Growing Futures in Early Care and Education

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1 Growing Futures in Early Care and Education A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Individual Professional Development Plan Grow Yourself A Professional Development Plan is a written document that outlines your career goals and the steps you ll take to reach those goals. Your goals and action steps will be as unique as you are. With professional development planning, you chart a path to grow yourself, your career, and the future. Your Plan is: A roadmap for the future An opportunity to take time for personal reflection A record of your past professional development A guide to your future professional development A strategy for career development A sample document for your portfolio A tool for administrators to use with staff in annual reviews and professional development planning Whether you re new to the field or have lots of experience, the process of planning for your own professional development is important. Professional development is a roadmap to your future. It s about your career preparation and options. It s also about gaining the skills and knowledge needed to support healthy futures for the children in your care. When you are well prepared for the job, everyone benefits. Professional development is a roadmap to your future. Grow Your Career Grow the Future But how can you figure out what professional development you need or how to get started? This booklet is designed to give you the tools to begin and continually grow your career as an early care and education professional. The opportunities for a rewarding career in early care and education have never been higher. In fact, the field is projected to be one of the top career opportunities in the next ten years. You can have it all helping children reach their full potential while also advancing your own skills, knowledge, and career options. So what are you waiting for? The future is yours to grow!

2 This tool is meant to be used with the online training presentation Planning Your Professional Development available at To complete your Professional Development Plan, you ll need the following documents and information available at the same website. Growing Futures Career Pathways ND Core Competencies for Early Education and Care Providers Create Your Professional Development Plan 1. About You Full Name: Where You Work: Growing Futures Career Pathways Category: Current Target Date: This plan is in effect between the following dates Starting / / Ending / / 2. Current Career Needs Answer the following questions to identify what is currently going on around you and what changes you expect to occur in the future: What changes are happening at my current place of employment? What changes are happening regarding the workforce and what new expertise and skills will be required or desirable? How might my job change? 3. Self Reflection Think about the following questions as you consider your goals and plans: In what areas do my interests and abilities overlap with the changing needs of the early childhood field? What skills, knowledge, behavior, or abilities are important for increasing or maintaining the quality of my performance in my current job? What skills, knowledge, behavior, or abilities would help prepare me for opportunities I might have in the future? What evidence do I want to have to demonstrate my skills and knowledge to others (e.g. CDA, accreditation, college degree, etc.)? What do I want to accomplish and what knowledge/skills do I want to acquire or improve by this time next year? What do I want to accomplish and what knowledge/skills do I want to acquire or improve by the end of 3-5 years?

3 4. Align with Professional Standards Read through the North Dakota Core Competencies for Early Education & Care Practitioners, found at These are the things you need to know and be able to do as an early care and education professional. In each Core Competency area, determine your strengths and areas for improvement. Content Area I: Child Growth & Development Content Area II: Learning Environment & Curriculum Content Area III: Assessment & Planning for Individual Needs Content Area IV: Interactions With Children Content Area V: Families and Communities

4 Content Area VI: Health, Safety and Nutrition Content Area VII: Program Planning & Evaluation Content Area VIII: Professional Development & Leadership 5. Set Your Goals Review the Growing Futures Career Pathways, found at and consider where you d like your career to be in the next few months as well as in the next few years. Short Term Goals (what you want to accomplish in the next 6-12 months) Long Term Goals (what you want to accomplish in the next 1-3 years) 1. 2.

5 6. Document Your Current Preparation 3 Activity Date Completed Target Date to Complete I have completed the 12-hour Basic Child Care courses I have completed the training requirements for Category A on the Career Pathways I have joined the Growing Futures Registry and have been assigned to a Career Pathways category I sent photocopies of all my training completed since to the Registry office to be included on my record I sent a photocopy of my valid CDA Credential to the Registry (if applicable) I requested that my official transcript be sent to the Registry office from all the colleges and universities I have attended (if applicable) 7. Action Steps Worksheet Now you have the information you need to lay out your plan - the things you ll do to get from where you are now to where you want to go. In each area below, determine what actions you will take. Core Competency Needs: List the Core Competency areas where you feel you are at level 1 or 2 and determine how you will strengthen your knowledge and skill in those area. Core Competency Area Specific steps I will take to gain knowledge and skill in this area

6 Training Gaps: List the training you need to complete Basic Care and to fulfill Career Pathways Category A Training Specific steps I will take to complete this training Competency Area and indicators Short Term Goals: List each of your short term goals and what you will do to reach those goals Goal Specific steps I will take to reach this goal Competency Area and indicators Long Term Goals: List each of your long term goals and what you will do to reach those goals Goal Specific steps I will take to reach this goal Competency Area and indicators

7 8. Training/Education to be Completed To use your training time wisely, look at the training needs you have identified in your action steps. Use the Growing Futures online training calendar at to select training that matches your action steps and write those below. These are the classes you will register for in the future. Competency Area Training Session Delivery Method Target Start Date Target End Date Date Credit Awarded EX: Area VIII - Professionalism and Leadership EX: Code of Ethical Conduct EX: Online EX: March 1, 2011 EX: March 30, 2011 EX: Congratulations! Now you have a plan. You know where you re going and you have a roadmap to get your there. You know exactly what areas to focus on and what training to take to continually move your goals forward. Remember, professional development is ongoing. When you reach the goals you ve set for yourself in this plan, you ll set new goals and actions steps. Your future is yours to design and achieve and Growing Futures can help you do it. Visit our website at for more information and resources or reach us at or Wishing you every success on your professional journey!