Head Start Teacher Assistant Temporary

Le Jardin Community Center, Inc. • Homestead, FL

111d

About The Position

Under the supervision of the Curriculum Specialist, and support from Head Start Teacher, the Head Start Teacher Assistant (TEMPORARY) will work closely with the classroom Teacher to provide responsive care, effective teaching and an organized learning environment that promotes the health development and children’s skill growth aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five, (HSELOF) including for children with disabilities. HS Teacher Assistant will emphasize nurturing and responsive practices, interactions and environments that foster trust and emotional security; are communication and language rich; promote social, emotional, behavioral, and language development and support all children’s engagement in learning experiences and activities.

Requirements

• A CDA credential in Preschool or a state-awarded certificate that meets or exceeds the requirements for a CDA credential.
• Enrolled in a program that will lead to an associate or baccalaureate degree in Early Childhood Education or out of area degree with 18 credits in early childhood education.
• Enrolled in a CDA credential program to be completed within two years of the time of hire.
• DCF – 45 hours.
• Complete specific coursework within two months of hire.
• Experience with Head Start programs preferred.
• Intermediate computer skills, Internet and email capability.
• Ability to utilize agency resources, technology and conduct action research.
• Able to stand and sit for extended periods of time.
• Able to kneel and sit on the floor or at a child’s eye level.
• Able to lift 40 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the classroom Teacher through a Planning Period outlined on the daily classroom schedule.
• Provide and deliver developmentally, culturally and linguistically appropriate learning experiences in language, literacy, and mathematics, social and emotional functioning, approaches to learning, science, physical skills and creative arts.
• Assist the Teacher by providing responsive care, effective teaching and an organized learning environment that promotes health development and children skill growth aligned with Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework.
• Provide nurturing and responsive practices, interactions and environments that promote trust and emotional security.
• Provide environments that are language rich and high quality, language modeling using self-talk, parallel talk, and open-ended questions.
• Promote critical thinking and problem-solving, while also providing opportunities for social emotional behavioral and language development.
• Support all children’s engagement in learning experiences and activities.
• Together, the Teacher and Teacher Assistant will focus on promoting growth in the developmental progress described in the HSELOF by utilizing the High/Scope curriculum to direct planning of organized activities, schedules lesson plans and high-quality learning individualized learning experiences.
• Integrate child assessment data in individualized and group planning through the COR Advantage using the COR Highest Score report.
• Recognize that bilingualism and biliteracy are strengths for dual language learners and will implement research-based teaching practices.
• Implement well-organized learning environments with developmentally appropriate schedule, lesson plans and indoor and outdoor learning experiences.
• Provide a balance of teacher-directed and child-initiated activities, active and quiet learning activities and opportunities for individual, small group and large group learning activities.
• Engage in Instructional Support assisting children in concept development, language modeling and quality feedback.
• Provide intentional age-appropriate approaches to accommodate children’s need to nap.
• Implement snack and meal times to support development and learning.
• Provide sufficient time for children to eat and not use food as reward or punishment.
• Approach routines such as hand washing and tooth brushing and transitions between activities as opportunities for strengthening growth and development.
• Integrate intentional movement and physical activities into curricular activities and daily routines in ways that support health and learning.
• Implement the High Scope curriculum (a scientifically valid research-based curriculum with standardized training practices - that is aligned with the HSELOF).
• In collaboration with the Teacher, implement curricular enhancements to include a social and emotional focus.
• In collaboration with each child’s parent and parental consent, obtain a current development screening to identify concerns regarding children’s development.
• When a concern is noted on the appropriate screenings, implement the referral process to include sharing information with the classroom Teacher and the notification and collaboration with the Licensed Mental Health and Disabilities Professional.
• Conduct standardized and structured assessments based on observation or direct assessment.
• Utilize assessment data to provide individualized instruction for each child and for groups of children.
• Share the results of these assessments with parents and families focusing on the strengths, interests, growth and progress, and the needs of each child.
• Encourage parents and family members to be involved in the educational services.
• Regularly communicate with parents so families are well informed about their child’s routines, activities and behavior.
• Hold parent conferences as needed (no less than two times per program year).
• Conduct home visits as needed (no less than two times per program year).
• Encourage parents and family members to volunteer in the class and during group activities.
• Encourage parents to provide feedback on selected curricula, learning activities and instructional material, and incorporate parental suggestions into the daily lesson plans.
• Inform parents of the purposes and results of screening and assessment and discuss their child’s progress.

Benefits

• Salary as per the most recent salary schedule.
• FLSA STATUS: NON-EXEMPT.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed