In recent years, more than one center of continuing education has opened in Russia. Currently, domestic pedagogy is increasing interest in extracurricular education. This situation is understandable. Teachers of continuing education are full-time employees. They work on an ongoing basis. It is these people who are responsible for organizing the leisure of schoolchildren, as well as for the substantial part of the free time of students.
Job responsibilities
The activities of the teacher of continuing education include:
- creating favorable conditions for the formation of creative abilities of children;
- organization of real cases with a specific result;
- involving students in active extracurricular activities;
- help students in the manifestation of their own organizational skills.
Such specialists should not have a criminal record. As confirmation, a certificate of its absence is provided.
How to become a teacher of additional education?
Since the activities of such an employee are aimed at developing the personality of the child, the full satisfaction of the needs of students in informal communication, he must be a real professional. In educational institutions there is no specialization "teacher of extracurricular education." Higher education can be obtained at any of the departments of the classical university. Basically, teachers of additional education are people with a diploma in which the specialization “primary school teacher”, “physical education teacher”, etc. are indicated. Despite the specifics of the work, there are quite a few similarities with the classical educational process. For example, the introduction of innovative techniques in educational work.
What should such a teacher be able to do?
The job description of the teacher of continuing education is similar to the duties of an ordinary teacher. It implies rights and obligations, indicates options for advanced training, ways of rewarding for quality work. Their activity involves the possession of content, methods, modern pedagogical techniques. It is impossible to achieve the desired result without the skills of setting specific goals, searching for a meaningful component, as well as without close cooperation with children and colleagues. All these subtleties, the teacher of additional education is trained in continuing education courses. He is obliged to take them at least once every 4 years (as well as teachers of ordinary schools).
Profession Features
The long-term plan of the teacher of further education involves predicting the final result of his work, the search for optimal forms and methods of child development. It is on the degree of professionalism, interest, moral values that directly determines the desire of children to acquire new knowledge and skills. Basically, teachers of additional education are people who do not spare their personal time on pupils. They are always ready to give advice to children, to help children in difficult situations.
Extracurricular Education System
The center of additional education is not only in large cities, but also in small provincial towns of the Russian Federation. In total, there are more than 20 thousand such institutions in the country. Thousands of girls and boys are engaged in them. The job description of the teacher of continuing education implies precisely extracurricular activities with children. Such people are engaged in a complete set of various creative studios, try to maintain the contingent, use special programs. Such a structure implies the presence of many sections and circles of various orientations: artistic, sports, vocal, intellectual.
Periodic certification of an additional education teacher is carried out according to the same rules as in ordinary educational institutions. The relevant ministry of the Russian Federation, realizing the importance of extracurricular work, has now made it mandatory in the schools themselves, gymnasiums, and lyceums. If in separate centers of additional education the children are offered various types of activities, then in educational institutions they often choose 2-3 priority types of extracurricular activities. For example, the school has sports sections, there is a dance studio. Of course, such a limitation in the choice of leisure does not contribute to the formation of a harmoniously developed personality, does not fully satisfy the needs of students and their parents. That is why numerous separate institutions are functioning in the country, designed specifically for extracurricular activities with schoolchildren and adolescents.

Position qualities of teachers of additional education
Depending on the category of additional education teachers, they are required to possess the following personality qualities:
- Positive attitude and sensitivity.
- Awareness of the needs of children.
- Essential intellectual level.
- Certain skills.
- Active civic position.
- Sense of humor.
- High creativity.
- Tolerance of views and beliefs.
Self-education of an additional education teacher is a prerequisite for its successful certification. There is a classification of specialists. They may belong to the highest, first category or have a status such that "correspond to the position held."
Higher qualification indicators of an additional education teacher
The term “professional competence” itself was introduced into everyday life in the late 1990s. According to terminology, additional education teachers are teachers. They have a secondary special or higher pedagogical diploma. Such people have personal and professional qualities that allow them to conduct successful activities. The teacher receives the highest category if he carries out educational activities at a high level. Moreover, he is obliged to demonstrate stable results of his work.
How to improve qualifications?
In order to improve their professional qualities, it is necessary to constantly develop a creative personality, to form a susceptibility to all scientific innovations. The teacher should easily adapt to the realities of the educational environment. He needs to respond to all the changes taking place in the modern school curriculum. The professionalism of a teacher is directly affected by his spiritual and intellectual development. All the changes that are taking place in the modern educational system force teachers to improve their professionalism and qualifications. They are constantly improving their own competence. The main goal of Russian additional education is to form a diverse personality of the child, a true patriot who is able to defend the homeland. A graduate of the center of extracurricular education should be prepared for social adaptation, self-improvement, self-education.
Pedagogical standard of highest qualification
It is the teacher who acts as the guarantor of the realization of all set goals. In this regard, the requirements for the professionalism of the teacher have sharply increased. Currently, there is an open discussion about the qualities that a 21st century teacher should possess. According to the results of a public survey, a standard will be created that will become the standard for certification commissions. Given modern requirements, we can distinguish the main ways of forming the professional competence of the teacher:
- Active participation in the work of creative groups, methodological associations.
- Implementation of own research activities. Conducting research with pupils.
- Studying innovative pedagogical technologies. Introducing them into their professional activities.
- A variety of options for educational support.
- Systematization and providing colleagues with their own pedagogical experience.
- Application of information educational technologies in the work.
- Participation in a variety of pedagogical competitions, festivals, forums, demonstration of master classes to colleagues.
Professionalism Sequence
To improve their abilities, an additional education teacher must go through the following steps:
- Conducting introspection.
- Identification of development goals.
- Search for tasks.
- Development of a mechanism to achieve the goal.
- Performance analysis.
Children who come to centers of additional education, independently choose a section or circle for themselves. The atmosphere that prevails in the classroom, captivates students, gives them self-confidence, allows them to develop leadership qualities, a sense of healthy rivalry. Different forms of work used in continuing education give children the opportunity to learn in an area that is understandable and interesting to them. In order for the work of the circle to be effective, the leader draws up a training program, thematic planning. He must own the entire legislative base, protect and observe the rights of his students, monitor compliance with fire safety rules during classes.
Conclusion
The teacher of continuing education at school periodically confirms the conformity of the position by passing certification. Such inspections are carried out by special commissions, groups created from teachers with expert status. Certification allows you to show the level of skill of the teacher. Her result will directly affect the level of his salary. The application, which is submitted to the attestation commission, lists all the achievements of the teacher himself, as well as his students over the past five years. As evidence, copies of diplomas, letters of thanks, and thanks are provided. A true professional willingly shares his knowledge with colleagues, conducts open classes for them, and organizes master classes. Interest in further education testifies to the desire of children to live an active and vibrant extracurricular life.