Becoming a preschool teacher can be an exhausting exercise one might ever want to engage in without passion. But if you are a children’s person, the job can be the most rewarding, especially for folks looking for job fulfilment rather than a fat payslip. An excellent preschool teacher can design an effective curriculum as well as provide a conducive and safe environment for the learners. If you love children and you have no career at the moment, maybe becoming a preschool teacher suits you. Simply enrol in a preschool training college to arm yourself with all the necessary skills to help you build child-friendly traits and a love for the youngsters.
What is the job description of a professional preschool teacher?
First, the qualities of a good preschool teacher include the following; being a child’s person, loving milestones related to children’s development, and having a knack for playing with youngsters. Lesson planning and curriculum designing require critical thinking and great organizational skills plus dedication and commitment to the success of the child. Packed with all these traits, the teacher will be able to apply skills learned in the class and theory to practically evoke the learners’ love for learning.
A caregiver desires to build a solid foundation for the youngster that will see them succeed in their future endeavours, as past research indicates that there is a correlation between early childhood development and future career success. Managing children in a classroom is an uphill task that requires solid skills and passion to control and keep track of the progress every learner takes from class to playground. Great interpersonal or communication skills play a critical role in connecting cohesively with the learners, parents, other staff, and the management.
Patience is a key trait when dealing with youngsters and every preschool teacher must-have for a successful preschool teaching career. Creativity is also another fundamental skill that a preschool teacher must possess to employ diverse fun activities that learners will love to undertake.
Educational qualification to become a professional preschool teacher
To become a preschool teacher, one must have at least a certificate in early childhood education as the minimum requirement, but most preschool teachers have attained diploma and undergraduate qualifications or even post-graduate degrees. The core classes for these qualifications include; health and nutrition, growth & child development, safety, child behaviour, diversity & sensitivity, and development of curriculum studies.
The training will involve more job training like any other teaching career which helps the trainees gain knowledge and experience on curriculum development and other areas of training. The training opportunities are available on a government scholarship, NGO scholarship and privately sponsored. Although preschool teachers will earn an average pay compared to other professions, the job market is projected to grow by over ten percent in the coming years. The career field may not seem lucrative to attract many but people are now recognizing this field.
After a few years of experience as a preschool teacher in Mooroolbark early learning centre, many proceed to further their studies while others climb the ladder to become a K12 teacher where there are plenty of opportunities and the pay is more lucrative than the preschool teaching position. In the current society, K12 teaching opportunities are considered mainstream teaching careers compared to being a preschool teacher.