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Posted 8/6/2011 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
I know some of you work with kids or in daycares and stuff, and I think I'm going to apply to work at a daycare as a teacher's aide. I just wanted to know if any of you had any tips or advice for a possible interview or what to put on my resume/application. I know it said CPR certification was a plus, so I'll be looking into that, but I'd appreciate any other info I could get! Even what to wear, what to add in the comments section, etc. I don't have a ton of experience but I have taught a few times at an elementary school and I also had a teaching internship in Germany last year.

Also, it's a Christian daycare, but I'm not really Christian, are they gonna ask me stuff about that? Let's hope not.

Another OT thing -- rented a house today! =) Move in in September.

Posted 8/6/2011 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
Day care is all about ratio. Look for a state licensing site on the internet for your state and study that. I have had a lot of encounters of horrible day cares, so just be careful. The best ones are rare, so lean on the licensing site for the information you need to know. CPR Certification is an important thing to have, some schools only require some to have it, but you never know who is going to be out when it's needed. Personally if I ran a day care, I'd require everyone to have their CPR Certification. You might need to come up with certain activities to explain to the person interviewing you so make sure you know the age group and the age appropriate activity.

With it being a Christian school, they will ask you about your faith and your testimony, but they will not use that against you. They just want to know where their employees are faith wise. Hope this was helpful, if you have any other questions I'm sure I can help, or others can.
Posted 8/7/2011 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
So the licensing site will tell me about the kid to teacher ratio? I'm guessing the daycare's not too terrible, because I think they have webcams up.

There's a Red Cross near where our new house will be, so I'm going to look there for certification.

Any activities for different age groups you can suggest? I'm sure I could think of something if I was around the kids already, but I'm not.

What do you mean by "testimony"? Technically I'm methodist, but I don't practice and I wouldn't really call myself a Christian... but I definitely have a set of morals and I'm open to religions. So I dunno!

Thanks for the tips. What would I wear for the interview? Something businessy?
Posted 8/7/2011 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
The state licensing site will tell you all the rules that you need to know in day care, child teacher ratio, naptime ratio, u name it it's there. For "Testimony" its your story. How you became a Christian and when you claimed it as your own. That's what Testimony means. What state r u in, maybe I can find the state licensing site for you and link it here.

What you should wear for the interview, ummmmm nice skirt and a nice top.

Activities for age groups? If I were you I'd find stuff on a website. The questions that the person interviewing you will be very broad, there are a lot of questions they can ask you. Also, they may ask what activity you would do with kids outside. That would be easy. I've always said that I like to walk around to make sure the kids are safe and I have the same number of children outside that I have coming in, but last time I used that it didn't go over well. But I do feel it's a good answer.
Posted 8/7/2011 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
Oh, that sounds like good stuff to know. I live in Michigan. The city would be East Lansing.

Okay. That sounds like a good answer to me. Maybe I could throw in an activity in addition to the safety thing.

Thanks!
Posted 8/7/2011 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
Here is the PDF File, http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dhs/BCAL-PUB-0008_241660_7.pdf

Here is the site u need to go to to search for other stuff. http://www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7-124-5455_49572_50051---,00.html
Posted 8/7/2011 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all your help =) I'll check them out.
Posted 8/7/2011 5:04 AM (GMT 0)
Having taught 7-10 yr-olds, I'll just give you a warning that kids are fun but also major carriers/spreaders of viral bugs & such. That's something to consider when you're taking immunosuppressants. You have facility with Chinese & German, right? Why not check to find possible community or educational institution jobs where your language skills would factor in? Maybe TESOL programs, libraries, that kind of worksite. (Even study abroad programs offices-- since you've studied abroad.) I'm thinking about your physiological stress level ... Plus good luck with the new house! / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 8/7/2011 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, I'm going to apply other places too. The only problem with schools usually is that I haven't graduated yet, and for the daycare they just require a high school diploma. Same with tutoring and stuff like that, they usually want grad students. But I'm definitely going to look! There is a library near the new house I'm going to look into, too. But now that you mention it, I'll ask my old Chinese T.A. if she knows of any open positions.
I think if I worked with kids I'd probably have some hand sanitizer with me all the time, but I'm not overly concerned with getting sick. I don't generally get sick more than a regular person. But it'd be good experience to have. I'm just keeping my options open =)
Thanks! It should be good times =D Basement, washer/dryer, hardwood floors, deck, porch, and I can have my cat! Also our roomie's mom has Celiac's so maybe if I get sick, he'd be understanding. I think he would be anyways, he's pretty chill.
Posted 8/7/2011 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
Working in child care, no matter what you will get sick until you are used to being in child care. After I got diagnosed with UC, I thought my body was going to react differently when I went back to work, but my body was just like it was before hand. Also, at that time I was on 2 shots of humira, and Imuran. I didn't get sick once. But for a newbie in child care expect to get sick a lot until your body is used to it.
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