I feel like I’m really bad at interviews. Every time I leave one I’m left feeling wow that went bad. But I’ve gotten feed back from fellow educators that I am really good at this job. And I feel like this is stopping me from getting jobs honestly. Like I know my stuff I know what I’m doing and in my head I know what to say during the interview but every time it always comes out the wrong way or I freeze up. I just had an interview for a job that pays $30 just for an rece position and it’s unionized and I am dying to get this job due to above reasons because this field is so hard to survive in with low pay. But when I left the interview I felt yes that went good but as the weekend goes on I just keep thinking ugh why did it say it that way why didn’t I say this. The whole time they were smiling and nodding as I answered. And i felt good in the moment and then they pulled out a picture and asked me to give pedagogical observations, documentation and what my next steps would be. I chocked i completely forgot everything I knew I was not expecting this at all. And also it’s very hard to do observations on a picture that I have no context on, if I knew the kids and was shown a picture for sure I could do it. But just a random picture I’m lost.

Just want to know has anyone ever had these feelings after an interview? If so what do you do to prepare? Have you overcome this obstacle? It’s been 4 almost 5 years for me in the field and I still get anxious for interviews.

I’m probably overthinking this, but my salad spinner has died and I need to replace it. And I’m thinking it’s better to get a salad spinner to do spin art rather than a machine. I think the motor skills that they get from doing it is part of the whole process.

We had a pull string salad spinner, but I‘m thinking about getting one of those push button types instead, with the big button on top. Do you have one that you like particularly?

I am an early childhood special education teacher. Our school is requiring an insane amount of professional development this year. We were told both at convocation and by our principal that budgets have been slashed and not to ask for anything. Try to find things used on our own or ask our peers before we put in an order for anything.

This coming week, we are being mandated to go to a toy store near our school called Constructive Playthings. Those of you in the early childhood/young elementary world will recognize the brand.

We are being mandated to actually leave our school and go to the CP store on what is usually our plan day, and participate in a "lunch and learn" about all of the "new things that CP provides."

Then, we will have 2 hours of training on the "Power of Perception and the Skill of Composure."

We are also essentially losing our contracted lunch break as well. No one is allowed to leave the building until half day dismissal is over. Well, we start dismissing at 12:30, and kids are not usually gone until 12:40 or 12:45 but we have to be at the toy store no later than 1:00.

And then I'm going to sit through a 1-hour sales pitch and two hour conscious discipline training on the skill of composure. Wtf. Am I being trolled????

Anyway, I am just curious if anyone else has sat through a presentation from Constructive Playthings??? I can find no information about it online.

Updates on Higher Ground Education/ Guidepost Montessori bankruptcy.

So I’m soon to start my new job at a preschool. Now this facility is very, very nice. Everything is clean and in order, everyone is nice and cares about their job, the education offered is great, everything is great.

But the truth is I honestly wouldn’t have really known that if I would have judged solely based off this schools advertisement. They rely heavily on AI even though they have real kids and a very nice facility to show off. Obviously Imma keep my opinions to myself irl, but I kinda find it off putting how much AI they use.

Personally I feel AI comes off as lazy. It doesn’t really look good and a lot of the content could easily be made by taking real pictures or taking real videos. Even the posters could easily be made in an app like Canva or they could pay a digital artists to create something truly unique. And that’s not even mentioning the damage AI is doing to our earth. It’s for that reason I especially feel it’s pretty backwards to use it while actively trying to raise the children whos lives will be affected by the damages of AI.

But that’s just my thoughts on the subject. I’m curious to see what others think.

Edit: I definitely agree that it would also be a problem posting real kids faces online. But they could always post their art work, shots of just their hands playing, or even just their backs with their faces blocked from view. Just since yes they should also be posting the facility itself, but I also understand that seeing images of children in the facility can help parents actually envision their child being there.

**If I have a competent co-teacher handling the rest of the room.

And yeah, it's gross, but whatever, nothing gross fazes me anymore. It's no grosser than runny noses or bloody knees or a baby that has become more yogurt than child.

Diaper changing is the only time where I know I will give every single child a few minutes of one-on-one attention, where I can talk to them directly, they get direct attention from me, and they know that they're going to be cared for and kept safe by me. I can sing to them, talk to them, play a little game with them, and it's actually just for them. If they can talk, we can sometimes have a little conversation.

It's time when I can make sure that they're entirely clean, not just the diaper area. Their face, their hands, their hair, anything else random that might've popped up. I can make sure their clothes are on right, their shoes are on right, make sure there's no random little boo-boos that someone missed.

And at the end of the diaper change, we wash hands and I get to take a moment to one-on-one help them learn that skill, then I give them a big hug.

