What does a preschool teacher do? Is he/she just a kind of
alternative parent who looks after the kids for a few hours each day or
is there something more to it? While preschool curricula and
environments vary a great deal, a look at a typical day in the life of
an imaginary preschool teacher will show what a tough, complex and yet
satisfying vocation this is.
The day typically begins with the kids arriving in school and
gathering in schoolyard to play. The teacher will be there from the time
of the first arrival to ensure that the children are safe and secure.
From here everyone goes into the classroom and sits in a circle on the
floor while the teacher guides them through the morning greetings and a
talk about the day of the week, the month and the season. Relevant
pictures are put up on the board and then a song is sung.
Now comes alphabet practice and letter recognition, followed by a
song about fingers, toes, noses and other body parts here the children
point to the parts they sing about. The next activity allows the
children to relax a bit. Everyone sits at tables and opens a coloring
book to a page with say, animals, on it. The children are encouraged to
talk about the animals they will be coloring and what color they will
use and why. Then the kids find objects in the room that are the same as
the colors they plan to use.
After this sit down break the children wear their coats and head out
to the playground. The teacher continues to supervise without getting in
the way. The children are encouraged to play in teams and cooperate
with one another. When the kids return to the classroom its snack time
and everyone eats. The teacher may have to clean up any messes that
occur. After the snacks its story time and the teacher reads them a
story and follows it up by encouraging the kids to talk about the story
they have heard – what they liked about it and what they didn’t.
After lunch comes nap time where the mats are pulled out, shoes taken
off and everyone lies down for a nap, the teacher included because an
example needs to be set. Soft music may be played. Some kids will sleep
but others will be restless and fidgety and may try to get up and run
around. The teacher will need to be firm but kind and ensure that they
lie down and rest. If they don’t sleep, they can play quietly on their
mats till its wake up time.
After nap time the mats are put away and shoes are put on. The
process of putting on shoes or getting dressed after sleeping is
discussed while this is going on. Backpacks are now repacked and coats
are worn as the children go out to play until the parents arrive to take
them home.
It’s Not All Fun and Games
As can be seen from this imaginary day, the daily schedule of a
preschool teacher involves enjoying being with children, the ability to
gently inculcate a sense of discipline and right and wrong and skill in
encouraging the kids to use their cognitive abilities so that these keep
increasing as time passes.
Being a preschool teacher or early childhood educator is not for
everyone. But for those who have the aptitude and a love for children,
there are few vocations that offer more in the way of satisfaction and a
sense of achievement.
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