Infant Caregiver

Infant Caregiver’s Brit

Through this covenant all Caregivers will commit fully to the Professional Learning Community that exists at the GECC. This includes adhering to the Minimum Standards set forth by DFPS Child Care Licensing Division and all NAEYC criteria required as being a part of a NAEYC accredited school and always doing what is best for children. Caregivers also agree to use the SHEVA elements as a foundation for our practice.

Caregiver’s responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

Duties:

• Arriving at least 15 minutes prior to your direct teaching responsibilities.
• Grooming appropriately for a school setting including personal hygiene and dress code.
• Must be willing and able to lift and carry equipment and children weighing up to forty pounds.
• Be responsible for all communication sent from administration, not limited to, but including Monday Notes, the Shout Out and other communication.
• Creating, maintaining, and overseeing a learning environment which provides engagement, wonder, curiosity, safety, and security. This includes changing and enhancing the learning environment on a regular basis and maximizing the amount of floor time offered to the infants.
• Meeting the individual needs of each infant by learning their specific cues and following their specific schedules for feeding, sleeping, and diapering.
• Collaborating with assistant caregiver and age level coach with ideas and shared materials while maintaining respect and care for shared learning spaces and materials, including maintaining common areas such as the Naturescape, Atelier, Loose Parts studio, etc.
• Being prepared with engaging learning opportunities through developmentally appropriate activities by being intentional throughout the curriculum process and using reflections on the experiences to inform future plans.
• Overseeing the curriculum planning process and learning experiences offered to the infants.
• Collaborating with assistant caregiver and age level coach to assess individual infant milestones and identify any areas of focus.
• Continuing to refine practice through reflection on classroom interactions, individual children, individual activities, provocations and relationships throughout the school.
• Attending and engaging in all evening monthly team planning meetings, evening staff meetings, reflective supervision meetings, weekly partner planning, mandatory professional development opportunities and other training opportunities
• Using proper time management for both intentional planning of curriculum and offering intentional instruction in the classroom
• Continuing to learn and grow with an eye towards helping yourself and the school reach the goals set out in the GECC Statement of Guiding Principles.
• Being present in the classroom and remain focused on the children at all times, remembering that successful and consistent observation should lead instruction
• Paying close attention to the individuality of all of our children through reflections, child insights, and anecdotal records, also remembering how to connect our learning to their family culture and experiences
• Providing individualized communication to parents, including the preparation and explanation of Parent Letters, Journey Binders, Parent-Teacher Conversations and requested meetings, share sites, written communication, phone calls and e-mails to meet each child and family’s needs.

Professional Conduct

• Fostering respectful relationships among the staff by treating all staff members with kindness and respect. When differences arise, trying to first address any problems with the person you have a problem with, and then seeking mediation through the director.
• Developing a respectful relationship with assistant caregiver, being mindful of the balance between leading a classroom and guiding another caregiver.
• Maintaining respectful relationships with all families, being mindful of the fine line between personal relationships and close professional relationships
• Maintaining a level of personal integrity by refreshing ourselves when needed, being on time, having a positive attitude, being open minded to change that benefits the quality of our school
• Remaining professional at all times, finding strength to inspire others in unique ways, using a nice tone with all, and being role models of the values we live in our school.
• Adherence to NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct.