Early Childhood Education INFO?

Question

I want to be a Teacher Assistant for a Head Start pre-school. Does anyone one know what kind of certificate you need to qualify? I checked colleges and they have 1 year, short -term and Applied Associates Of Science in Early Childhood Education. Can anyone explain what each certificate means what kinds of employment you benefit from these??

Answer 1

Our junior college offers the 1 year short-term certificate and the Applied Associates of Science in EC.  I earned both.  I work at the college based center located at this college.  When I started out there, I needed to take 6 hours to become an assistant and then to become a Lead you have to have your Associates degree.  Many times places will work with you if you show you are enrolled in classes.  You should check with Head Start and see what their requirements are.  I enjoyed taking the classes.  Good luck. Hope you have a college nearby.

Answer 2

A degree is not required to be an assistant but it is helpful.    However, an Associate (2 year) degree in Early childhood Ed. is required to teach.

Experience with children and patience are the only requirements to be an assistant.

Answer 3

Hi. You need to speak with the schools you are interested in teaching at. I taught for five years in Head Start and Early Head Start in Louisiana. (I now stay home with my son). I have a 2 yr, Associates degree in Early Childhood Education. The only one year program I"ve heard of it is a CDA, Child Development Associate that is offerred through a variety of places but is not a "degree". For more Head Start programs you do not need to be certified but degrees, education and traning is obviously preferred, especially for teachers. In the program I taught at TA's didn't need a degree, just a CDA, but many of them were going to school anyway to get their associates. (Every Head Start program is different, there are national standards set up by the National Head Start Association but every state, county and area may differ.)

You need to consult with the actual Head Start you wish to teach at and see what their requirements are.

A suggestion: If u have no prior experience with children, PLEASE volunteer and do the substitute training program and get your feet wet first before you devote any educational time to this field. NOT everyone is cut out for teachign, and Head Start, especially is  a demanding field. YOu may be working with chidlren with special needs, children who are victims of violence, drug abuse or have unhealthy and dangerous homes. You may be dealing with parents who are doing their best but are not your "typical" parents. Head Start children are wonderful, amazing children and I loved them all. But the job is demanding, difficult and time consuming AND Stressful! You do not know your own strength until you hold a crack baby in your arms, or watch a child be abused and subsequently have to be removed from his home. Or to see an autistic child learn his first word--these are emotional, stressful but amazing times and if you are TRULY committed to teaching, you need to find out if it's for you. Visit the center (call first) and meet the director, teachers and children. Volunteer in the classrooms and ask what steps you'd need to take. Subs and volunteers are more likely to be hired first anyway bc the director can see their relationship with the children and families (its not just about the childre, HS helps the families also.) Follow the link I provide for the National HS program and find out if it's for you.

Best of luck,

Amy

Answer 4

I am currently enrolled in an Associate's (AAS) program for Early Childhood Education at a community college in Texas.  I know that each state has different requirements for degrees.  I plan to go on for my Bachelor's after that.  I am going part-time and it will take awhile, but my suggestion is to go for it all.  Do you just want to stay an assistant?  If so, I would say that you would need your Associate's.  Down here, most of the Head Start personnel are now required to have so many college hours to keep their position, let alone move up.  I have never heard of "short term."  The "1 year" is probably your teaching certificate which may or may not be enough to be an assistant.  If you want to be a teacher, then I would suggest that you get your Associate's and then your Bachelor's, or just go straight for your Bachelor's.  (Having the Associate's first will get you in the door at most schools)

The best thing to do is talk to an advisor at your local community college or go to the Head Start website (http://www.nhsa.org/) to see if the information is there.