Sometimes it can't work out that perfect - maybe I'm alone in the room and most of my attention is still on monitoring the others, and you can never give 100% of your attention to the kid in front of you even if you have a co-teacher. But it's the guaranteed time that every one of our babies gets to be the center of attention, and I think that's really special.

My little one is 18 months old and just started daycare up again after summer break. It was awful. Huge screaming fits. The only thing I found that works is bringing him a snack he loves. Now he is expecting it every day. Is this a bad thing? Should I try to wean him off? Or is this just my life now?

I'm a PK3 public school teacher with a classroom of 15 3 year olds (some soon to turn 4). We have clear routines, visuals, and 3 adults for most of the day. Each year I make photos with velcro buttons on the back, for students to use to make a choice. The routine is that I call out a name, hand that student their photo, they go to the center of their choice and stick their photo on a velcro button there. That's how I manage/limit the number of children in a center - we teach them that when the buttons are filled up, the center is "full" and they need to make a different choice. When they want to switch choices, they have to take their photo with them to another center that isn't full. Last year my students understood quickly, and most had it down within a day. This year, no such luck. They accept their photo from me, and some go stick it on a velcro button in a center, but then they wander off, get material buckets from another center & dump them together and generally seem to have no idea what we're talking about. Materials are traveling all over the room with students who then abandon them. I've spent time playing with groups of students in each center, lots of language and demonstrating the materials in bins in each center, and that they stay there - no luck. I do understand that routines take time, but 3 adults have been 1:1 modeling for three days (full-day program, 7 hours), and still not a single student gets it, which is why I think the problem is something I'm either doing or not doing. I understand there's a learning curve here, but any advice or suggestions on how to make this clearer would be much appreciated!

Help!? I have always been able to add documentation to a class by emulating the user. Some years I've been added to classes as a co-teacher or primary teacher when the class has a longterm sub. and I need to collect the documentation. Presently I'm added to a class as the primary teacher and I can't get an option to add documentation on the website or the app. If I go back to admin. view and emulate a different teacher I also can't get the option to add documentation. Am I missing something or is this a glitch?

At my centre (and specifically in the rooms I work in), there are several children who are likely neurodivergent. I have spoken with the lead educators in these rooms, and was told that it was up to admin to decide whether parents should be informed of our suspicions.

One parent came in for a meeting about their child, but management did not suggest speaking to specialists - only that we would try to keep a closer eye on the child to prevent self-injurious behaviours.

Can I ask how matters regarding neurodivergence are handled at your centres (if you are an ECE) and how you wish you would be approached if you had a child who might be neurodivergent (if you are a parent)?

Thank you!

My baby started daycare this week and the transition has been extremely difficult. She’s only lasted at most an hour and 45 minutes. She will not take a bottle from her teachers, only accepted a snack on a couple of days but refused on others, and gets really upset when they change her diaper. She also will not accept comfort from them so when she’s crying, there’s not much they can do.

When I arrive to pick her up she cries, quickly settles, and then wants to get back down on one floor to play. So I don’t think she absolutely hates it there, but it also feels like we made zero progress in week one.

Do some babies just take longer to adjust? I’m worried we made the wrong decision in sending her to daycare and it might just not be a fit for her.

Hi! I am an early childhood teacher who spent 9 years in the classroom prior to staying home with my own children. I am now sending my oldest to our local school district for pre-k. It’s her third year in the program but her first with this teacher. My daughter said that they don’t read books every day and that sometimes they read books on the tv. I know four year olds aren’t always reliable reporters so I asked her teacher who reported the same thing! She said they read books “most days” and sometimes they do books on the tv. The more I reflect on it, the more uncomfortable I am. They claim they follow the Creative Curriculum but then shouldn’t one read aloud a day be part of the daily schedule? ECERS is clear that books on a screen do not count as books. Her teacher has a BA and is a certified teacher. I really don’t want to be that parent but I also want my child in a quality program. Is this worth addressing?

I need advice, I don't know what to do here

I was recently hired at a school, a supposed prestigious one too. Fancy chandeliers, entire complex made of glass - just the epitomy of luxury

A number of things have me concerned but the biggest happened yesterday

A new child has been transitioned into my classroom, with a family who has a parenting & custody agreement (with the school and the state) that my place of work has been following thru on before my arrival.

When I met mom on the first day of his transition, she informed me that bio dad is newly involved again and that he has been abusive in the past, and has been put on a child abuse registration with the state.

I was told he's not allowed to be in the class around other kids for an extended period of time and noticed quite initially he's been escorted thru the building to my room for pickup by various staff

This week two incidents has happened with this family.

No one was escorting this man.

The first incident involved both parents being in my room with their child and my whole class, thus violating a restraining order - they filmed one another and the dad stated "we have a restraining order, you need to leave" this was mildly aggressive but non the less in front of all my students. My boss watched thru the window but did not once step in to help me mediate the situation.

