If you’re just starting out as a preschool teacher, congratulations! Teaching preschool is one of the most challenging yet rewarding professions out there, and you’ll be making a difference in a lot of young minds. If you’re feeling nervous about starting work, that’s perfectly normal. You’ll probably make a lot of mistakes at first, but it’s all part of the learning process. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you move forward:
- Organization and routine are key. You’re going to be managing a classroom full of toddlers, which is only slightly less difficult than herding cats. In order to be prepared for any situation and keep your classroom under control, you’ll need to be extremely organized, knowing where everything is at all times, and establish a routine so that your children know what to expect throughout the day.
- However, don’t be afraid to get creative. Children will be more able to relate to you if you seem to see the world the way they do — that is, with an open mind and a healthy dose of curiosity. Instead of just showing or telling children new things, investigate with them to find out the answers together. Be receptive to what your class is curious about and plan activities to encourage that curiosity.
- Get to know each child. Treating every child the same way will alienate them and make them think you don’t see them as people. Get to know the personalities, interests, temperaments and preferences of each individual child in your class as best you can, and use that knowledge to inform your interactions with them.
For information about careers with U-GRO Learning Centres and our childcare curriculum models, visit our Careers page.