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 2021?
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.
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.
Basic requirements for a teacher preparing for testing
To complete the procedure, you will need to provide the following documents:
- Application for certification.
- A copy of the certification sheet from the previous procedure (if available).
- Consent to the use of personal information.
- Portfolio (all materials prepared for testing).
The following requirements are imposed on a senior teacher applying for the first or highest category:
- Higher pedagogical education.
- Experience in teaching in the current position (at least three years).
- Completed advanced training courses (within the last five years).
- Participation in the methodological work of your locality and region.
- Conducting open methodological events for teaching staff.
- Experience in methodological guidance, documents for which are collected in a special folder.
- Be a mentor to senior educators just starting out in this position.
- Organization of innovative pedagogical activities in a children's educational institution at the place of work.
To pass the test, the teacher undergoes an interview with representatives of the certification commission, during which it is necessary to demonstrate good knowledge of the laws and regulations relating to the teaching and educational process, as well as an understanding of the general concept of education in preschool educational institutions. The applicant must have previous experience in teaching and education, as well as apply new advanced developments in the field of methodological work in a preschool institution.
To undergo the procedure, you must have a senior teacher’s reference for certification, which is issued and certified by the signature and seal of the head of the preschool educational institution. The teacher must competently organize methodological work in kindergarten, monitor the state of such activities, and also monitor and ensure the work of the methodological office in the preschool educational institution. His responsibilities also include methodological work with the teaching staff of the garden, training teachers in innovative methods of studying, accumulating and generalizing the accumulated experience for introducing it into the practical life of the institution.
Also, the applicant is required to organize and conduct pedagogical councils in kindergarten, help young specialists, supervise the work of experienced workers, organize events to improve the level of qualifications, as well as self-education. The senior teacher organizes interaction with the parents of students, as well as with various departmental and non-departmental institutions that take part in the life of the children's educational institution.
To complete the procedure, you need a document called “senior educator’s submission for certification.” This is an official document filled out by the head of the kindergarten, certified by her signature and seal of the preschool educational institution. It indicates the last name, first name and patronymic of the person being certified, the position held, as well as the purpose for which this document is being submitted. The submission contains a list of reasons due to which the applicant can confirm his qualifications or move to a higher level. This is as important a document as a full-fledged analytical report for passing the certification of a senior teacher.
Carrying out certification
Analysis and evaluation of the teacher’s performance is carried out according to the following important criteria:
- Knowledge of legislative and regulatory documents, orders and instructions of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, regional and municipal educational authorities.
- Analysis of the pedagogical activities of a children's educational institution over the past twelve months.
- Program for further development of preschool educational institutions.
- Educational program used in kindergarten.
- Annual plan for working with teaching staff.
- Measures to protect the lives and improve the health of pupils and their physical development. These include knowledge and implementation of instructions on protecting the life and health of children in a children's educational institution.
- Monitoring compliance with the sanitary and hygienic regime of the kindergarten, including the implementation of new SanPiNs.
- Monitoring the progress and results of educational work with students of all ages.
- Coordination of full-fledged integrated activities of the teaching staff.
- Cooperation with parents in raising children and familiarizing themselves with the activities of the kindergarten.
- Organization and control of the functioning of the pedagogical council.
- Organization of the work of the methodological room.
- Selection of teaching aids, teaching materials, children's fiction, toys, and games, as well as organizing and maintaining a file cabinet of materials and aids.
- Transfer of best practices in pedagogical and methodological activities in your team, locality, district or region.
- Organization of work on interaction between kindergarten and primary school, as well as the development of forms and methods of such work.
- Organization and control of creative-exploratory or scientific-experimental work of a children's educational institution.
- Documentation related to the teaching activities of the senior educator.
Passing certification is an important stage in the professional life of every specialist.
