More spouting...

When I wrote my rant earlier I was still smarting from the hurt feelings I had. In the dark, at naptime, tapping away on my blackberry.... I have so much to talk about that I can't talk about on my journal. Most of the people I know are local and there is something so freeing about talking where no one you know can "hear".

Now I'm over it though, well mostly. It is challenging being a preschool teacher. One would think the kids would be the hardest part, but it's the parents usually! I would say my biggest challenge is motivation. What motivates a 3 year old compared to a 5 1/2 year old is a vast difference. Add in a few school age kids in the afternoon and you have LOADS of fun. NOT.

I watch that show on TLC Discovery called Jon and Kate Plus Eight. http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/jon-and-kate/jon-and-kate.html
Kate said something along the lines of "Everyday is completely different, but exactly the same" Unless you had a gaggle of kids you cared for day in and day out you probably wouldn't understand that. But it rang very true for me and made me laugh.

Things you should be prepared for if you want to teach preschool:

1. Having Infinite Patience - Many of the kids in my class are angels. Unfortunately they go home early and I'm stuck with the hellions. Some kids spend more time at our center than I do! That will take a toll on their behavior for sure. I hadn't anticipated how hard it would be to be patient with all these kids all day and still have enough patience and energy for my child at night. That would have to be the hardest part for me I think.

2. Dealing with Parents - There are always one or two in every class that sway from the norm. Either they don't seem to care at all or they care TOO much. Some kids spend 60 hours a week at our center with parents either not working at all or just part time. Sad. But the too much crowd wants you to do it their way and in a large group setting that is just not going to happen.

3. The Staff - Having only worked in two centers I have to say the one I am currently at is as different from the old one as night and day. Watch what you say and who you say it to if you don't want it repeated. Better yet keep your opinion to yourself.

4. Discipline - These are NOT your kids! You may not whip them, shame them, or demean them in any way. Some "teachers" don't quite understand those rules. A lot of parents don't seem to understand that either. My best advice is short and sweet. Be consistent, pay attention and be fair, mean what you say and say what you mean. If you tell Johhny one more strike and he's in time out then don't yell at him next time. March his little behind over to the time out chair and sit him down. It has taken me 6 months to retrain my class because they had an abusive teacher before. Lots of yelling, little follow through, and eventually she hit a student which is why she was fired. Again NOT YOUR KIDS. Even if you do spend more time with them than their parents are able.

5. A Happy Medium - As a teacher you must follow your director, the parents, and your own knowlege during classtime. First, almost all directors come from one of two schools. 1. learn through play 2. learn through work *i.e paperwork*. I have worked for both of those directors. Let me tell ya it's hard to make the switch. 99% of the time if you work in one center there are parents there who want you to do it the other way. Currently I teach them through play and try to sneak in a few worksheets under my directors nose now and then. I think both of them are pretty important. Kids that age in my opinion should NOT be made to sit and do seatwork, but if they are playing all day everyday without learning some of what they are expected in Kindergarten how will they cope when they get there? I feel it's my responsibility to make them feel smart and proud when they enter Kindy, not feeling bad about themselves because they can't write they're name or don't know their shapes.


Well it's getting late and i tend to ramble when I'm tired. Kinda like now. Tommorrow I'll write the teachers wish list.