Student Assistant Handbook

MISSION | ORGANIZATIONAL CHART | STAFF | GENERAL GUIDELINES | INTERACTING WITH CHILDREN | INTERACTING WITH OTHER ADULTS

STAFF MISSION STATEMENT
The professional staff of the Children's Center at Purchase College is committed to providing high quality child care in a safe, healthy, happy and inclusive learning environment. This requires that we respect, support and maintain open communication with children, their families and each other. Our focus is to be a child study center where teachers are active researchers translating theory into practice and maintaining a commitment to becoming lifelong learners.

Director - Dr. Patricia Amanna
Assistant Director/Head Teacher – Harriet Mendl
Administrative Assistant - Virginia Genussa

New York State Childcare Approved Head Teachers:

Annie Pellerito - Yellow Room

Susan Cannon- Green Room

Cheryl Seeley - Purple Room

Harriet Mendl - Blue Room

Assistant Teachers:

Chrissy Brown - Yellow Room

Tom Benevento - Green Room

Andrew Balsam - Purple Room

JoAnn Edwards -  Blue Room

Full Time Assistant:

Melissa Cavaluzzi

Student Assistants

Movement Instructor - Wen-lin Murray

Accountant - Robert Conklin

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GENERAL GUIDELINES

After the first few times in the classroom, routines will become familiar, you will know most of the children's names, and your presence in the classroom will have become standard procedure. Once a level of comfort is reached, some of the more challenging aspects of working with young children can be addressed. The following guidelines will help ease the "breaking-in" process:

Dress Appropriately. Wear clothing that is comfortable and appropriate to the season. You will be expected to spend time outdoors in the playground and on walks, so the shoes and the coat you choose to wear should reflect that expectation. Also, keep in mind that working with young children involves activities that can be messy.

Be Prompt. There is a logbook in the classroom. You are expected to sign in when you arrive. Arrive in sufficient time to be prepared to begin work at your scheduled time. Always inform us (x6895 or x6896) if you must be late or absent. Give us as much notice as possible. (Be aware that Practicum students are expected to make up missed hours and that Student assistants who are chronically late or absent will be subject to dismissal.)

Know Where Things Are. Find out where materials that you may be expected to use are stored. Note the arrangement of toys and materials in the room so that you are able to help supervise the children in their use of the materials.

Health. Regular hand washing is the key to maintaining your health and that of the children. You should wash your hands immediately upon entering the classroom. During your time in the classroom, you should be sure to wash your hands prior to handling food and after diapering a child or helping a child with toileting or after helping a child wipe his/her nose.

Safety. Remain alert to the children's safety as a top priority. If you notice hazards (such as broken toys, uncovered electrical outlets, etc.) report them to the teachers in the classroom.

Your responsibility is to the children. Your conversation in the classroom should be concerned with their needs, the program, and helping the teacher. Your personal life and interests need to wait until your job at the center is done.

You are a role model. You are seen by the children as a model of the adult world.

Use professional ethics. Avoid discussing children and families by name outside the school setting. Any discussion in the school should be done in a descriptive rather than a judgmental manner.

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INTERACTING WITH CHILDREN

Move in slowly. Sit back and watch to see what children are doing and if you are needed before getting involved.

Maintain your role as teacher. Avoid playing adult-centered games with children or entertaining them so that you become the focus of their play.

Keep their attention focused on each other or the activities. You should not make models for the children in their artwork, block play, games, etc. The children's work will never measure up to yours, so encourage them to do "their" thing. Remember that the process matters more than the product.

Give children time. Allow plenty of time for children to do as much as they can possibly do without help.

Encourage independence. If help is needed, give only as much as is required for success.

Encourage conversation at mealtimes. Once food has been placed on the table, you should sit with the children unless you have been assigned another task. Remember, however, that the food served at the center is for the children. While we may ask you to sit with the children while they eat, you are not expected to eat with them.

Take part in group times. Unless you are needed elsewhere to get things ready, join the teacher and the children by sitting with them or joining hands, etc.

Be alert to the whole group. Know where the children and other teachers are and what they are doing even when they are not in the immediate area.

Never leave children unsupervised. Notify the teacher in charge if you must leave the area so that arrangements will be made to provide full coverage of all activities.

Maintain the environment. Keep the room and yard in order as the day moves along, involving children in the clean-up process. Clean up should be a pleasant activity when adults and children work together to get the room ready for the next activity.

Use your voice and tone effectively. Go over to the child, stoop down, and speak quietly, but distinctly, rather than shout from across the room or yard.

Never use force. Avoid picking up children to get them where they are supposed to go. Learn to use verbalizations, not force or strength to get children to cooperate.

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INTERACTING WITH OTHER ADULTS

Never interfere when another teacher is solving a problem. Unless specifically invited to join in, allow other teachers the courtesy of dealing with the situation alone.

Ask questions. Be sure to ask for help when needed. You will be able to do a better job if you question teachers as to why and how they handle various situations.

Maintain communication. Keep other staff members informed of significant events and problems that occur. Parent's questions and concerns should be redirected to the head or assistant teacher.