The Carey Institute

Competency Statement and Resource Collection Outline

C

 COMPETENCY STATEMENTS

Competency Statement 1 – To establish and maintain a safe, healthy, learning environment.

Write a statement that describes how your teaching practices meet the standards for safe, healthy and learning environments. Write one paragraph for each functional area.

Then write one paragraph each for the following requirements:

REQUIREMENT (CS1a) – Statement must include a reflection paragraph on your sample menu. If you created the menu, how does it reflect your commitment to the nutritional needs of the children? If you did not create is, discuss the menu’s strength’s and/or items you would change, if any.

REQUIREMENT (CS1b) – Statement must include a paragraph that reflects on the learning environment in which your Verification Visit and Observation will take place. Discuss how the room reflects the way you believe children learn best. If you did not arrange the room, discuss the room’s strength’s and/or areas you would change.

REQUIREMENT (CS1c) – Statement must include a paragraph that reflects on your weekly plan. How does your weekly plan reflect your philosophy of what children need on a weekly basis? If you did not create the weekly plan, discuss the plan’s strengths and/or areas you would change.

Competency Statement 2 – To advance physical and intellectual competence

Write a statement that describes how your teaching practices meet the standards for physical and intellectual competence. Write one paragraph for each functional area.

Then write one paragraph each for the following requirements:

REQUIREMENT (CS2a) Pick one of the nine learning experiences you created. How does this experience reflect your philosophy of how to support young children’s physical development?

REQUIREMENT (CS2b) – Pick one of the nine learning experiences you created. How does this experience reflect your philosophy of how to support young children’s cognitive development?

REQUIREMENT (CS2c) – Pick one of the nine learning experiences you created. How does this experience reflect your philosophy of how to support young children’s creative development?

REQUIREMENT (CS2d) – Write an additional paragraph that describes ways to promote the communication/language development among all children, including dual language learners.

Competency Statement 3 – To support social and emotional development and to provide positive guidance.

Write a statement that describes how your teaching practices meet the standards for social, emotional and positive guidance. Write one paragraph for each functional area.

Then write one paragraph each for the following requirements:

REQUIREMENT (CS3a) – Statement must include a paragraph that describes some of the ways you support the development of children’s positive self-concepts and growing social/emotional skills

REQUIREMENT (CS3b) – Statement must include a paragraph that reflects on your philosophy of guiding young children’s positive behaviors. Then discuss how your professional philosophy is similar or different from how you were guided as a child. Finally, discuss how you constructively deal with young children’s challenging behaviors.

Competency Statement 4 – To establish positive and productive relationships with families

Write a statement that describes how your teaching practices meet the standard positive and productive relationships with families.

Then write one paragraph each for the following requirements:

REQUIREMENT (CS4a) – Statement must include a paragraph that describes how you ensure that families are kept aware of what’s happening in their child’s daily/weekly life in your program

REQUIREMENT (CS4b) – Statement must include a paragraph that describes how you ensure that you are aware of what’s happening in each child’s home life. Also discuss how this awareness directs your teaching practices.

REQUIREMENT (CS4c) – Include a paragraph that reflects on the feedback you received in the Family Questionnaires your collected. Explain how the responses surprised you, confirmed your own reflections about yourself, and/or gave you a new goal for professional growth.

Competency Statement 5 - To ensure a well-run, purposeful program that is responsive to participant needs.

Write a statement that describes how your teaching practices meet the standard to ensure a well-run purposeful program that is responsive to participant needs.

Then write one paragraph each for the following requirements:

REQUIREMENT (CS5a) – A paragraph that includes information about the observation you conducted. Describe the type of observation tool used and how it was used. Next, explain why observation and documentation are important parts of program management. Finally, explain how you make sure your observations are accurate and objective.

Competency Statement 6 – To maintain a commitment to professionalism

Write a statement that describes how your teaching practices meet the standard to maintain a commitment to professionalism.

Then write one paragraph each for the following requirements:

REQUIREMENT (CS6a) – Reflect on why you chose to be an early childhood professional

REQUIREMENT (CS6b) - Reflect on what you believe are the most important indicators of professionalism that you possess.

