1.
We
shall support professionals new to the field by mentoring them in the practice
of evidence and ethically based services.
I feel that peer based
learning through mentoring is one of the most effective and meaningful ways for
anyone to learn a new skill. If we take the time to mentor and collaborate we
provide the opportunity for those with little or no experience to gain
knowledge through hands-on methods that are not possible through “formal”
education alone. When we base our mentoring practices on evidence based knowledge
we ensure that the experience gained is good experience.
As we know, not all
experience is equal and so I would go further than this statement to say that
mentoring those who are not new to the field but lack an understanding of
evidence and ethically based services is equally important. In my own work as I
coach I often find that those who have many years of experience in environments
that do not fit into the realm of best practice often need the coaching and
mentoring as much as (or even more than) those who are new to our field.
2.
We
shall strive for the highest level of personal and professional competence by
seeking and using new evidence based information to improve our practices while
also responding openly to the suggestions of others.
This is significant to my
professional life because I believe that I am a life-long learner and I hope I
can encourage others to be, as well. When
we strive for competence, based on new evidence or suggestions from our peers, we
continue to develop a growth mindset and avoid the pitfalls of stagnancy. As I
mentioned above, it is often those who have become complacent who fail to
provide the best possible opportunities for children.
In addition, my coaching
role involves helping others to see the importance of being open to change,
learning, and suggestion. I can do some of this by leading through my example.
I aim to be open to suggestions from fellow coaches but also from providers
(teachers, directors, etc.). By doing so,
I am able to continue to grow alongside them on the journey to improved
quality.
3.
To
accord co-workers due recognition of professional achievement.
The work we do in this field
is complicated and at times difficult and exhausting. It is imperative that we
continue to build our resiliency so that we can continue to provide exceptional
services. Celebrating successes and achievements is one way that we can
continue to build resilience in ourselves and our co-workers. It is also an
unfortunate fact that most early childhood education professionals are not
recognized by the “outside” world for their accomplishments. Therefore, it is
crucial that we celebrate each other in the interest of encouraging each other
to forge on and take on the challenges that will lead to more professional achievements.
When we do this and we focus on positive mindsets we filter that out to those
we serve and to our colleagues.
Optional:
What I want to remind myself of here is that although the
optional portion of this assignment said to wrap up my introspective process I
do not see this as a wrap-up. I see this as the beginning of a different
journey in my learning process. I hope
that I will always be introspective and that my professional goals will
continue to morph as I continue to be self-reflective and use the ideals above
(along with many others) as a map to where and how I want to continue to grow as a
professional, leader, and advocate in our field.
References
