Advice Needed for Soon to Be Preschool Teacher

Communication is my biggest thing! I love getting notes on how she did that day, what/how much she ate, when she pooped, etc. If the child loves you, the parents will too. :) Good luck! 3 year olds are so fun!

My daughter had a wonderful preschool teacher! I liked when the kids entered the classroom, she would squat down in the doorway to greet them at their height! She always made a comment like "I like your pink shirt today" or asked then a question. I also liked that at the end of the day, she spoke to the group of parents waiting for pick up about what the kids did that day and had their work hung up in the hallway for us to take home. As a teacher myself I can say, establish a routine and be consistent. The kids at that age also love to bring in stuff from home, so have a system for doing that or it becomes too much. For example, my daughter had "color weeks" and they were encouraged to wear the color of the week and could bring one item from home of that color. Recognize individual kids' strengths and personality traits in a positive way, and both the kids and parents will love you!

Hi C.. The biggest piece of advice I can give you (as a mother of two boys) is to recognize each child's unique strengths. My four year old is very, very spirited. The first school we had him in he was labeled as a "problem child". I would try to have meetings with his teachers, but they just shut down on me. After weeks and months of frustration, we decided to move him to another school. Total 180 degree shift. His new teacher took the time to figure out what made my son tick, what made him mad, why he was acting out (he didn't act out at home for me or my husband). It made all of the difference in the world that she never gave up hope or "labeled" him inappropriately! And communication with the parents is key. We want to know that you truly care and love our children. That you aren't just doing this because it's your job. I also teach three year olds every Sunday at my church. I've learned that each child is so special and have much different needs. The trick is somehow connecting with each of them in their own way. Good luck!

As an educator, the best advice I can give is to be consistent! I have found it very successful when you sit with the children and develop some classroom expectations together. It creates a sense of ownership over the "running" of the program and the children are more likely to meet the expectations if they help create them! Phrase things positively and be clear- they're only 3! We used to have things like, "I will keep my hands and feet to myself" and then put a picture of "quiet hands and feet" next to it.

Use visuals wherever you can- schedule, activities, reminders! Don't worry too much about academic skills. Preschool is all about learning how to play and function in a group. Have plenty of things for imaginative play that will facilitate dynamic play, not solitary activities.

Plenty of books, puzzles and fine motor activities are great too!

I loved my kids preschool, starting with how they entered the school. The teacher greeted them individually, without fail, everyday. She made it very clear that she was glad to see them and they had a great day ahead of them.

Consistency is also key. My kids knew exactly where to go once they had been greeted (to the rug to play with the activity she had out to keep everyone occupied until the entire class was there. It was simple things, like puzzles with the big wooden pieces, or duplos, things like that).

She had the schedule for the day posted and started the day reviewing it. The kids knew exactly what was going on and what to expect.

Their teacher had a sheet that come home in the backpack every day. It was the same sheet with the names of each kid in the class, the name of the centers and other lines for information.

What she did was circle the names of the kids my kids played with (Today, I played with:...) and the centers that they chose and wrote in what the snack was and any other information I needed to know. That way, I could have conversation starters with my kids about what they did, and it saved her from having to talk to each individual parent about their kid when they came to pick them up.

Good luck in September! I know you will do well. There are tons of great websites out there to help you: Check in with Scholastic.com, superteacherworksheets.com, makingfriends.com (for activity ideas), and familyfun.com. I'm sure you will get lots of great advice here, too.

Have fun with your new career!

My mother taught preschool for decades, and I used to sit in and sub for any of the teachers who were out. It was fantastic (and my mother would agree!) The first week, you're going to see a LOT of tears and temper tantrums from the kiddos who are being left for the first time. This is the hardest part for you as a teacher and the kids. It will break your heart! But I promise, those are going to be the kids who you'll miss the most as they grow out of preK. My children went to the same school my mom taught at (after she had already left), so I had known those teachers forEVER... we were all very comfortable. As a teacher, the parents can get a little... overbearing sometimes. They want to know everything and anything, and in a 3 year old class, they will want you to work miracles that aren't happening at home (can you say potty training?!) Patience is key. You will have SO much fun with this, I'm very excited for you! Watching these children grow from the start or the year to the end is so enormously rewarding! Have a great time, enjoy it, and best wishes!

I went bk to college in Early Child Dev 4 yrs ago in my early 40s after graduating and working in another field for 20 yrs. It was best thing I could have ever done. I love working with preschoolers and truly enjoy each day of my job as pre-K teacher. Make your 1st few wks simple as a teacher, Let the children get to know you and each other and the classrrom b4 you really begin any "academics". Set some 5-6 class room rules early on get the children to by into them and understand them. Rules with pictures help. You might consider doing an "all about me" and "friendship" unit the 1st 2 wks of class, be sure to include lots of music and indoor/outdoor play in your lesson plans too. For lesson plans the internet has some great materials free on preschool teacher web-sites. As a teacher be sure you are a good listener to the children, be nurturing and have lots of patience. My philospohy teaching young children is to treat them as individuals, with care and respect, like I wanted my child, now teenager, to be treated when she was in preschool. I often get down on my knees at their eye level when I talk to them individually to be sure they understand me or know I am listening to them when they tell me about a problem or conern of theirs. This means a lot to them. Try to make your classroom a homey, fun place to be by decorating it that way. You want their 1st experience a structured setting ,away from mom and dad, to be a happy, good experience so they will look forward to all of the yrs of school they have ahead of them . Grett them wach day by name and with hugs this helps the day start out well. Soon you will enjoy seeing their little personalites emerge and you get to know them. They are delightful and very engaging at this age, kind, so honest and eager to learn. As for parents, I have not had any problems with parents of my children after 2 1/2 yrs of teaching. Also as a teacher one last thing to never forget is the value of play in preschool, both indoor and outdoor daily. My preschool has a good balance of play with learning centers and and some academics which is the way to go for this age. As for parents I would not worry at this age. I keep each parent informed of what we will be doing each week in classs with a lesson plan and periodically talk with them about any concerns, issues and their child's progress. As long as they know their child is happy, safe and well-cared for and starting to learn things they are pleased. . You will have a great experience I know. Good luck

You have been given great tips here; I just want to add that one thing I learned in my training is that BEHAVIOR IS COMMUNICATION. I make every attempt to reflect and observe a child's behavior and determine what it is communicating to me. I have only sent two children to the office in 10+ (something like that, I have lost count) years in the classroom----handle behavior in your class! If you need help, try to bring the help into the room instead of removing the child. And don't take the behavior personal......more than likely the child would act out no matter who the teacher is. Keep that distance in emotion and you will actually chuckle at the fits at times instead of getting mad.

I email each Friday to state what the next week looks like, and then I have a recap letter I send home the end of the week giving more details about the week we finished and I have a spot to write in specific comments about their child for the week. It is hard to not get bogged down with paperwork so make the system work for you.

Enjoy this profession! I love it and even though some days are easier than others, this age is so impressionable!!! I would rather have a child look forward to coming to school, head up and smiling, than have one that could read by 4. It is heart breaking to have 4 year olds walk in my room and have their head down and seem sad. Children need us to mold them gently each day; if they knew everything they would not need us. Establish a consistent system (I find it helpful to observe another great teacher to get ideas and see it in action) and create an environment of love and acceptance.

HAVE FUN! If you are not having fun, more than likely the children are not either........