Bob Said:

Relief teaching for teacher assistant?

We Answered:

It can be, but typically, Teacher's assistants don't always have the credentials to teach. There is normally a pool of "substitute teachers" who do have the credentials, just not the full time teaching position. If you are trying to "force" a teachers assistant to sub in the absence of the teacher, I would tread lightly. Check their credentials first.

Carole Said:

New preschool teacher looking for tips for teaching twos?

We Answered:

I taught the two's last year. Here are things I discovered in the first month or two that I had not anticipated-

1. They don't know what it means to be in "school", or a "class". They think they are visiting you at your house, and they will go home soon. After a week or two of still coming, many of them really started to act up. They wanted it (school) to stop. It took months for them to realize that being in a class meant that they were in a group of people.

2. They don't understand what a "teacher" is, or that you are in authority. They get up and walk away when they feel like it, they don't do what you tell them to.

3. It gets very physical in that you constantly have to physically show them what to do. They do what you do. If you get out the play-dough, they want to play with play-dough. Don't sit in a teacher's chair to read a book. Sit on the rug, just like you want them to do, or you will lose them all to another area of the classroom. Many days I went home with aches and pains from crouching, sitting on tiny kid sized chairs, or having kids crawl all over me.

4. You are teaching the parents as much as you are teaching the kids. For many of the parents, it's their first time leaving their child with a non-relative. You have to gently tell them things- "I'll hold him so you can leave now", etc. I tried to make it very easy on my parents by having a short list of "Things to Do" at the bottom of each parent letter. I kept the list short and used few words, so they could remember it.

5. For September, I had thought I would do Apples and the Color Red. They barely understood apple. Doing colors didn't happen until March or April. I brought in an apple a few times a week, and would cut off tiny pieces so they could taste it. I had 2 or 3 simple books about how apples grew on a tree. That was it for the whole month. It wasn't that I didn't want to do more- it was just that was all they could handle. For October I did pumpkins. They liked that, but I had to add "Farm" to the theme so I didn't lose my mind. On November first (after Halloween), I was able to go to a pumpkin patch and purchase some small pumpkins for really cheap. We painted them with tempera paints. They looked terrible, but the kids liked it.

6. Everything you do in class will be the "first time" for them. You give them paint and a paintbrush, and they don't know what to do. Do you eat it? Do you color your hand? You have to show them every little thing. After Christmas break, though, it improves substantially.

Carol Said:

New preschool teacher looking for tips and teaching tools?

We Answered:

Well with it being so close to the summer. I would start teaching the kids on water safety. Reading them stories about outside activities. For example Fun Dog Sun Dog & What a ride,what a ride across the river on my back, those are both great books for 3K & 4K children. Ask your director about lesson plains and themes for the month. Make sure you know what the kids are allergic to, and if there are special needs for different children in your class. They are so much fun at this age. Have fun and good luck. Kids are our future. I love working with my preschool class.