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Updated April 1, 2017

Module 10: Professional Practice

What makes an effective early learning teacher? 

Page 7

Outcome B: The student will summarize the fundamentals of professional behavior.

The learning outcomes for this section address topics from the following WACs:
Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Centers
170-295-0070 What personal characteristics do my volunteers, all staff and I need to provide care to children?
170-295-1030 Who can be a lead teacher in a child care center?
170-295-1080 What topics must my new staff orientation include?
Licensed Family Home Child Care Standards
170-296A-1725 Licensee minimum education
170-296A-1800 Ongoing training
Scroll down to proceed with the coursework.
1) Read the following pages in the Child Care Licensing Guidebook
​You May Print or Save Handouts for Reference
​ 1) Handout: Early Learning Professional Self-Assessment
  • ​Reflect on your own practices. After self-evaluating, identify areas that you would like to work on improving.  ​
​  ​2) Handout: Action/Improvement Plan
  • Reflect on the areas of professional conduct that has been discussed. Then write your own personal statement of commitment in your own words.
Let’s dig deeper into the details of what makes for an effective early learning teacher or care provider.  Here are some fundamental qualities common to all early learning professionals.  
Possess a strong knowledge of child development.  
Communicate effectively in multiple forms with diverse populations.  
Possess foundational knowledge for developmentally appropriate content to be taught and practices carried out.
Engage in habits of critical thinking and problem solving.  
You will know you are applying these basics when you:  ​
  • Apply knowledge of human development in all domains: physical, cognitive, social, and emotional.
  • Build on children’s competence in such critical areas as language and literacy, mathematics and other disciplines, as well as in gross motor development, social skills, emotional understanding, and self-regulation.  
  • Respect and value all learners and meet children where they are, as individuals and as a group.  
  • Appreciate diversity in learning environments and various contexts for learning.
  • Apply instructional techniques, assessment strategies, and resources to support learning.
  • Support each child in attaining challenging and achievable goals that contribute to his or her ongoing development. 
Expectations 
As an early learning professional you are expected to present yourself as someone worthy of the responsibilities given to you.  Written into program policies you may find expectations for you to:
  • Dress in a professionally acceptable manner.
  • Display a courteous, positive attitude.
  • Respect confidentiality, punctuality and timeliness.
  • Cooperate with co-workers, disengaging in gossip or negative behaviors.
  • Make informed and ethical decisions.
  • Accept responsibility for children’s learning and development.  
  • Collaborate with your colleagues, families, and the community.
  • Engage in opportunities for professional growth or PD.
View the Slide Show Below
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​Optional Online Resources for Further Study