Preschool Teacher Life

My first experience being a preschool teacher was in high school. I was a teacher assistant so my responsibility was to make sure the children are safe and the classroom was clean and organized. Today you have to be 18 years old to be a teacher assistant in a classroom and have a certain amount of training.

I did not take Early Childhood Education for college. I started my formal studies, or should I say training of my CDA (Childhood Development Associate), in 2011. I work at a Bank as a Commercial Teller before I enter the field of childcare. I got married and had a baby. I want to stay home with my Baby, and the only way to do that was to Babysit at home. My first challenge babysitting was my nephew, who have asthma, behavior and speech issues. I learn a lot from taking care of my nephew. I learn sign languages and read books to provide better care for his delay. I learned about early childhood intervention programs for children who are delayed. I am proud to say my nephew was able to graduate high school and go to regular school like other children. I took care of few more children from ages 18 months to school age. I learn a lot from Babysitting at home. I did art& craft, field trips, basic early learning(ABC, Shapes, Numbers & Colors), songs, reading, and cooking activities with the children in my care. The best teachers are the children. Every child is different.

I decided I was not making enough Babysitting at home, so I decided to enter the workforce again at the United States Postal Service for three years. I made more money but I was not able to spend quality time with my child. I got very sick after working at the post office. I rested for a year and got a job at a childcare center. I felt this was my calling. I have a certain bond with children. I understand their world than I did the adult world. You have to speak a certain way for kids to understand grown-ups. It was important for me to help children be empowered and happy when they are in my care. Every aged group is different. Their brain developments are different.

Let's start with Infant. Make sure they are feed, diaper change, and proper nap time all thru the day. Baby cry mostly for these three things if they are healthy. Tummy time activity is the best for their Physical development. Reading and talking to babies are best for their language and communication skills development. Rocking the baby to soothe them is helpful in their social skills. They are different types of baby personalities and caregivers adjust to each baby's temperament. You can tell when a baby trusts their caregiver. Once a baby starts seating and crawling, the baby will start playing on its on with the caregiver within eyesight. Babies sometimes get attached to one caregiver if they have only one. It will take a while for some babies to bond with a new caregiver.

Toddler age is between 18 months to 24 months. This is the age most parents send their children to daycare. Toddlers are busy and Adventurous. They hit at this age not because they want to hurt but they are learning what they are physically capable of doing. You have to be firm and loving in teaching them gentle touches and the effect of hitting another child is not nice and hurtful. You have to teach toddlers not to do unwanted behavior while they are doing it because toddlers live in the moment. Some toddlers have dramatic tantrums, it's best to wait it out instead of arguing with a toddler. This teaches them to self-soothe. When they are calm down that's when you can communicate best with toddlers. Toddlers love routine activities. Some Toddlers can easily get overwhelmed that's why transition is very crucial for toddlers. Most Toddlers loves books, songs and sensory play(Messy Play). Giving Toddlers extra time to transition from one activity to the next is very important.

Preschooler age really three years old to four year old. They are more independent. Most Preschoolers can color and do stick drawing as I call it.

Most Preschoolers are Potty trained with occasional accidents. Teachers encourage this age group to problem solve with little guidance. Preschoolers are able to understand simple directions. Teachers encourage this age group to say what they feel in order to communicate better and to develop their social skills with their classmates. You can have a group activity with this age group. Teachers allow them to make decisions on what play centers they want to play in as long as there are not too many children playing in that play centers. Play centers can also be called Work centers. Dramatic Play Center have a kitchen, house, dress up and puppets toys. Preschoolers play pretend with their classmates.Art Center have tables, contruction paper, scissors, markers, crayons,glue and other arts/craft materials.This center help develop preschooler creative skills.

Block Area is where children can improve their motor skills, basic engineering and architecture creativities. Books area is where children can have their quiet time and read books on their own or with their classmate friends. There are pillows children can seat on to relax.

Technology Center help introduce children to the digital world of technology to accomplish various tasks and applications. Nature and Science Center help discover and explore outdoors and indoors science world around them. Its give children understanding and connections of their environment.

Sensory Play Center this center provide children with water and sand to experience and explore their five senses.

