive educational communities led by skilled professionals Since our inception in 1976, our goal has been to provide non-profit, quality child care to working families. Over the years, we have grown from a single center in the basement of All Saint's Church in Chevy Chase, Maryland to multiple accredited early learning, extended day, and summer camp programs across the DC Metropolitan Region. Our programs support today's workforce, while growing the workforce of tomorrow.

Requirements

Must be 16 years of age or older (MD)
Within 6 months after hire complete the Teacher Aide Orientation virtual training (MD)
Formal or informal experience working with school-age children is strongly preferred (MD)
Excellent verbal and written communication skills (MD & DC)
At least a high school diploma or its equivalent (DC)
At least six (6) months of supervised experience working with school-age children under the age of fifteen (15) years at a duly authorized school or camp, licensed Child Development Center (DC)
OR Have earned at least forty-eight (48) semester credit hours from an accredited university, of which at least nine (9) semester credit hours are in child and youth development, and have at least six (6) months of supervised experience working with school age children under the age of fifteen (15) years at a duly authorized school or camp, a licensed Child Development Center (DC)
OR Have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent, and have at least one (1) year of supervised occupational experience working with school age children under the age of fifteen (15) years at a duly authorized school or camp, a licensed Child Development Center (DC)

Nice To Haves

Creative, nurturing, and fun
Dependable and detail oriented
Thrives in a high-pressure environment
People oriented - enjoys interacting with people and working on group projects
Adaptable - enjoys doing work that requires frequent shifts in direction
Innovative - prefers working in unconventional ways or on tasks that require creativity

Responsibilities

Assists with before/after care in our school-age programs.
Acts as a positive role model, stimulating creative thought, providing hands-on experiences, and promoting emotional development for children.
Ensures safe, interesting, engaging, and diverse program spaces.
Implements Wonders policies and practices effectively as part of a team.
Participates in regular meetings to support programming and lesson plans aligned with the Wonders Extended Day Curriculum.
Actively plan learning activities that are balanced in all areas and include: active/quiet, long/short, group/individual, cognitive/physical, large group/small group and child initiated/teacher directed.
Gives attention to children's ideas and curiosities in influencing the direction of daily activities.
Implements policies, procedures, and practices in an organized and thorough manner.
Actively participates, contributes, and cooperates in team planning sessions with Program Director and team.
Meets with your team to lead planning and implementation of activities that are age-appropriate, process-oriented, and encourage divergent thinking, creativity, and problem-solving, based on Wonders extended day curriculum, philosophy and mission.
Maintains open communication with Program Director regarding children, families, and team members.
Assists in orientating and training new team members for center responsibilities.
Shares teaching responsibilities with all team members and provides clear and objective feedback.
Plans and participates in special events for children and families.
Ensures that all spaces used by the program are: physically and emotionally safe / interesting and engaging for children / clean and organized / reflect and support the lives and work of the children present / support children in their understanding of the diversity of our society.
Develops behavior management strategies based on Wonders policy, with team and Program Director.
Establishes and nurtures partnerships with families.
Communicates with families on a regular basis to inform them of program curriculum and activities and solicit information about their child's development and family events.
Participates in accreditation and reaccreditation processes for your site.
Attends a minimum of 18 hours of staff training yearly (MSDE/OCC approved for MD staff).
Works extended hours on half and full-service days including winter and spring breaks and on early release days.