Hopefully you have heard of the term GAP skills in your courses.  GAP stands for Graduate Achievement Portfolio and it is the collection of your best work that you submit at the end of your tenure at Rasmussen College.  --More about this another time.  For now, let’s take a look at what the GAP skills are and why they are a big deal. 

GAP skills are also known as transferable skills because they are not specific to one particular job or academic discipline.  They are the skills that are necessary in EVERY career.  These are the skills that successful people possess.  Employers find value in these skills.  Rasmussen College knows the importance of these skills and what having them can do for you, your career, and your life.

The 3 transferable (GAP) skills are:

Communication—this means more than telling things to people.  This means understanding concepts like audience and purpose.  This also means being able to communicate effectively through written words and a variety of media. 

Critical Thinking—are you a problem solver?  Can you analyze a situation and generate multiple solutions?  Can you design a better system to alleviate a problem?  Are you the person your supervisor comes to for creative ideas?  All of these require critical thinking skills.

Information Literacy—do you know when information is needed, where to get it, and if it is credible?   Do you know how to give credit where credit is due to the sources?

It is no accident that your Rasmussen College instructors have you doing research, writing papers and letters, presenting projects, and taking part in role-playing activities. All of these are meant to help you develop and hone these transferable skills.   

Sure, you’ll learn TONS about child development and early childhood education while you’re at Rasmussen College—that’s important.  But here’s the extra bonus—you’ll also learn the skills that can propel you beyond that—beyond the other people who know about early childhood education.  You will be able to demonstrate your mastery of the transferable GAP skills that will set you apart from the others.     

That’s a big deal.

Last week as I was teaching my students a lesson on PARTNERING WITH PARENTS, I shared my philosophy which has developed from my experience as a preschool teacher, a center director, and now an early childhood education instructor (and probably a little bit of my personal experience as a parent).  As I began to share with my students they encouraged me to take the time to write down my thoughts (take note:  I continue to learn and grow from my students).  So here I am…

My philosophy on working with parents:

When I have children in my classroom, my fundamental belief that shapes my actions is that parents are the child’s primary and most important teacher.  When parents bring their child to my program (whatever the program may be, whatever age of the child may be), I believe that parents want to know three things:

1.      I love their child

2.      I will take care of their child while they are away

3.      I know what I am doing

First, I love their child.  This means that I genuinely care about their child.  I have time for their child.  I am happy to see their child.  I know their child’s interests, likes, and dislikes.  I am willing to share and welcome their child into my program.  I take the time to make sure their child belongs.

Second, I will take care of their child while they are away.  No matter what the age of the child, parents are entrusting their most genuine possession to me.  I take that responsibility seriously.  I make sure that the child’s most basic needs of clothing, shelter, food, cleanliness (including wiped noses), sleep, fresh air, and comfort are met.  I will be aware of how their child is feeling and what his/her needs are.

Third, I know what I am doing therefore, I will be sure to share my education and experience with parents.  The parents in my program will be given information that helps them to understand why I do what I do with children.  I will share about Developmentally Appropriate Practice, child development, and how children learn and develop.  I will take the time to partner with parents. I will use my expertise to ensure their child is receiving quality early childhood programming.

Please take a moment to share your thoughts with me.  I would love to know what other early childhood professionals and parents think about my ideas.

As we come to a close with this year’s celebration of Week of the Young Child, we have an opportunity to reflect on program successes.  There were eight Rasmussen College campuses that celebrated WOYC !