- Cultural awareness and cultural competence requirements of an early childhood teacher.
As an early childhood educator, there are many things that they ought to be aware of. With the enormous diversity existing, being culturally aware is one of the most highly considered things. Cultural competence has, therefore, been considered an essential construct for any educator. Though a lot of controversies have developed over the years based on this concept, it remains to be important. Cultural competence and awareness give the idea of how educators respond to existing cultural phenotypes in the environment (Online, 2020). The idea behind it is to ensure that equality is maintained by eradicating stereotypes relating to culture as well as accommodating the diversity among the children. Preparation for variety is essential to any educator, especially with children and families coming with different cultures from their own. It is a continuous process that takes time to develop. Cultural competence requires an active reflection to identify and implement opportunities. As an educator, these are very crucial requirements gauging how they relate with children. They have the opportunity to critically analyze several issues and skills prevalent in any educational environment.
It involves identifying the peculiarity of each child, then increasing a sense of belonging. Through this, cultural competence is enriched in a system filled with cultural diversity. Educators are now aware of the differences and the similarities existing (Boone, 2020). Also, it requires a deep understanding and development of communication skills and channels, which help educators to interact with children fully and effectively. The importance of this is that it enables the practical accommodation of each child without alienating them. It recognizes and appreciates the differences existing in this aspect.
In most cases, educators must recognize that all children do not choose to belong to a given cultural background. As such, they are radically born into a given culture. They are gaining knowledge that these specified cultures can have different values and practices which shape various thought processes and bring out different belief systems. Also, cultural awareness requires that educators understand the unique sense of belonging which children exhibit. In most cases, it is related to cultural ideologies within a societal framework. Educators are required to create a culturally friendly environment through which children can thrive. They must be able to look into their specific cultural backgrounds and moderate their actions in a way that does not demean other cultures. They must be able to build the ability to give the necessary support needed (Fuller, 2020). Educators in any cultural setup have to be considerate and fair in judgment. Cultural affiliations need to be considered to a high level. Doing this ensures that each child feels secure enough to be themselves and grow in a conducive environment. Cultural competence is crucial to an educator as it ensures that they develop and give efficient education services to children at all costs. The critical requirement herein is to create perfect relationships with children. To do so, educators must have a positive attitude towards every child, irrespective of the cultural background they belong to. Besides, culture is superior and cannot be overlooked in any way. It is therefore required that educators observe, listen, and reflect keenly on all the underpinnings.
- Professional conduct and ethical considerations of an early childhood teacher.
The work of an educator is very crucial in early childhood education. Early childhood teachers are guided by different rules and regulations that ensure that services offered to the children are pure and of a good standard. As such, there are various professional conduct and ethical considerations that educators must adhere to. In a general view, early childhood services care for and care about children and their needs. To be specific, the benefits of caring are the ones that demand good professional conduct and ethical considerations.
Regarding the ethical considerations, educators have a crucial role to play. While relating to children, they have to ensure that every child receives personal attention, care, and affection. Children rely more on the sense of understanding and connection in the development and learning process (ethics, 2020). Ideally, a child will relate well if they get a friendly opinion on the educator. As such, it is ethically imperative that affection is showed to them. It means that they have to be kept safe from any harm that may arise. It can be done by giving care and support to children irrespective of the condition they are in. This concept can be summed up by maintaining children’s rights since they cannot do that themselves. Educators have to have an idea of the different constructs through which children operate. As teachers, it is their ethical concern that they learn how to relate with children so that their opinions and flaws do not affect how they treat children. Also, they should gauge and be conscious of their own biases. In this case, professionalism starts with creating a very conducive environment through which children can grow. It includes a non-threatening and non-judgemental environment. In relation, different standards are required to be followed by educators. These professional conducts must be consistent with the law and observe the child’s rights for development and care.
In general, every child is equal and must be considered a competent learner. Besides, children are entitled to different provisions peculiar to their needs as well as conditions that promote the development of knowledge. Teachers need to act as role models and be respectful enough, even while delegating their duties. It involves performing inclusive research on children’s abilities and then gauging what they know (Tomlinson, 2020). Doing this ensures that educators increase the child’s knowledge by building on what the children already understand. Besides, early childhood education should be inclusive rather than discriminating against the children. Professional conduct demands that teachers promote active learning processes where children include playing in the curriculum. Also, they can develop varied learning morphologies that are directed to fulfilling their needs. The provision of a rich and diverse environment is one of the ideals that teachers must exhibit. Besides, a lot can be achieved when professional and ethical considerations are adhered to.
- Cultural awareness practices and protocols for working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
The importance of cultural awareness cannot be under looked in any way. In this context, cultural knowledge and protocols required for working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families are essential. It is essential to consider that every culture has a peculiar behavior and belief system through which its activities are shaped. The different codes of conduct are critical to promoting cultural diversity, which is a major beneficial factor. Among Australians, for instance, culture is highly embraced in a variety of conditions. For instance, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have experienced a major differential concept which has caused much of their culture to be lost over time. Much of their culture is restricted by emerging government policies and regulations put in place. Cultural awareness regarding this group is essential even through all spheres of the government. The first stance is to recognize the existence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’sIslander’s culture and every component surrounding their lifestyle. It includes their belief systems, their way of thinking, and their behavioral mechanisms (Little, 2018). As such, acknowledging the existence of this culture forms a rich baseline through which it can be rebuilt. There are various cultural awareness practices and protocols exhibited herein. A closer look at protocols indicates a set of ethical principles that tend to guide different behaviors. The purpose of maintaining and accepting these protocols help in designing and protecting cultural phenotypes in this case. In essence, they create a synergy through which the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are maintained. In reality, cultural awareness, in this case, requires that an understanding is made to own and control their cultural belief systems. Doing this increases the intellectual capacity to understand the culture and its underpinnings. Since learning is individualistic, the only way to create awareness of this culture is through self-awareness structures. Individuals ought to be enlightened, based on self-determinism. Through self-concept, individuals are considered as the only guardians and interpreters to the culture. Besides, the different ways individuals integrate with the culture culminates in creating a perfect way of relaying the cultural stories.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are diverse in how they contain a lot of information and belief systems. Cultural awareness protocols include the utilization of customary law in authorizing and refusing to use different cultural properties. Also, regarding the various practices, maintaining the secrecy with regards to information and knowledge that involves sharing of heritage (Price-Robertson & McDonald, 2018). It includes a substantial recording of cultural customs and expressions which guide the specific protocols in line with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Knowledge is sacred, and highly embraced should be considered about becoming culturally competent. It includes devising ways of maintaining and having credible relationships with various people.
In most cases, it considers different word choices that are not abusive among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For instance, gauging how different people want to be addressed is essential. Consideration of protocols of naming conventions, belief systems, and behavioral structures is crucial.
- Professional and ethical considerations for establishing relationships and partnerships with families
The concept of families and relationship building is essential in any society. In most cases, a good family structure is beneficial to the development of the children who directly associate with the family. The importance of families cannot be under looked also. Besides, families are the major influencers of the development of children. There are different yet varying professional and ethical considerations in this context. Ideally, the main way through which families can be established is through creating effective communication criteria. It includes conducting surveys on the best communication channels which are convenient to the majority of the people. Besides, even in a friendship or family setting, there are very diverse traits exhibited that facilitate togetherness. Partnership with families is based on the idea that everyone is equal (information sheet, 2016). As an ethical consideration, it is essential to observe the trueness of equality that indicates how people are similar. It is factual that constituents of relationship and family partnership are built on human analogy. As such, everyone experiences challenges daily. Knowing this fact is the baseline through which equality can be promoted. Besides, no one is inferior irrespective of the condition through which they are in. Majorly, every person is worth to be treasured and appreciated in every aspect. In any family, the parents need to be aware that children are reliant on them for provision, guidance, and fulfillment of needs and desires. Parents, on the other hand, desire respect in a family setup. The main prospect herein is that they are obligated to make decisions that influence their children through development. In any genuine partnership, certain values have to be utilized and maintained to a great extent. The existence of roles should not be under looked. In this way, each member’s role in a family must be valued no matter how minor.
In most cases, professional consideration in terms of decision making solicits for inclusivity through which trust is maintained. Decision making should involve every member of the family. It is essential to build a sense of togetherness by helping families get a complete relationship spectrum that guides their processes. Family partnerships should be collaborative. It means that different attitudes toward families should be integrated and promoted. Informational discussions should be utilized in a family partnership. Doing this ensures that people learn about themselves and derive effective ways of relating to each other. It involves professional conversations. Goals and objectives should be shared within these groupings (“Collaborating with families: Not a problem! (free article) – Early Childhood Australia”, 2020). Besides, sharing different perspectives on how the goals should be achieved is crucial in attaining them. The importance of this is to make them quickly through shared tasks and ideas. The learning process is encouraged to increase the quality of children’s development.
- Legal responsibilities and professional knowledge an early childhood teacher require about supporting the protection, rights and interests of children and young people at significant risk of harm.
As an early childhood teacher, there are various legal responsibilities and professional knowledge required to aid the child’s development. Children, on the other hand, have specific rights that protect them from harm. Though they are not aware, nor can they protect their rights, it is the teachers’ responsibility to devise ways of supporting the child’s interest. Also, it is essential to understand that the needs of children are diverse in a major way. The different ages of children dictate the requirements they desire to be satisfied. The different needs that these children have do not affect the equality of their rights. There are various legal responsibilities based on the professional knowledge required by a teacher. The fundamental aspect demands that educators protect the rights of individuals to a great level. It is the legal responsibility of the educator to provide sufficient education materials to the children. It includes providing a friendly environment through which children can learn (CFCA Resource Sheet, 2017). The child has a right to quality education, which needs to be supported by the educators in a major way. Educators must consider these rights, such as health protection. It means that whenever they feel sick, they should be treated. It is the educator’s legal responsibility to ensure that each child is given an equal opportunity for growth. It means that learning processes should not be inclined to one person, not affiliated to a certain culture. Based on their qualification, it is not hard to incorporate an effective curriculum in the learning process. Though knowledgeable, they should respect the ideas of the children as well. For instance, children have the right to speech. As such, they should be left to exercise this right in all aspects. It is the responsibility of the educator to protect the rights of children. It includes preventing unfair treatment since every child has equal rights regardless of their origins. The interest of a child should be guaranteed for fulfillment. One of the main principles relating to children is to ensure that the environment of a child is friendly (“Keeping Children and Young People Safe – Community Services,” 2019).
Decisions made by the educators should be in line to ensure that the children’s needs are prioritized to a great length. In detail, educators should be in a position to guarantee the effective development and survival of every child. It includes effective decision-making and incorporation of services that provide any kind of help to the children. Young people are usually at risk, which deters their development processes. Most of the time, they may face depression as a result of stress. Forming legal counsel to help in the counseling process is essential. Ideally, advising the children is crucial in this case. Reducing the risks facing young children should be the primary option for children.