RESOURCE COLLECTION ITEMS

__ High School Education __ 120 clock hours of ECE ___ 480 of experience (past 3 years)

__ Can be observed working as a lead teacher in a licensed program with at least 3 infants or 8 preschool children. At least 10 children enrolled in the program and two employed caregivers.

Summary of Education – Proof of your High School diploma or equivalent, or a student in a high school early childhood career/tech program.

Family Questionnaires – The original of the Family Questionnaire should be copied and distributed to each family in your program. You will need more than half of these questionnaires to be returned back to you. Follow the instructions in the competency standards book for completing and summarizing the questionnaires.

RC I-1 – Valid/current First Aid & Infant/Child/Pediatric CPR (Nationally recognized) no online

RC I-2 – Copy of one weekly menu (if Inf./Tod.), one menu each for young, mobile & toddler)

RC I-3 - Sample of weekly plan (include age group, learning goals for children, description of planned learning experiences and accommodations for children with special needs)

RC II-1 – Science/Sensory learning activity. (Include age group, learning goals for children, materials, process/teaching strategies and how activity is developmentally appropriate for age group)

RC II-2 – Language/Literacy learning activity. (Include age group, learning goals for children, materials, process/teaching strategies and how activity is developmentally appropriate for age group)

RC II-3 – Creative Arts learning activity. (Include age group, learning goals for children, materials, process/teaching strategies and how activity is developmentally appropriate for age group)

RC II-4 - Fine Motor learning activity. (Include age group, learning goals for children, materials, process/teaching strategies and how activity is developmentally appropriate for age group)

RC II-5 – Outdoor Gross Motor learning activity. (Include age group, learning goals for children, materials, process/teaching strategies and how activity is developmentally appropriate for age group)

RC II-6 – Self Concept learning activity. (Include age group, learning goals for children, materials, process/teaching strategies and how activity is developmentally appropriate for age group)

RC II-7 – Emotional Skills/Regulation learning activity. (Include age group, learning goals for children, materials, process/teaching strategies and how activity is developmentally appropriate for age group)

RC II-8 – Social Skills learning activity. (Include age group, learning goals for children, materials, process/teaching strategies and how activity is developmentally appropriate for age group)

RC II-9 - Mathematics learning activity. (Include age group, learning goals for children, materials, process/teaching strategies and how activity is developmentally appropriate for age group)

** If you are completing your Infant/Toddler CDA - 3 of the activities should be for young infants, 3 for mobile infants and 3 for toddlers – For a total of 9 activities.

RC III – A bibliography of 10 books you have used that are related to young children’s lives and challenges. Include the book’s title, author, publishers, copyright dates and a short summary. TOPICS MAY INCLUDE CULTURAL OR LINGUISTIC GROUP ACTIVITY, GNEDER IDENITY, CHILDEN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, SEPARATION, DIVORCE, REMARRIAGE, FAMILY STRUCTURE, BIRTH AND DEATH.

RC IV-1 – Name of a local agency that provides family counseling. Provide the agency’s contact information including phone number, address, website, etc.

RC IV-2 – Name of a local agency that provides translation services for families whose home language is other than English and a local agency that provides American Sign Language translation services. Provide the agency’s contact information including phone number, address, website, etc.

RC IV-3 – Name of a two (2) local agencies in the community that provides resources and services for children with disabilities. Provide the agency’s name, contact information and a brief description of the agency.

RC IV-4 - Three (3) websites that provide current information to help families understand how children develop and learn (for your age group) Give a brief description of each website and download one current article from each website. AT LEAST ONE ARTICLE MUST RELATE TO CHILD GUIDANCE

RC V - Provide a sample of three (3) record keeping forms that you have used. Include an incident report form, an emergency form and a completed observation tool you have used to observe a child’s behavior or learning progress.

RC VI -1 – Provide the name and contact information for your state’s agency that is responsible for the regulation of child care centers and family child care homes. Make a copy of the qualification requirements for personnel, group size and adult-child ratio requirements.

RC VI -2 – List two (2) or three (3) national, regional, state or local early childhood associations. Provide the agency’s website address and a description of the professional resources and membership opportunities they each offer.

RC VI -3 – Summary of the legal requirements in your state regarding child abuse and neglect. Include contact information of the agency and the mandatory reporting guidelines.

PROFESSIONAL PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT