My advice is to ask them what goals they plan on teaching your child for the first year. Ask what methods they use for discipline, ask about meals/snacks and bathroom breaks. Also ask if they plan to teach children regarding hygiene/washing hands, table manors, and their first and last names. Believe me when I say that the more questions you ask is better. I've had the experience of several different preschool teachers and they all basically teach the same; however, the way in which they teach is a different story. Ask the teacher if she/he has a daily routine that she/he intends to follow. The best preschool teacher my kids had started their day as such and it was so great to know that in a particular part of the day, I knew what my child would be doing in class. The teacher scheduled as followed: attendance, restroom/wash hands, breakfast/lunch, back to room sat in circle on rug, everyone got a half of a wipe for their hands. Then a student would count how many students by tapping a Bob the Builder play noise hammer on the right foot of each student to learn counting. Each student then got a stamp on their left hand to learn difference between right and left. Then every day they went over the month, day of the week and the year and then the weather outside. After that there was an activity to get the giggles out: book, song, or just stand up and wiggle it out. Then depending on the day, the kids had to look up at flash cards to try and recognize their names, at first the teacher would say the names with the card and later just held it up for all to recognize on their own. Then the kids went to centers which they took their name flash card and placed it on the velcro spot. During this time the teachers would either take a few at a time to do projects such as learning colors, numbers, etc. and sometimes at this time they would do their assessing of the children. If it was a holiday, then the kids would work on their projects at this time. Then when the teacher would take groups of kids to the restroom once more before leaving for the day. The clean up song would be turned on and the kids knew to clean up their areas and sit down on the rug criss crossed applesauce (indian style as it used to be called when I was young). Then the ones who were sitting nicely would be called to get their book bags and coats etc and then go back to the rug. Once all of the kids got their things a book would be read or another song would be played while awaiting to leave. And then they would line up in a single file line and catch their bubbles which means to put pretend air in their mouths and be quiet and follow their friends in line to the bus area. This teacher was very scheduled which I feel that kids need in their lives. We were fortunate enough to have two years with this teacher and it I had a wonderful relationship with the teacher. My daughter learned many things, manners, hygiene! This year, however, my youngest daughter has a new teacher. This teacher does not have a set schedule, she does not do projects with the kids, there is no set way to wash hands or bathroom etiquette. The kids are not taught to clean up after themselves and the classroom is a zoo most of the time. To me it has been more of a glorified day care for my daughter. Don't get me wrong, she likes her teachers and her classroom. But she really hasn't learned that much this year at all. And I never know what she is doing in class. Every time I have visited, the kids are all over the place, there is no schedule, no planning, no expectations other than just getting through the morning until the buses come for the kids. So I have been very frustrated with schooling for my youngest this year. Luckily, my daughter who was in the good teachers class is in a grade k class that is as scheduled as her preschool classes were for two years. My youngest is not structured and has overall been the hardest to raise due to her just not wanting to learn and do what she is told and she gets no structure at school. So, my advice is to ask ask ask teachers just what their schedule is with the kids and what they plan to do with them and their goals for the kids at the preschool age. Also ask if they have experience in teaching. This years preschool teacher also is in her first year of teaching even though she has been the director of teaching for many years. Big difference in teaching than overseeing teachers. Good luck.
