One of the most effective methods of improving the quality of education is to conduct a certification procedure for kindergarten teachers. What is the certification procedure in 2020?
Life in the modern world is constantly changing. Along with the development of society, the requirements for the level of training and professionalism of various specialists change.
Education workers are no exception. Any teacher should be prepared for certification.
It is especially advisable to check the professional suitability of kindergarten teachers, since they are the ones who are involved in the formation of the personality of young citizens. What features distinguish the certification procedure for preschool teachers in 2022?
KEY POINTS ↑
After receiving an education, a teacher should not stop there. He can and should improve his professional level.
Determined by such qualification. Teaching staff differ in degrees and types of professional training.
Accordingly, they are rewarded differently for their activities. The degree of qualification of any teacher is determined by the assigned category.
Until recently, kindergarten teachers could carry out their activities with the first, second, highest category, or without any at all.
The new edition of the legislation has somewhat changed the existing order. Now the salary level for specialists of different categories differs.
In addition, if previously the certification of teachers was carried out at their personal request, now this procedure has become mandatory.
Any teaching staff is required to undergo periodic certification, regardless of their desire and length of service.
CONCEPTS
Certification is a test of an employee’s knowledge and suitability for the position held. Depending on the results of the certification procedure, a specialist is assigned a certain category.
The higher the categorical affiliation, the more professional the employee is considered. There are voluntary and mandatory certifications.
In the case when a teacher wants to increase his salary level, he independently initiates certification.
To do this, he submits a proper application at any time period. Mandatory certification is carried out regardless of the employee’s wishes.
Applications are submitted by the employer. Each teacher must confirm his/her suitability for the position held once every five years.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE PROCEDURE
The immediate goal of mandatory certification of educators is to increase the level of professional competence of workers.
The certification procedure helps the state to provide society with highly qualified specialists and professionals in their field.
The quality of education of the younger generation will determine its future compliance with the requirements of new times. The purpose of voluntary certification is to confirm professional training.
A teacher who works without qualifications or who wants to receive a higher assessment of his work has the right to undergo certification at his own request.
For a teacher, certification is an opportunity to increase self-esteem, professional growth and set long-term goals.
THE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK
According to Order of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation No. 209 dated March 24, 2010 “On the procedure for certification of teaching staff,” all workers in the field of education and training implementing basic educational programs within state and municipal educational institutions are required to undergo a certification test.
If for some reason a teacher does not pass the mandatory certification in a timely manner, then it is automatically reduced.
To restore the category, you must submit an application for certification again. Otherwise, the employee must again undergo certification to confirm compliance.
If a teacher has lost the “highest” category, then it will have to be restored “from scratch.” That is, first get the first category. You can apply for “highest” only after two years have passed after being assigned the first category.
According to the amendments to the law, all categories received before January 1, 2011 are considered valid until their expiration date.
At the same time, the previous situation, when twenty years of teaching experience kept the second category for life, has been abolished.
Now absolutely all kindergarten teachers must confirm their professional suitability once every five years.
Why do teachers undergo certification?
Teachers are assessed for suitability for their position, and they receive the category voluntarily. Social media surveys have shown that they do this for the following reasons.
Raise your status
. This is the main reason cited by teachers themselves. If a teacher has a qualification category, it is easier for him to get a job, and he is more willing to be invited to speak at conferences and other events. The category shows that the teacher has experience and makes him more authoritative.
Raise salaries
. The category allowance varies greatly depending on the region. In the Tver region, for the first category they pay an additional 70% of the salary, for the highest - 40%, in the Trans-Baikal Territory for the highest category they pay an additional 15% of the salary. In some regions, getting a category is really profitable. Especially for young teachers who do not yet have bonuses for their experience.
They think it's necessary
. Some teachers are certified for a qualification category because everyone does this. But not everyone needs to receive a category - there are preschool teachers who are able to create comfortable conditions in the group, but at the same time they do not want to broadcast their experience, participate in competitions or involve children in projects.
They are going because they were forced to.
. Sometimes the administration forces teachers to undergo category certification for the sake of indicators that are looked at during inspections. The administration is afraid that for the small percentage of certified teachers they will be issued an order, although this is unlikely to happen. If a teacher undergoes certification under pressure, he can do it formally.
Increase knowledge and experience
. To pass certification, a teacher needs to participate in competitions, undergo training, and broadcast experience. But not all courses can be included in the portfolio that is submitted to the certification commission. Sometimes a teacher receives more information in unlicensed courses than in official ones. Also, a teacher can gain valuable knowledge and experience through live communication with expert teachers or through internships in other kindergartens. And this is difficult to put into an attestation portfolio. Therefore, this reason is mentioned by the least number of teachers.
HOW CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS IS PERFORMED
Certification of a teacher, like any teacher, takes place in accordance with the Regulations on the certification procedure, approved by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation in Order No. 1908 of June 26, 2000.
During the certification process for assignment of a qualification category, the employee’s compliance with the level for which he is applying is checked.
At the same time, professional competence, performance indicators, skills, knowledge and work results are checked.
The certification of the teacher is carried out by a certification commission formed by the educational organization. The assessment is carried out according to several criteria.
So, during the certification process, a category applicant passes an exam in writing or through computer testing.
This helps to assess the level of proficiency in modern methods of vocational training, as well as confirm the degree of competence and work experience.
In addition, the certified preschool teacher submits his portfolio, which contains all the most outstanding results of his activities, to the commission for consideration.
The results of the exam and review of the portfolio help determine the teacher’s suitability for a certain qualification category.
The meeting of the certification commission can take place both with the participation of the teacher and behind closed doors.
The decision made is drawn up in the form of a protocol and then entered into the certification sheet of the preschool teacher. After approval of the document by a higher subject of the Russian Federation, the total is transferred to the employer.
DOCUMENTING
Submission of an application to submit a teacher for certification must be completed according to the established template.
The package of documents must contain all the necessary certificates for certification of the employee, a detailed assessment of his professional skills and quality of work, and a description of the teacher’s teaching activities for certification.
What is the purpose of certification for the right to carry out auditing activities, see the article: certification of auditors. How hygienic certification is noted in medical books, read here.
Information about all results of previous certifications and advanced training courses completed must also be indicated.
One month before the meeting of the certification commission, the person being certified must be familiarized with the submission against signature. The employer submits the collected documentation to the address of the relevant constituent entity of the Russian Federation.
In this case, the information card, filled out properly, must contain all the necessary data.
Then the date, place and time of the certification audit are set. In this case, the period for completing it should not exceed two months.
The full package of documents for certification of a preschool teacher includes:
- sample application;
- past certificates;
- new completed sheet;
- portfolio of achievements.
PORTFOLIO
A teacher’s portfolio is the most effective tool today that reflects the quality of a teacher’s work.
The following types are distinguished:
Cumulative | Including information about all achievements and successes |
Thematic | Required when a teacher is studying a specific topic, educational area or area of work |
Problematic | Dedicated to difficult situations and methods for overcoming them by a specialist |
Attestation | Contains all the teacher’s achievements during the inter-certification period |
It is the certification portfolio that helps the commission experts form an opinion about the professional suitability of a teacher of a certain category.
It is possible to create an electronic portfolio, which is very convenient, since it helps to more clearly substantiate the methods used and include video materials in it.
The content of the portfolio is not regulated by law. As a rule, this document includes sections such as:
- teacher achievements;
- achievements of pupils;
- expert assessments;
- recommendations;
- reviews.
At his own discretion, the teacher is free to include in the portfolio any sections that, in his opinion, will help create a more complete image of his activities.
These could be a meaningful essay by a preschool teacher, an autobiographical story, or a professional motto.
Thus, the portfolio of a kindergarten teacher for certification for category 1 may contain a brief overview of the development of the educational methods he uses.
CHARACTERISTIC
The portfolio must include sections that allow you to compose a description of the teacher.
First of all, indicate the necessary information:
- Last name, first name, patronymic, date of birth, photograph.
- Where and when the profession was acquired, and certified copies of documents are attached.
Next, you should indicate your work experience. At the same time, it is necessary to describe in detail how many years of teaching activity have been carried out, how many years have been given to the currently held position, where and in what positions you had to work previously, what successes have been achieved.
For example, a profile for a boarding school teacher may contain information about the achievements of released students.
You also need to remember to indicate your existing qualifications, since the portfolio is a certification one. You must attach a copy of the previously received certification sheet.
If you have completed any advanced training courses, you should attach copies of certificates of completion.
SELF-ANALYSIS OF PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY
An important part of a teacher’s portfolio for certification is self-analysis of his professional activities.
In fact, this is a brief but informative summary of the entire process of his work, the goals pursued, methods of work and results.
So this part of the portfolio may consist of the following items:
- purpose of personal activity;
- assigned tasks to achieve the goal;
- applied methods and their consequences;
- spiritual and moral position;
- improving professional development;
- experience exchange.
In principle, when compiling self-analysis, the teacher is not limited in any way. Here you should outline what the activity looks like from your own point of view.
By compiling a self-assessment sheet, you can note all the best features, results and achievements.
CREATIVE REPORT
The creative report of the teacher includes information about the achievements of the students. This section contains diplomas, diplomas, and certificates confirming the professionalism of the teacher.
If the teacher participated in innovative or methodological activities, it is necessary to indicate which one.
Since the main goal of the teacher is to educate children, a creative report can tell about the results achieved.
For example, what children learned during their time in care can be compared with the characteristics of two studies (at the beginning of the reporting period and at its end).
If students participated in any competitions, competitions, or other events, this must be confirmed by attaching certificates, diplomas or letters of encouragement.
You can include children’s creative work done under the guidance of a teacher. One section of the creative report should be devoted to the results of interaction with other participants in the educational process.
For example, working with parents, colleagues, administration. You can attach parental reviews, recommendations from more experienced colleagues and wishes from the administration.
“Sample topics for self-education of preschool teachers”
Sample topics for self-education for preschool teachers
1. Activation of the vocabulary of children of the younger (middle, older) age group.
2. The influence of educational activities directly on the play of young children.
3.Education of preschool children through work.
4. Education of moral qualities of preschool children through Russian folk tales.
5. Didactic game as a form of teaching young children.
6. Didactic games in teaching children the basics of mathematics.
7. Didactic games for children of junior (middle, senior) preschool age.
8.Spiritual and moral education of preschool children.
9.Spiritual and moral education of children through reading fiction.
10.Game as a means of communication for preschoolers.
11. Playing activities of children at the stage of transition from early to preschool childhood.
12.Use of health-saving technologies in the first junior (second junior, middle, senior group.
13.Use of educational games in mathematics classes with children of primary (middle, senior) preschool age.
14.Use of various non-traditional drawing techniques in working with children 2–3 years old.
15. Personality-oriented approach to the education of preschool children.
16.Methods of forming correct posture and preventing its violation in preschoolers.
17. Folk outdoor games in the physical education of preschoolers.
18.Health-improving gymnastics after a nap.
19.Organization of work in preschool educational institutions on patriotic education.
20. Patriotic education of preschool children through the use of fine arts.
21.Retelling works of art using pictures.
22. Outdoor play as a means of developing speed and dexterity in children of junior (middle, senior) preschool age.
23. Traffic rules for preschoolers.
24. Techniques for activating mental activity in the process of introducing children to nature.
25. Project activities with children of primary (middle, senior) preschool age.
26. Project method in the spiritual and moral education of preschool children.
27.Development of dialogical communication between children in a group of different ages (4-7 years).
28.Development of mathematical abilities of preschool children through play activities.
29.Development of fine motor skills of preschoolers.
30.Development of fine motor skills in preschool children through non-traditional drawing techniques.
31. Development of cognitive activity of preschool children.
32. Development of search and research activities of preschoolers in the process of experimentation.
33. Development of speech in children of early and primary preschool age.