After children Play at the Work center they choice, its time for group time .Group time is where children share their experiences about the center they played in. Its also very important to keep open communications with the children's parents and share right resources with parents .

The funny side of being a preschool teacher ,there are so many that I will share just a few. Children say the darndest things so very true. Parents got to be careful what they do or say around their preschoolers caused kids share them to their teachers. Its not easy to go on a field trip with preschoolers especially if you have one that's not completely potty trained and dont used pull up(potty training diapers). There was a time this kid just Poop in his pants during our trip to the Museum of play. Thank fully ,We had wipes and the museum had some extra clothes. Its no fun being stuck with changing a big kid's poppy clothes either during a field trip. The funniest diaper experience ,when a parent put their child in a Depends for the elderly. That was sad but comical at the same time. Parents allow children to wear anything just to get their child out the door. The most funny one so far is when child came in children high heel shoes and could not walk in them,the child keep slipping and falling. We had to asked the child to remove heels for the child safety.

Outside Time play with preschoolers fun and exhausting. Preschooler teacher will have a plan activity and a free play outside activity. Preschooler we play well at the first part of activity and then they start acting up .Thats when you change the activity or remove the child from the group thats causing issues.

Preschooler teachers play an important role in children's life. The lessons you teach them decide a child's future. The first five years of a child's life is very crucial because habits are formed and develop around this period in a child's life. Children pay very close attention to what their teachers do and say. If a child trust you ,they will come up to you and give you hugs out of no where.

Lesson Planning begin at the end of the month for the next month lesson plan. Topic or themes are weekly chosen base on the Holidays, Seasons, Culture Diversity or relivant topics the promote a child physical,emotional, mental and social developments. Teacher can adjust the Lesson Plan base on individual child's need.The Lead teacher will coordinate with the assistant teacher or teacher's aide in implementing the lesson plans.Every Friday before next week begin, The teachers have a weekday basket for everyday of the week fill with materials needed for that pacific day projects like books,arts & crafts,direction index card and etc. This is helpful because if the teacher is absent the substitute teacher already have something prepared and their day will be more smoother for the children.

Children with learning delay sometimes need early intervation, this is when teachers and parents need to work closely more together.Teachers and parents need to coordinate with each other along with the child's doctor. It is very important the teacher keep track of each child developments . Each child have their own develomental tracking notes binder the teacher regularly file information in.This is helpful in deciding what kind of therapy a child need in preparation for attending school.There are few type of therapist available : Speech, Occupational, Physical, behavior and so on. Once a child have a therapist the teacher will coordinate and implement the therapist plan for the child. It is very important sometimes to have an assistant teacher because some children need one on one help. Regular training is very essential to working with kids because the job dynamics and complexity of certain children. Lets be honest ,its once in a blue moon you get perfect children in a one classroom. Some children cannot handle noise and being around large room full of children . There are a few children who are balance and adjust quickly to their enveronment.

Teaching proper hygine with pictures and songs is sometimes essential especially when Covid came to being.( Keep track of children leaving their mask on) Preschooler teachers teach children to wash their hands by singing a certain songs . Preschool world should be about having fun and learning at the same time. Keeping track of allergy list of children in you care is very important . Preschoolers teacher have to keep calm and fallow procedures when emergency arises. Firedrill is very important in teaching preschoolers on how to be safe. If the teacher is calm the children are calm as well. Its very helpful to be trained in First Aid and (Mat) Medication-Assistant Treatment training. This give teacher confident when emergency arises. There was a little boy that start shaking out of the blue, There were no medical history records . The teacher fallow the procedure she was trained to do when this incedent happen and the ambulance and all information was given. The child had seizure and now taking medication to keep it under control. Its amazing how children coordinate well when an emergency is happening .

It is trully fun and rewarding to be a preschooler teacher, I just wish it pays more.I love creating bulletin Boards it bring the artist in me. Being a teacher is a work of art. Forming a child milestone development to meet their daily needs. Coming up with fun ideas for the children activity inspires me everyday. Seeing children laughing and playing let me know, I did my job well that day. There are so much more in being a preschooler teachers. We are treading the needles of a young child minds and we are building future leaders.