Maine Roads to Quality Professional Development Network

On-the-job Training

• Understands the Principles of Child Growth and Development
  • Nurtures relationships with children and youth by valuing each child's individuality.
  • Recognizes the major milestones of development for children and youth ages 5-15 across the different domains.
  • Plans program to meet all children and youth's individual learning goals and needs, including children and youth with special needs.
  • Maintains a positive climate and is responsive to children and youth's perspectives.
  • Demonstrates basic understanding of "developmental assets" and their positive impact on children and youth.
  • Develops lessons and activities incorporating active, hands-on exploration and application. Ensures appropriate room arrangement and design for effective use of space.
  • Understands the behaviors of children and youth in the context of typical development.
• Supports Children's Social and Emotional Development
  • Provides a welcoming atmosphere for children, youth and families.
  • Encourages children to express themselves in safe and appropriate ways that supports self-regulation.
  • Establishes and communicates limits for acceptable behavior. Addresses inappropriate behaviors or situations rather than labeling youth.
  • Utilizes quality practice strategies, including mediation, conflict resolution and others to prevent bullying and harassment.
  • Intervenes to explicitly address negative stereotyping and discriminatory practices when they occur.
• Advancing Children's Physical and Intellectual Development
  • Models physical activity by being physically active, both indoors and outdoors.
  • Demonstrates an understanding that lesson plans are the blueprint for implementing curriculum and follows an activity plan that includes youth input.
  • Demonstrates an understanding of the importance of providing youth with independent access to learning materials.
  • Recognizes basic temperament/personality differences and their possible influences on development.
  • Utilizes experiential learning activities to expand and support the daytime school program and includes core competencies and the Maine K-12 Learning Results intentionally in program planning.
• Observing and Recording Children's Behavior
  • Uses age-appropriate expectations as the basis for observation.
  • Assists with the collection of information about child and youth behavior, development and interests.
  • Communicates observations in written and oral form in cooperation with supervisor or staff team (if applicable.)
  • Understands and maintains confidentiality regarding observation of children and youth.
• Planning a Safe and Healthy Learning Environment
  • Develops a process for daily health and safety checks of indoor and outdoor environments to ensure the safety of school age children and youth.
  • Promotes good health and provides an environment that contributes to the prevention of illness and accidents through appropriate supervision.
  • Practices, models and assists children and youth in appropriate hygienic techniques, including handwashing, sanitizing and the cleanliness of the environment.
  • Assists in promoting protective factors to prevent child abuse and neglect; refers families to the Department of Health and Human Services' Child Protective Services as required by law.
  • Assists with required emergency procedures.
• Building Productive Relationships with Families
  • Demonstrates ability to support relationships between youth, families, schools and communities by sharing information.
  • Connects daily with families and children to make them feel welcomed, safe and respected.
  • Views children in the context of their family and their culture.
  • Demonstrates respectful interest in learning about each family's values, beliefs, faith traditions, cultural influences, family structure and circumstances.
  • Recognizes and supports cultural differences and diverse family structures and socioeconomic or educational realities.
• Managing an Effective Program Operation
  • Maintains cooperative, respectful interactions and supports the Employer's and or school's policies.
  • Contributes to effective, purpose and respectful team communications to promote continuous program improvement.
  • Demonstrates understanding of and on-going compliance with Child Care Licensing and other regulations or requirements.
  • Engages youth in all aspects of program planning and evaluation.
  • Demonstrates knowledge of program's policies and procedures.
• Maintaining a Commitment to Professionalism
  • Communicates positively and effectively using appropriate verbal, nonverbal and written messages
  • Demonstrates effective customer service assuring respect for families' culture and language.
  • Assures personal safety and actively communicates with supervisor.
  • Establishes and maintains professional boundaries including confidentiality and impartiality.
  • Promotes community partnerships and community resources.
  • Demonstrates knowledge of applicable regulations and laws pertaining to working with children and youth at the local, state and national levels, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
  • Assesses self, values and ethics as they impact work with families.
  • Completes mandated trainings and maintains required certifications
  • Seeks opportunities for ongoing professional growth; implements to improve practice and share with colleagues as appropriate.