Episode 3: Why I Love Preschool as a TEACHER
Why is teaching preschool the best? We’re exploring why I love preschool as a TEACHER, what makes it so rewarding (and challenging), and my advice to fellow educators considering becoming preschool teachers. Preschool is truly a magical time in a child’s life, but it can also be magical and fun for teachers. Let’s do this!
Episode Highlights:
1. Why I love preschool as a teacher
2. Rewards and challenges
3. My advice to future preschool teachers
Resources Mentioned:
FREE Kindergarten Readiness Checklist
https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6070813a1717a7a075fd2e35
Connect with your podcast host:
https://www.instagram.com/chanty.macias
https://www.chantymacias.com/contact
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Hey, hey everyone! You’re listening to Episode 3 and we’re diving into why I love preschool as a teacher, what makes it so rewarding and challenging, and my advice to fellow educators considering becoming preschool teachers. If you’re currently a preschool educator looking for a list of skills your kiddos need to master before Kindergarten, I have a super helpful Kinder Readiness checklist you can grab in the show notes and share with your parents. Remember, I’m here to help make this preschool journey fun and easy for you, so let’s do this!
Why I love preschool as a teacher: Preschool is truly a magical time in a child’s life, but it can also be magical for teachers. They absorb every part of the world around them like little sponges and as a teacher, I was privileged to witness their growth and be a part of their development. It was so incredibly fulfilling.
One of the things that makes preschool unique is that you not only get to facilitate exploration for them, but you also get the opportunity to foster creativity. Preschoolers have such vibrant imaginations (and oh boy, do they lol). They express themselves without any regard to what others may think or say about them and I love that. We, as teachers, can nurture this creativity and help them develop their own individual voices through art, music and pretend play. Watching them express their ideas and create something new from their own imagination is an inspiration itself.
Rewards and challenges: What makes preschool so special is that it is a time of immense curiosity and wonder. Children at this age are eager to learn and explore the world around them. They ask endless questions (sometimes even the ones you don’t want to answer lol), laugh at everything you say or do (even when you trip or hit yourself), and say the wildest things like complimenting your outfit when you feel like you just rolled out of bed.
It’s so rewarding to see their eyes light up when they discover something new or you ask them something about a comment they made and they realize you remembered. Whether it’s exploring nature, playing in the playground, experimenting with colors and shapes or learning about animals, their enthusiasm is contagious. It really makes you want to learn with them.
The same can be said for being there when children learn how to interact with their peers, build friendships, and gain an understanding of their own emotions. As a preschool teacher, I had the chance to guide them through this process. I got to witness all the beautiful moments of empathy, kindness and cooperation. Seeing them develop their social skills and grow into compassionate young ladies and gentlemen was one of my favorite things about teaching preschool. I’ll never forget when one of my kiddos fell outside and scraped her knee and a little boy asked her if she was OK, helped her get up, gave her a hug, and told her she was going to feel better soon. Talk about the ultimate heartwarming story, huh?
Not to burst a bubble here but teaching preschool can also be challenging. Some common challenges of teaching preschool are classroom and behavior management, parental involvement, and prioritizing our health and safety. Managing a room full of preschoolers is hard, I won’t lie. They’re full of energy, limited attention spans and varying levels of self-control. They’re still growing and learning to navigate social interactions while self-regulating their emotions. I mean, if we have a hard time doing that, imagine them being 3, 4 or 5 years old. Establishing strong partnerships with parents is critical for a child’s success but sometimes things like language barriers, conflicting schedules or differing opinions can make it difficult. Taking care of your own health and safety should be a priority, too, and this can be tough with your work schedule. Despite these challenges, teaching preschool still provides us an opportunity to shape their young minds, foster a love of learning and make a positive impact on their lives.
My advice to future preschool teachers: We’ve talked about why I love preschool as a teacher and some of its rewards and challenges, so here’s my advice to all the fellow educators who are considering becoming a preschool teacher. Embrace the joy and wonder that this age group brings. Be prepared to have fun, be caught off guard lol, practice patience, and allow yourself to learn from the kiddos as much as you teach them. Preschoolers have an unique ability to remind us of the simple joys life has to offer and keep our own curiosity alive. They will bring endless laughter, surprises and heartfelt moments to your classroom and your life. Keep it simple and don’t allow yourself to get overwhelmed by your responsibilities. Think of them as “should do’s” instead of “have to do’s” and it’ll keep your heart and workload light and happy.
Now, go play with your littles and remember to take it one day at a time and if you need help along the way, I’m always a click away. Message me on Instagram @chanty.macias and let me know what I can help you with! That’s all for now and remember, you got this!