A Youtube Channel that’s getting children ready for learning in Ghana/Africa – Sayada Mubashiru

A Youtube Channel that’s getting children ready for learning in Ghana/Africa – Sayad Mubashiru

Mrs. Sayada Mubashiru who holds a Degree in Early Childhood Education (University of Education -Winneba) and Masters in Organization ( Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University- Turkey) shares her experience as an Early childhood educator, the challenges of early childhood education, and what motivated her to start a Youtube channel that aims at the holistic development of a child.

CHALLENGES OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Many of the challenges teachers face today are not new. Instead, they’ve either remained pressing issues or become further complicated by new obstacles or environmental factors. We’ll start with the most obvious problem in the field of ECE exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Pandemic Out Break

For decades, educators of all grades and subject areas have complained about the “summer slide”—that is the decline in academic performance that occurs when their students return to school after a three-month break. Some studies have reported this loss of learning to represent as much as a quarter of all material mastered during the prior school year. Teachers’ concerns over the summer slide could be amplified this year, though, since virtual learning imposed by the pandemic made learning and retention even more challenging for learners.

While the pandemic slide may be of concern for all types of teachers, it could add a significant burden to an already long list of preschool issues and problems. That’s because the learning milestones that must be met during these early years of a student’s academic journey are crucial for his or her long-term success in school. Early literacy goals that are left unmet, for example, can impact a child’s reading and writing abilities for years to come. The same is true for fundamental math skills like spatial and number sense as well as basic adding and subtracting. Thus, one of the main problems faced by kindergarten teachers will be ensuring that kids leave their classrooms with the skills they need to tackle their remaining years in elementary school and beyond.

Long Hours and No Sick Days

Just as a parents’ work is never done, the same is true for the job of an early childhood educator. When you consider the stacks upon stacks of paperwork a preschool or kindergarten teacher is responsible for on top of managing a classroom full of little ones all day, you can probably see why long work hours may be among the many challenges teachers face today.

While this is not a new problem and it certainly isn’t isolated to early childhood environments, it may be one of the bigger preschool issues and problems teachers are currently facing due to federally mandated student-teacher ratios. Since a certain number of trained early education professionals must be present depending on the size of the classroom, serious staffing problems can arise if a teacher takes a day off or calls in sick. Within a school or childcare center, this circumstance can create a pressure cooker scenario where teachers feel compelled to come to school no matter how bad they feel just to keep the peace.

Long HDeclining Mental Healthours and No Sick Days

Early childhood educators need to be their best selves in the classroom, not only for their own sake but for the wellbeing of the youngsters in their care. The problem of declining mental health in the ECE field has a trickle-down effect on little ones, so it’s an issue everyone should care about. Specifically, when teachers feel stressed or overwhelmed in their classroom, their teaching skills suffer and so does their ability to manage the classroom. They may have a shorter fuse with their students or not feel up to providing as much positive reinforcement as children at this age need. A substantial body of evidence has proven that children exposed to too much stress in the early years of life can have tremendous difficulty down the line, including stress disorders and even cognitive impairment. It’s clear that a youngster’s healthy brain development is dependent upon relationships with caring, stable adults who can model positive stress responses.

While the mental health of preschool and kindergarten teachers has long been a concern, the pandemic has only worsened the problem. For instance many preschool teachers working in public schools reported feeling depressed in 2020, up from just pre-pandemic. And for reasons we’ve already addressed, taking a mental health day was simply out of the question for many of these teachers who suffered in silence for the most part.

Low Pay

If you’ve read this far, you may think that preschool and kindergarten teachers should be some of the highest-paid professionals in the world. And you’d be right, but unfortunately, this isn’t the case at all. On the contrary, early childhood educators are notoriously underpaid. This is especially true for young teachers just entering the profession and those without an advanced degree. Ironically, that puts many preschool teachers who are married with children of their own under the  poverty line. for example, early childhood educators are twice as likely as other employed residents to live in poverty. Despite receiving praise from parents, administrators, and even the community at large, it’s easy to feel underappreciated when you’re working long hours and still can’t make ends meet as an early childhood educator. That feeling can take hold, making teachers feel as if their work is meaningless, which can lead to burnout, another of the key challenges teachers face today.

Lack of Resources

Among the many challenges teachers face today, lack of resources remains one of the most pressing. To make up for the minuscule budgets allotted to classroom materials, many preschool and kindergarten teachers resort to desperate measures to ensure their kids don’t fall behind, even dipping into their own coffers (which are often strapped due to their meager salaries) to bridge the gap. If you were to ask a group of early childhood educators the question: “what are the challenges of a preschool teacher?”, a lack of resources would almost assuredly become a topic of conversation.

