| A | B |
|---|
| action research | Research carried out by teachers as a way of finding practical solutions to the everyday problems encountered in teaching. |
| assistant teacher | Also called aide, helper, auxiliary teachers, associate teacher, or small-group leader; works under the guidance of the head teacher in providing a high-quality program for the children and families in the class. |
| Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) | Professional organization that focuses on issues related to children from infancy to early adolescence, particularly those issues involving international and intercultural concerns. |
| board of directors | Policy making or governing board that holds ultimate responsibility, particularly for a not-for-profit program |
| burnout syndrome | Condition experienced by professionals as a result of undue job stress; characterized by loss of energy, irritability, and a feeling of being exploited. |
| caregiver | Term traditionally used to describe a person who works in a child care setting. |
| Child Development Associate (CDA) | An early childhood teacher who has been assessed and proven competent through the national CDA credentialing program. |
| code of ethics | Agreed-upon professional standards that guide behavior and facilitate decision making in working situations. |
| collectivism | The general tendency of a cultural group to place greater emphasis on the needs and wants of the group rather than on those of the individual. |
| cultural scripts | Unspoken, and often unconscious, messages that are rooted in our culture and upbringing and tell us how to behave and respond in different situations. |
| disposition | The tendency consciously to exhibit a set of behaviors that reflect a pattern of good early childhood practice. |
| early childhood educator or teacher | A specifically trained professional who works with children from infancy to age nine. |
| head teacher | The person in charge of a class who is ultimately responsible for all aspects of class functioning |
| individualism | The general tendency of a cultural group to place greater emphasis on the needs and wants of the individual rather than on those of the group. |
| National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) | Largest American early childhood professional organization, which deals with issues related to children from birth to age nine and those who work with young children. |
| reflection | Being thoughtful and analytical in the act of teaching |
| team teaching | An approach that involves co-teaching in which status and responsibility are equal rather than having a pyramid structure or authority, which one person in charge and others subordinate. |
