Rough Draft Peer Review
Posted: February 2nd, 2008, 4:07 am
Could you all help me out with some feedback? (I copied and pasted so it's not formatted very well, but I need feedback on the content anyway.)
This is for my English class. Thanks!
The Early Childhood Educator
Preschool is more than just daycare for busy parents of three- to
five-year olds, much more than many people realize. What makes the
difference are caring, committed preschool teachers with a desire to see
their young students blossom and grow, not just
academically, but socially and in every area of interest and ability.
Teachers who provide
an interesting and stimulating environment for their students to explore, play and discover
in, who plan creative, age-appropriate lessons and activities, and who give individual help
and attention where it is needed, are effective Early Childhood Educators.
The duties of an Early Childhood Educator are many and varied, (1) and require a
unique skill set. A preschool teacher is a public speaker, making classroom presentations,
preparing visuals and well-planned lessons to help catch each child’s interest. An ECE
teacher also becomes a recreation director, planning games and activities to help the
children develop gross motor skills. When possible, an ECE teacher is an artist, planning
arts and crafts to inspire creative development in their students. An ECE educator may be
skilled dramatically, using effective storytelling techniques to engage their young listeners.
Possessing musical talent is also helpful, as an ECE teacher uses songs, rhymes, and hand
or body movements to help children during transition times, and to reinforce key concepts.
An ECE teacher is a diplomat, understanding cultural differences and tactfully conducting
conferences with parents, also giving them the help, support, and information they need to
support the learning and development process at home. They must learn to work
cooperatively with other teachers, who may have a different style or philosophy of
teaching.
And, if all of these were not enough, duties of the ECE teacher also include record
keeping; evaluating and recording the progress, attendance, and areas of need of each of
their students. ECE teachers are also responsible for planning and set-up of an effective
room design(3), providing puzzles, toys for dramatic play, and manipulatives, which
should be changed frequently. Frequently, an ECE teacher becomes a tutor, providing
individual assistance to struggling students in weak areas. In today’s busy society, at times,
they must also unfortunately, substitute as a parent, giving encouragement, positive
attention and discipline to unruly or neglected children. In dealing with special needs
children, including those with learning disabilities, developmental delays, autism,
behavioral or emotional problems, they must educate themselves and be understanding.
Donna Minton, Education Director at Floyd County Head Start, stated that a preschool
teacher should possess patience in great measure, and should have the skill of adapting well
to change. The philosophies and procedures of teaching young children are constantly
changing, and so an ECE teacher must also be an effective learner or student.
The educational requirements for becoming a professional ECE teacher are changing,
and more education is often being required. Requirements for public preschool may be
lower than for private preschools. Many Early Childhood educators begin at entry level in
daycare facilities and gain experience and training enough to interest them in pursuing
more education and advancement. A scholarship program called Teach is often available to
those already working in the field, and can help with tuition and textbooks, as well as gas
reimbursement and paid time off from work for studies. They may decide to obtain a Child
Development Associate (CDA) credential, (12 credit hours of studies, with some
classroom experience), an Associates Degree, or Bachelors Degree. Beyond the Bachelor’s
Degree, an additional certification is sometimes required from a nation-wide
organization. (1)
Although the skills and requirements may be many, there are a few saving graces that may
make the preschool teacher’s load lighter. Preschool teachers usually have small classes¸ or
volunteer support (compliance with state daycare licensing teacher-child ratios is
required), shorter school days (three to five hours is common), and more lesson planning
time, since preschool is usually scheduled fewer than five days a week, leaving the other
weekdays available to teachers.
The rewards of a career in Early Childhood Education are often intangible, which is to
say that the average salary is not remarkably high for preschool teachers. However a
teacher who enjoys the fulfillment of his or her work in teaching may not be deterred.
The median wage for a preschool teacher is approximately $10.91
hourly, or $22,680 per year presently, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Job prospects are also expected to be favorable in the near future, with many positions
opening resulting from Baby Boomer generation teachers retiring in the next decade,
and because of newly employed teachers who decide to switch to other careers.
The philosophies of Early Childhood Education in America are rapidly changing. The
value we are beginning to place as a nation on having children and on effectively helping
them to develop is causing us to look at the importance and methods of preschool in a new
light, and with more information that has been gathered over the past 75 years. (3)
Philosophies of highly successful preschools in other nations are being introduced
in many American preschools, as we rethink and redevelop greater and better ideals for our
preschool programs for the future. Now more than ever, preschool is becoming much more
than daycare. Early Childhood educators in the 21st century, armed with purpose,
knowledge, patience, and adaptability, have a lot to look forward to.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Teachers—Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos069.htm (retrieved January 26, 2008).
Colker, L.J., Dodge, D.T., & Heroman, C.(2005). Creative curriculum for preschool (4th Ed.).
