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Qualities and Roles of an ECCE Teacher

Self-Confidence and High Self-Esteem

Self-confidence and high self-esteem are significant qualities of ECCE teachers.
Notes
They must display these qualities in order to create a healthy and positive
environment in the classroom.

Well Trained

ECCE teachers are required to possess essential knowledge and skills to
effectively deal with young children. In order to make learning experiences
meaningful for children, teachers must understand the significance of the early
years of life and quality ECCE. To cater to the physical-motor, socio-emotional,

cognitive and language needs of children, teachers must have a thorough
understanding of the fundamentals of growth and development. Understanding
diversity and practising inclusion is essential for ECCE teachers to provide
children with equal learning opportunities, experiences and exposure irrespective
of their varied differences. ECCE teachers are required to support children with
disabilities, socio-economic disadvantaged children or children who become
victims of natural calamity, violence or war by understanding their developmental
characteristics and learning needs.

They must be well trained in teaching skills and in teaching. This requires them

to understand how young children learn, and the teaching methodologies. Thus,
knowledge of a variety of teaching learning approaches like learning through
play, activity-based learning, learning by doing/hands-on learning, discovery
learning, cooperative learning, discussions, field visits are highly essential and
add to the quality of ECCE teachers.

Research Skills and Lifelong Learner

To make the ECCE programme effective, teachers also need to engage in
research. This enables them to solve immediate problems faced in the
classrooms, revisit their teaching methodology and improve upon the teaching
learning process.

Striving for continuous improvement in knowledge and skills to meet the needs
and demands of the early childhood profession is another key quality of ECCE

teachers. Teachers are required to keep themselves abreast of new knowledge
and developments in the field of education and ECCE in particular.

140 EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION