What differentiates an Early Childhood Educator from a Teacher?

I have been an Educator

for the better part of the last 10 years and this placement had me questioning my views on
the teaching profession. It is with no doubt that my heart lies in Early Childhood Education
and Care.
Teaching is multifaceted and as an Early Childhood Educator I already had an idea of the
roles or responsibilities of the classroom teacher. I believe these roles mirror those of an
educator with varying degrees of complexity depending on the year level being taught. As
an individual entering the teaching profession it is important to remember to be
resourceful, adaptable and knowledgeable. It was evident very quickly in the secondary
setting that I did not have the knowledge necessary to teach at a secondary level. As I read
some of the essays of the senior English students I realised that their English capabilities far
exceeded mine. This is when I knew secondary teaching was not for me.
During my placement in the primary setting I witnessed the varying abilities/needs of the
students. There was one boy who was a student with autism and another who undergoing
assessment who required assistance with making friends or during any change in his
routine. Both of these students have an Education Assistant available. Another boy who
recently moved from New Zealand was home schooled and reading at a Year2 level.
Another who was ADHD and non-medicated and there were three students that find it
difficult to start or stay on a task. In the secondary setting there was a Year9 class who had
students with ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, self-harm and processing disorders.
Through witnessing the students struggle through their tasks I considered the importance of
early diagnosis of learning difficulties and what important role an Educator or Teacher has in
recognising and working with families to support the students.

Over the course of working in early learning, Ive been taught that an effective learning
environment ensures a child feels safe, secure and supported. In the primary setting, I found
the behaviour management strategies of the teachers confronting. During placement I
witnessed a Librarian telling an 8 year old child to Pull your head out of your butt. I
couldnt comprehend the motivation of the Librarian when her role should create a love of
literacy. From the experience that I had in the Library I made a connection between this lack
of support to the low literacy of the students in the Year3 class who were reading and
writing at a Year2 level. This was cemented in the secondary placement when a discussion
with an English teacher revealed that primary school was linked to low literacy and
behaviour challenges.

Knowledge is what differentiates an Educator from a Teacher. That is the sole reason that
Im studying a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood). I never had intention to teach at a
secondary level as Im an advocate for increasing quality outcomes for children in the early
years. Every school culture is different and after witnessing the culture that existed at the
primary school Ive decided that Ill continue to make a difference for children in early
childhood education and care.