Running head: COMPETENCY STATEMENT CS-V 1

Competency Statement CS-V

Jeni Tetamore

Rasmussen College

Author Note

This Competency Statement CS-V is being submitted on May 7, 2017 for Michelle

Hamilton, Ed.S. EC121/EEC1735 Section 02 Health, Safety, and Nutrition/CDA Application

course.
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Competency Statement CS-V

Our primary objective is to serve the families and children who come to us to care for

their children on a day-to-day basis. The parents entrust us to keep their children safe, fed, cared

for, engaged, and to act in their stead while they are away. To do this, we must be responsive to

not only the needs of the school, or even class, as whole, but to each child as an individual who

has distinctive and separate requirements which must be met.

Standard V: To ensure a well-run, purposeful program that is responsive to participant

needs.

The Importance of Observation and Documentation. When a child comes into our

classroom, we always get down on their level (if they are not being carried in) to greet them, not

only their parents. This provides an opportunity to gage how they are feeling - if they will make

eye-contact, if they are happy to be in school today, are feeling grumpy, tired, or are going to

have a rough drop-off because today is a day that separation is harder than others. Knowing each

child, and family, on a personal level allows us as teachers to feel confident in our observations

and sharing them with the families should the need arise. Documenting progress, using tools

such as the Tadpole, allows teachers and parents to keep consistent track of their childs

development through the program, making it easier to spot if a milestone was early or late. By

accurately providing information in an on-going fashion, parents and teachers may engage in

early intervention, suggestions to involve the childs care provider, or offer other resources when

available and appropriate.

Accurately and Objectively Observing and Tracking Each Child. With the use of the

Tadpole system on iPADs, a system designed specifically for daycare centers and preschools,

it allows us to input what and how much each child eats, what their activities are, attach pictures
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and/or videos for their parents to view throughout the day at their leisure (if they choose). This

system then also allows us to see if a child isnt eating, or eating more than developmentally

appropriate, if the child is participating in activities, playing, and engaged. It provides an

ongoing record where we, and the parents, can go back and see the progression of the child

through our classroom.

Conclusion

The hallmark of a good teacher and a well-run program is intentionality. Good things do

not happen by accident, they happen because people who care plan, pay attention, and work

toward that end with the goal designed before they ever set upon the path. And the ones who

benefit are the families who trust us with their children every day.