What’s it like to study while you’re working as an educator?
I found it extremely helpful. I was able to use the knowledge of the other educators at my service to help me through my studies and use them as mentors. I also found it really helpful to be able to practice the learning I had done in class.
How do you know when you’ve had a positive impact on a child’s learning or development?
Seeing the changes in the children as they grow and learn, along with the feedback I get from the families on their children’s development. When that child runs inside in the mornings and is happy to see me, with a massive hug, that is when I know I have had a positive effect on that child.
What do you wish that other people understood better about your job?
I am very lucky that, in my service, all of our families are very supportive and appreciative of what we do for their children. However, it would be great for the wider community to understand that as educators we are so much more than ‘babysitters’. There is so much that goes into each day for each individual child.