I am so excited and nervous. Need advice from teachers!?

Question

I just got a job today as a head teacher. I am so excited! I have subbed before and fell in love with teaching. However now that I will have my own classroom I will have to do all the planning. I'm really nervous about it. It is pre-K. Anyone have any advice?

Answer 1

Congrats! If you love preschoolers, then this will be an exciting job! I have been a preschool teacher for 14 years, and I wouldn't do anything else. The first couple of years, I found that curriculum planning books really helped out. One thing that really helps a teacher in making a curriculum plan is knowing the skills of your children. Soon after school starts, I suggest that you do an assessment on the kids in your class to see what current levels they are at. This will help you see what types of skills they will be needing help in, and then you can plan more effectively. This way, you aren't just picking activities out of a hat... you are doing things that will help build the skills that your kids need to learn how to do. Another thing I suggest... don't worry too much about academics. Stressing kids out by putting too much emphasis on letters and numbers is unneccessary. Play. Incorporate your "lessons" into your play. (example: if you are working on numbers, play "store" where you have to use numbers to "buy" items.) Social skills are the most important at this age. The children need to learn how to get along with one another and be attentive to a teacher's directions. Most of all, you want to have fun. Preschool should be a messy place, where you can explore and build on budding creativity. I always say that if they aren't messy at the end of the day, they didn't have any fun! Good luck on your new job!

Answer 2

Congradulations!!!! I previously taught prek last year and truly loved it. There is so much advice to give that I don't know where to start. So here it is: Get to know your kids parents early on, and keep an open flow of communication with them. Always keep your classroom warm and inviting. I had a grandmother of one of my students come and help out with breakfast every morning. Believe me, it was very much appreciated even if I had a full time assistant teacher. 3 adults to 18 kids is a pretty good ratio especially when they are hungry. Talk with previous pre-k teachers and understand what is developmentally appropriate for the kids you will teach. Treat everyone at your school with the upmost respect; even all the way down to the janitors and lunchroom ladies. My husband could sweet talk the lunchroom ladies and they would give him extra food or sometimes not even charge him for a lunch. My janitors would always put things that were hidden out on my table where I could put them up. They never threw anything away if they thought it was important. As for the kids; always make sure to have something for them on their birthday, at halloween/fall festival, christmas, Valentine's day, easter, and end of the school year. When the parents see you spend money on their kids like that, then some of them will bring you gifts sometimes, too. After spring break, one of my students brought me back a beautiful sleeping beauty pin because she had went to disneyworld during spring break. And another thing, keep a stack of Thank you cards handy. When one of the parents does something nice for you it is good for you to write them a Thank you card. That person would be more apt to to more nice things for you if they get a thank you card. Read a book to the kids when you have/ come across some dead time. And last but not least, just be yourself and have fun. Teaching Prek is a blast.

Answer 3

Hi, I am a teahcer too. I have two things that i've learn from it. (sorry i am french speaking, my english is not perfect).

1) Stay yourself
If other teachers tell you to be like this or like that, do what it is suitable with your style. For exemple, I am a cool and relax teacher, some of my collegue think that i'm not enough severe. But always screaming and yelling doesn't go with my personality. Do what's great with your style of teahcing wathever other says.

2) If students are bad, this is not against you.
After a bad day, don't be sad or affraid. Kids can be hard to manage but they don't hate you. The next day they will be ok with you. If they are irritated it's because something around goes wrong, not you, not your teaching. Often somethings happen with other youth.

Congratulation for your job! This is a great job. Have fun with your students it's the important thing. Last advise, smile, say hello or encourage them... often you could be the only one doing that for them for this day.

Take care! :)

Answer 4

How did you go from sub to head? That sounds pretty suspicious- have you spoken with teachers who used to work at this school to verify that it's a legitimate employer? Just use all the skills you used during your ECE degree program- they gave you all the buildings blocks you'll need.

Answer 5

Congratulations on getting a job! First grade is an significant year with the aid of fact you're coping with beginning up examining. some will are available examining from kindergarten, and others nevertheless won't have a clue. ascertain you set up your communities so as that each and each baby can sense a feeling of success, and commence a parent volunteer checklist and centers to insure that each and each baby gets sme individual interest each and on a daily basis. in case you're fortunate sufficient to have an aide, cope along with her as a colleague extremely than a servant; she'll observe issues which you would be able to pass over in the beginning up. commence a folder gadget: finished artwork and artwork in progression and be certain you check out a variety of of extra suitable books from the library so as that babies could have some thing useful to do whilst they have finished their artwork. shop up with your paperwork so as which you would be able to savor the time with the babies (First grade is composed of a variety of of exams.) savor the babies, have relaxing, and don't get discouraged. we attempt, yet we can't be triumphant with anybody.

Answer 6

I suggest you get training, if you are not trained already, in changing diapers, and of-course practice having lots of patience, good luck.