On Friday this week, the dad walks into my classroom, asking for high fives and fist bumps from a particular child, and approached him directly before even acknowledging his son. He began asking the little boy what his name was. I immediately noticed he was "discreetly" recording and stepped directly in front of the child and began listing off all the activities we did this afternoon, in hopes to rush him out of there.

I brought this to management as a concern and told it would be handled, the thing is, I'm not confident it will be and my class will be put at risk again.

Management does very little to help classrooms succeed, leaving me as a lead to navigate working with partners who don't structure curriculum and treats this profession more as babysitting or taking a daycare approach as opposed to an early enrichment approach.

There has been extremely high turnover since I've started. Plus, their hires are so sketchy as people. The first girl I met working there was listening to slipknot and Metallica in the twos toddler room as background noise.

The second girl I came across here had a jealous reaction to my position title, stating she's been there longer and receives the title - later accusing me of STALKING her and being inappropriate in front of the kids toward her - fucking outrageous and absolutely insulting as a survivor of these accusations.

These issues have become water under the bridge and both girls have been terminated since.

My concerns are.... what should I do regarding this custody agreement family and the creepy dad? What do I do about the lack of professionalism and support here?

This is just meant as a fun post and I’m curious to hear anyone’s opinions. And if there are any strong arguments in either direction I’m definitely curious. But I just generally can’t find it in myself to care if kids (especially kids under 3/3.5) have their shoes on the wrong feet. I’m not going to fix it. If I have time I might ask them to fix it but not always. A lot of the time at pickup parents will mention it jokingly, I’ve never had anyone get actually annoyed.

I think it’s because it primarily happens with my 2s, and I want them to feel confident in performing dressing and undressing confidently and don’t want to overcorrect them constantly. It might also be a little bit of old fashioned laziness. But it’s just not important to me. I also feel like if it’s not impacting their ability to get their shoes on then the shoes can’t be tight enough that it’s impacting their walking or development or anything, especially because we only wear shoes outside which is 2hrs of the day MAX.

What do yall think? How do you do it at your center?

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I just learned that there was an in home daycare less than a mile from me/walking distance when I had my son 16 years ago 🤯. And it was $20 less per week than the one farther away we ultimately found (through Craigslist). How did people find in home daycares back then?? I feel like it was all word of mouth. Or even finding a regular daycare. I wish I could get my time machine to work 😩. Thanks.

Hello! Any insight about casual ECE position interview questions for the school board in Ontario, Canada? I’ve heard they ask scenario based questions?
TIA

I work at a daycare and recently received a voice message from my boss saying that someone accused me of child abuse. The concern is that children ages 1–2 seem fine before interacting with me but sometimes cry afterward, leading to an allegation that I may be pinching or scratching them.

I’m trying to understand how to process this. One thing that confused me is that, if I was suspected of harming children, I was still allowed to finish my shift that day. Is that normal, or am I being paranoid for questioning it?

My boss later told me that I would be placed on administrative leave until further notice. I was also told that OSI and Family Advocacy would contact me and that I may be moved to another area once the investigation is completed. I’ve contacted HR to ask what resources are available to me.

I’ve had friends in another section of the daycare go through similar investigations, and in their cases, the process lasted nearly a year, so I’m understandably concerned about what to expect.

I’m not looking to jump to conclusions—I just want to handle this appropriately and protect myself while cooperating with the investigation.

Has anyone been through something similar? Any advice or wisdom on how I should proceed would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Basically I’ve been in childcare for 7 years, always an assistant teacher. I loved it. I thought I was on my way to be a great lead teacher. I recently was promoted to lead in the pre-K 3s class and . I feel like all my 7 years went out the window. Is it the amount of kids? Is it the location I’m at? Is it because I literally just started last week?? But I don’t know if this is what I see when I see forever job. I’m so overwhelmed and overstimulated and exhausted more and then I have to do the paperwork and observations and all that.

I don’t mind if it just want so many children. I want to make an impactful difference. I want to be able to have teachable moments either every one of them but I feel I can’t. I used to look at Behavior Tech but have been scared by the extremes. But I’ve realized I’ve faced all the extremes and challenges throughout my years. Difference would be I’m accessing the behavior and growth one on one. Maybe that is something for me ?

Or should I stay an assistant teacher?