Washington, DC: Teaching Strategies.
This is for my English class. Thanks!
The Early Childhood Educator
Preschool is more than just daycare for busy parents of three- to
five-year olds, much more than many people realize. What makes the
difference are caring, committed preschool teachers with a desire to see
their young students blossom and grow, not just
academically, but socially and in every area of interest and ability.
Teachers who provide
an interesting and stimulating environment for their students to explore, play and discover
in, who plan creative, age-appropriate lessons and activities, and who give individual help
and attention where it is needed, are effective Early Childhood Educators.
The duties of an Early Childhood Educator are many and varied, (1) and require a
unique skill set. A preschool teacher is a public speaker, making classroom presentations,
preparing visuals and well-planned lessons to help catch each child’s interest. An ECE
teacher also becomes a recreation director, planning games and activities to help the
children develop gross motor skills. When possible, an ECE teacher is an artist, planning
arts and crafts to inspire creative development in their students. An ECE educator may be
skilled dramatically, using effective storytelling techniques to engage their young listeners.
Possessing musical talent is also helpful, as an ECE teacher uses songs, rhymes, and hand
or body movements to help children during transition times, and to reinforce key concepts.
An ECE teacher is a diplomat, understanding cultural differences and tactfully conducting
conferences with parents, also giving them the help, support, and information they need to
support the learning and development process at home. They must learn to work
cooperatively with other teachers, who may have a different style or philosophy of
teaching.
And, if all of these were not enough, duties of the ECE teacher also include record
keeping; evaluating and recording the progress, attendance, and areas of need of each of
their students. ECE teachers are also responsible for planning and set-up of an effective
room design(3), providing puzzles, toys for dramatic play, and manipulatives, which
should be changed frequently. Frequently, an ECE teacher becomes a tutor, providing
individual assistance to struggling students in weak areas. In today’s busy society, at times,
they must also unfortunately, substitute as a parent, giving encouragement, positive
attention and discipline to unruly or neglected children. In dealing with special needs
children, including those with learning disabilities, developmental delays, autism,
behavioral or emotional problems, they must educate themselves and be understanding.
Donna Minton, Education Director at Floyd County Head Start, stated that a preschool
teacher should possess patience in great measure, and should have the skill of adapting well
to change. The philosophies and procedures of teaching young children are constantly
changing, and so an ECE teacher must also be an effective learner or student.
The educational requirements for becoming a professional ECE teacher are changing,
and more education is often being required. Requirements for public preschool may be
lower than for private preschools. Many Early Childhood educators begin at entry level in
daycare facilities and gain experience and training enough to interest them in pursuing
more education and advancement. A scholarship program called Teach is often available to
those already working in the field, and can help with tuition and textbooks, as well as gas
reimbursement and paid time off from work for studies. They may decide to obtain a Child
Development Associate (CDA) credential, (12 credit hours of studies, with some
classroom experience), an Associates Degree, or Bachelors Degree. Beyond the Bachelor’s
Degree, an additional certification is sometimes required from a nation-wide
organization. (1)
Although the skills and requirements may be many, there are a few saving graces that may
make the preschool teacher’s load lighter. Preschool teachers usually have small classes¸ or
volunteer support (compliance with state daycare licensing teacher-child ratios is
required), shorter school days (three to five hours is common), and more lesson planning
time, since preschool is usually scheduled fewer than five days a week, leaving the other
weekdays available to teachers.
The rewards of a career in Early Childhood Education are often intangible, which is to
say that the average salary is not remarkably high for preschool teachers. However a
teacher who enjoys the fulfillment of his or her work in teaching may not be deterred.
The median wage for a preschool teacher is approximately $10.91
hourly, or $22,680 per year presently, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Job prospects are also expected to be favorable in the near future, with many positions
opening resulting from Baby Boomer generation teachers retiring in the next decade,
and because of newly employed teachers who decide to switch to other careers.
The philosophies of Early Childhood Education in America are rapidly changing. The
value we are beginning to place as a nation on having children and on effectively helping
them to develop is causing us to look at the importance and methods of preschool in a new
light, and with more information that has been gathered over the past 75 years. (3)
Philosophies of highly successful preschools in other nations are being introduced
in many American preschools, as we rethink and redevelop greater and better ideals for our
preschool programs for the future. Now more than ever, preschool is becoming much more
than daycare. Early Childhood educators in the 21st century, armed with purpose,
knowledge, patience, and adaptability, have a lot to look forward to.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Teachers—Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos069.htm (retrieved January 26, 2008).
Colker, L.J., Dodge, D.T., & Heroman, C.(2005). Creative curriculum for preschool (4th Ed.).
Washington, DC: Teaching Strategies.
