Early Childhood Field Experience (classroom and administrative)At — EasterSeals Southern California
During this internship, the participant gains hands‑on experience supporting the developmental, social‑emotional, and early learning needs of toddlers and preschool‑aged children. Interns assist teachers in creating a safe, nurturing, play‑based classroom environment by engaging children in age‑appropriate activities, modeling positive interactions, and supporting daily routines such as learning centers, outdoor play, meals, and transitions. This role helps interns develop foundational skills in observation, classroom management, communication with young children, and understanding developmentally appropriate practice. It also offers valuable insight into teamwork within an early childhood education setting and the essential responsibilities involved in supporting children’s growth and learning.
**Child Development & Teaching Skills** * Understanding developmental milestones for toddlers and preschoolers * Engaging children in play‑based, developmentally appropriate activities * Supporting social‑emotional learning, including sharing, problem‑solving, and emotional regulation * Practicing positive guidance techniques and classroom management strategies **Professional & Communication Skills** * Communicating effectively with young children, peers, and supervising teachers * Strengthening observation skills to note developmental progress, behavior, and emerging skills * Building rapport and maintaining a nurturing, supportive presence for young learners * Collaborating within a classroom team and following routines and safety expectations **Practical Classroom Skills** * Assisting with transitions (meals, outdoor play, circle time, rest routines) * Supporting safe classroom environments by monitoring children and maintaining materials * Helping prepare and organize learning centers and classroom activities
**Training Provided to Students** Based on your organization’s documented onboarding and ECE training system, interns will receive training aligned with the support teachers and ECE aides receive. Training elements include: **Instructional & Curriculum Training** * **Introduction to Creative Curriculum**: Understanding how lesson plans are designed and implemented in early childhood settings. * **How to Create and Submit Lesson Plans** using Teaching Strategies platform. * **Weekly Planning Training**: How to follow and support weekly classroom lesson plans. **Child Assessment & Documentation Training** * **DRDP Training**: Introduction to the Desired Results Developmental Profile, its components, and how teachers collect observational data. * **Child Plus Training**: How to navigate Child Plus for documentation, assessments, and basic data entry related to classroom functions. * **Introduction to CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System)** in both observer and environment components, supporting interns in recognizing effective teacher‑child interactions. **Family Partnership & Communication Training** * Training on **how to assist with or observe parent communication**, including: * Home visit procedures * Parent conferences * Transition planning with families * Understanding appropriate professional communication with families. **Classroom Environment & Compliance Training** * How to set up classrooms with **age‑appropriate materials**, safety practices, and proper organization. * Exposure to licensing requirements and environmental setup (e.g., adjusting furniture for toddler vs. preschool classrooms). **Shadowing & Mentorship** * Interns will shadow experienced coaches and teachers as they train staff, giving them real‑time modeling of effective classroom practices.
Please send resumes and interest request to Karen.Rojas@essc.org
| Hours | Duration |
|---|---|
| 5 | hours per week |