The Role of Teachers

At Day Early Learning, we believe the foundation to a lifelong love of learning for a child begins with nurturing relationships with their teachers. Our teachers work to build a strong, trusting relationship with each child and develop partnerships with families.

Create caring classroom communities for learning

Establish warm and responsive relationships that allow each child to feel recognized, acknowledged and secure
Share decision making with children about classroom rules, planning activities and group celebrations
Stay attuned and responsive to the needs of all children
Plan and implement hands-on activities that develop positive self-esteem and social skills
Support children’s friendships by helping them learn to take turns, listen to one another and provide comfort when needed

Have deep understanding of child development and use observational knowledge to interpret, adjust, refine and redirect their practice

Actively seek out and apply ongoing evidence-based professional learning that increases understanding of child development and maintains a fresh perspective on learning in the early years
Conduct and document regular objective observations to track growth and development and individualize learning
Focus practice on identified learning outcomes, the ELI Six Essentials and the Indiana Early Learning Foundations
Participate in teaching and learning feedback loops

Implement instructional practices that are responsive to the evolving learning needs of children

Understand and utilize curricula, consistently extending learning to support growth and development and expand on curiosities
Consistently use daily observations, anecdotes and student work product to design differentiated instruction that supports, challenges and introduces the next developmental steps
Plan and implement a variety of experiences that promote learning across all developmental domains
Encourage children to think, reason, question and experiment; build skills for children to explain their thinking
Provide a balance between child-initiated and adult-initiated, active and quiet, fine-motor and large-motor, and indoor and outdoor activities
Promote sound health, safety and nutritional practices
Use a variety of media and technology to enrich the curriculum and extend learning

Design stimulating environments that enhance development and learning, responding to the needs, tendencies and interests of each child

Thoughtfully and purposefully select materials, spaces and processes to support children’s needs, interests and questions
Provide the space, time and support for children to make multiple attempts at success
Ensure active supervision of children at all times, interacting with children in all learning spaces (indoors and outdoors)
Create and utilize displays to recognize and enhance the children’s learning experience

Understand the effects of stress and adversity, implement tools and techniques to buffer the impact

Establish safe, nurturing and predictable classroom rhythms and routines
Model and incorporate components of well-being into daily routines
Facilitate children’s ability to identify feelings, describe problems, negotiate differences and generate solutions

Empower children to develop curiosities, initiative, risk-taking and a sense of accomplishment

Encourage conversation by asking open-ended questions
Use observations and assessments to scaffold classroom activities
Build leadership in children through individual decision making