Teaching Duties

• Early childhood teaching assistants help preschool children from infants to approximately age five develop motor skills and reading readiness. Assistants often read to individuals or groups to foster listening skills and language development and assist with activities such as painting, coloring and using clay. Early childhood workers help children gain social understanding and skills by teaching about cooperation and sharing. As required at Hinsdale Community Preschool (hinsdalecommunitypreschool.org) in West Chicago, aides organize and monitor games and other play and work with teachers to develop, implement and evaluate activities.
  
  

Supervisory and Clerical Duties

• Teacher assistants help monitor children during free play times and while using equipment. They observe children to help assess developmental levels and issues and complete reports based on those observations. Aides maintain student records and may perform screenings and assessments. They must understand and implement guidelines for the institution, such as the organizational and Head Start standards maintained by the Chicago YMCA (ymcachicago.org). Childcare employees must follow reporting procedures according to the Illinois Abused and Neglected Childrens Reporting Act (ANCRA).
  
  

Communications

• Preschool teachers also stay in touch with parents, and teacher assistants have the same responsibilities, as listed in the job description at the Chicago YMCA. Assistants not only explain assessments and observations to parents but also encourage further parental involvement in the classroom through volunteer time. Early childhood assistants teach parents about home activities to foster proper child development and promote parental participation in teacher conferences and educational meetings. Teacher assistants must also uphold student confidentiality.
  
  

Background Requirements

• Many jobs, such as assistant teacher positions at the Chicago YMCA and Hinsdale Preschool, require a minimum of an associate's degree in early childhood education, elementary education or child development. Special needs certification may be helpful. Other schools, such as the Kensington School (kensingtonschool.com) in LaGrange, Western Springs, St. Charles, Geneva, Wheaton and Naperville, prefer a degree but don't insist on one. The Chicago YMCA does insist upon one year of experience working with young children, but practicum work may suffice.