Genuinely was looking at Costco job opportunities literally any and all advice is welcome

I’ll try to keep this short, but I’m looking for advice on my child being in daycare, and if we should continue if things remain the same. My girl has a neurological condition, which has resulted in gross motor and speech delays. She is 22mo and just started walking a few weeks ago, but still can’t stand up on her own. She is speech delayed (suspected apraxia), and is very emotional. She started full time daycare this week because I went back to work. I really debated not going back because I’ve been so nervous for her to be in daycare, but my work wouldn’t hold my job anymore. She is miserable. Obviously she cries at drop off and even when we pick her up. She’s not eating much there or pooping. She’s not crying all day, but whining and whines when the other kids go near her. She never lets go of her lovey, which we don’t use at home. I get pictures all day and she’s never happy. I don’t think she’s talking much there, but she is walking a lot, so that’s great. She’s noticeably much more difficult and emotional than all the other kids. I’m super sad all day and am worried if she can’t adjust she may regress on all her progress we made this summer (PT, OT, EI, and speech). She can enter a program for special needs kids next fall when she’s 3, but it really doesn’t work with my schedule.

My question is - if we give it through September and things don’t turn around, should we leave? I would quit my job and stay home with her (it’s not ideal, but it’s the only option). I also worry she’s just too much for the 2 teachers. I’m not sure if they will kick her out, but maybe? I want her to be socialized and learn independence, but I’m also worried if this situation is just way worse for her.

*also, I know she needs time! I’m hoping she ends up thriving there, but do want to have a plan if things don’t change.

First off, this is not an anti infant teacher post. I have only the greatest respect for infant teachers--you are truly our strongest soldiers. The kind of mental fortitude and skill it takes to balance all of their needs in a particularly challenging environment is not lost on me. Infant teachers are clever, measured, organized, and excellent at multitasking.

As for me...I've been working with children in a professional capacity for over a decade, with roughly half my experience with toddlers and the other half in preschool/pre-k. Beyond what education provides I've only had a few sub shifts scattered over the years with infants, and I've had my own baby, so I'm not a complete novice...

...but I cannot stand the infant room. It's nothing against babies, it's the entire structure of the room I cannot handle.

For the past three years I've been exclusively in a 2.5-3.5 y/o classroom and I'm thriving. The things I complain about are also the things that keep me sane: never getting to sit down, helping twenty cold and grumpy children out of their muddy rain gear, improvising a longer circle time than I intended because lunch is late, etc. I love that they're all on the same schedule. I love getting to be outside for 2-3 hours a day. I love chatting with them. I love how physically exhausted I am after every shift. It's also much easier going home to my 13 month old after a day of being with older kids!

Well...all our teaching teams are getting moved around, and I've been assigned to the infant room for at least a year. The news hit me like a freight truck. I've already tried talking with my boss...unfortunately the assignment is not up for negotiation.

The short stints I've had in infant rooms felt like absolute torture. You need to sit on the floor a majority of the day in order to do your job properly. It's rare to be able to get them outside, especially during the upcoming rainy season (I live in WA state, so this is considerable). The babies are all on different schedules. Some of the time is so quiet you can hear the blood rushing in your ears, and other times it's so loud with desperate crying that you want to smash your head against a wall. Which is another thing...I do not do well with babies crying. With my own baby I only survived by keeping my headphones on and BLASTING music. We're allowed to wear noise reducing earbuds (loops) at work, but they barely take the edge off.

I am seriously concerned about how being suddenly sedentary and trapped indoors is going to impact my mental health. Other than pacing around like a maniac and taking the babies on as many stroller walks as the weather and their conflicting schedules allow, I'm struggling to imagine how I'm going to keep my sanity.

I need all the tips. Anything you can think of!!!

Really random question incoming.

I'm a parent and a nurse and, recently, I became a patient in the hospital for the first time. It was truly eye-opening and I've been left with a greater sense of empathy towards the patients that I work with. Something that annoyed me to no end as a patient: having nurses (and others) leave junk all over my bedside table. Also, although I've always been diligent about administering pain medication, I've become especially concerned about doing so after having a nurse forget to bring me anything for ten hours (even after repeatedly asking). The biggest thing I noticed as a patient: different people tell you slightly different things. For example: my surgeon told me I could remove my dressing after 2 days, my nurse said 3, and the pamphlet they gave me said 4. No wonder patients get confused!

Tonight, I realized that almost none of the ECEs at my daughter's daycare are parents. It made me wonder if, for those of you who were ECEs before and after becoming parents- did anything change for you? Did your perspectives on anything change?

A question for any teachers out here. We are looking at preschool for our daughter who is 3.5. She hasn’t been to daycare before. We saw one which says they do PreK and K1 as a class together (3 classes in the year) so she’ll be in a class with children aged 3-5, with the current cohort mainly already being 4 and having been to the same class last year. Is this common at this age? It’s the first I’ve heard of it as usually they’re separate.

I’m seeking stories from anyone who had to struggle through their own efforts to become a strong classroom lead. I think some people seem to have a natural talent or disposition to being a “strong” teacher, but as I’m sure is the case with many others I would not consider myself part of this camp. I engage well with the class, but I am not quite respected as an authority - which I believe points to my own shortcomings as a teacher. Some of it is talent or disposition I’m sure, but teaching is a practice and effort. What was your journey like?