Burnout

Burnout in the teaching profession is real, and it has been for a long time. If you add up all of the kindergarten/preschool issues and problems, it really comes down to the dismal reality that attracting and retaining qualified early childhood educators is becoming increasingly difficult. According to a 2020 study, a whopping 44% of new teachers leave the field of education within the first five years of entering it. To find the many reasons why one only has to ask: what are the challenges of a preschool teacher or kindergarten teacher today? Unfortunately, there are too many to name, but it seems one of the key obstacles that lead to burnout is micromanagement in the profession.

When you add in common kindergarten/preschool issues and problems that these children bring from homes like food insecurity, absent parents, emotional and behavioral problems, and even abuse, the mountain can become too steep for a lot of new teachers to climb, especially when they feel unsupported.

Burnout isn’t just a problem for teachers; it affects our nation’s children too. It’s common knowledge that preschool-aged children need stable relationships with adults in order to thrive. When a kid’s teacher leaves the profession due to mounting challenges facing early childhood education today, it can disrupt his or her social and emotional development and lead to missed milestones and gaps in learning later on.

Rewards of Working in Early Childhood Education

At the start of our discussion, we promised to discuss both the challenges and opportunities in early childhood education. While it’s easy to focus on the many problems faced by kindergarten teachers and preschool teachers today, it’s just as important to remember why many of these dedicated educators return to the profession school year after school year. In short, the answer is: the kids.

Perhaps more than any other professional, early childhood educators see the value and promise in children. Deep within, they know what these youngsters can accomplish, and they make supporting these children’s learning and development their primary purpose in life. This is why working in early childhood education is often referred to as a calling. For those who answer it, the intrinsic rewards are many. Seeing a child grasp a new concept, for instance, or forming a bond with a child who has been labeled a “behavior problem,” for instance, is often enough to keep these preschool and kindergarten teachers going strong for months at a time. Of all the potential benefits of teaching at this level, the knowledge that you’re truly making a difference in the world , is arguably the greatest reward.

UNIQUENESS ABOUT MY CHANNEL

It’s easy to focus on the future when thinking about your child’s education, but don’t forget about the present. The Pre-School Education they get in their early years is just as important and lays the groundwork for later education. CIRCLE TIME is the key goals that are part of a quality preschool or early childhood education program.

I have realized that most circle time entails just small contents and always wasting time with so much talks.Not going straight to the point(that’s beating about the bush).it only talks about few things which I taught it twice to improve the way of acquiring knowledge through circle time in this way .You will not know for now but in future you will realized they have acquired so much knowledge.A clip of my Morning Circle time.

Circle time is usually light and fun and has the goal of getting children ready for learning. This will help develop our kids.

This video aims at the holistic development of a child’s social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs in order to build a solid and broad foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing. This video has the possibility of nurturing good children . Enjoy !

EXPERIENCE LIVING OUTSIDE OR ABROAD TRAVEL WITH PURPOSE

The simple answer is that it’s a chance to do something wonderful and adventurous that will change your life forever. Teaching abroad captures what international exchange is all about. It’s people from very different cultures coming together, learning from one another, and making positive connections. It’s a way to travel, gain work experience, and do good all at the same time. It’s an amazing chance to change lives for the better. Helping young students learn  opens doors to new opportunities for them.

Teaching abroad is an opportunity to experience another culture and see the world in a way no tourist can. It’s a chance to meet people, share ideas, and forge lasting friendships. And, it’s the jumping-off point for an international adventure of travel, cultural exchange, and personal enrichment unlike any other.

When you teach overseas, you’re doing much more than visiting another country. You’re becoming an educator – a productive, contributing member of that society.

A CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Providing access to education is one of the most important things a society can do for its people. Education brings opportunity and prosperity. Teachers contribute to building stronger communities by improving education, helping students of all ages connect in learning

A GREAT WAY TO ADVANCE AS A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL – AND AS AN INDIVIDUAL

Teaching abroad is a smart investment in your future. You’ll earn an important teaching credential as well. For a midcareer professional, it can be a break from the routine that reinvigorates you.

Benefits extend beyond the teaching profession. Employers of all kinds put a high value on international work experience. This help learned how to navigate other cultures, adapt to new environments and cultures and meet the challenges of working independently. It develops stronger language and personal skills, and a broader view of the world – a valuable addition to any workplace.

SEE YOURSELF AS A TEACHER

All have an interest in giving back, sharing knowledge, and learning from others – and a desire to discover other cultures.

ADVICE TO PARENTS

-Participate at Your Kid’s School

-Make Sure Homework Gets Done

-Make Sure Your Kid is Ready to Learn When They Get to School

-Teach Your Kid How to Put Stuff Where It Goes

-Teach Your Child Study Skills That Work

-Make Sure Your Kid Is At School On Time, Every Day

-Allow Your Child to Succeed or Fail on Their Own

-Practice Discipline, Respect, and Self-respect at Home

-Know What Your Child is Studying At School

-Praise and Encourage Your Kids