The early childhood education profession can be one of the most rewarding experiences in life, but there are certain skills that a preschool teacher must acquire in order to be successful. Some people seem to have an inherent ability to control and manage a classroom while also inspiring young minds. The following five skills are commonalities among all effective early childhood educators.
1. Patience
This is a necessary skill to develop for taking control of a preschool classroom without losing your mind. when you are leading young people to new discoveries, there will be many meltdowns and emotional outbursts. Seasoned early childhood educators all have the “patience of a saint” as the saying goes, and this skill is important for keeping order in class. Self-restraint in difficult circumstances with an air of authority and a gentle spirit are a unique combination that can be found in successful teachers.
2. Creativity
Preschool is the time for discovering the world through play and a multitude of interactive styles. A successful teacher will have a diverse repertoire of educational activities to engage their students. Having a creative mind also helps to solve educational problems that an early childhood educator is bound to encounter. Having the creativity to design fun and educational lesson plans will allow pupils to blossom and develop a love for learning.
3. Empathy
Emotions can run high among young children crammed together in a classroom. They are still learning how to handle controversy and their extreme curiosity. Along with these issues, teachers must be empathetic towards children dealing with complex problems at home. Disciplinary problems can arise from situations like parental divorce or the death of a family member. Having empathy will not only make someone a better teacher, but it will also impact the life of those children.
4. Communication
The ability to communicate effectively with both young children and adults will allow for effective networking and educational proficiency. Communicating a multitude of concepts at a wide range of developmental levels can be challenging. The early childhood educator must be able to explain new concepts to young children and then communicate any issues to their parents. They must also develop good communication among other staff members and their educator peers. The ability to learn and disseminate new information or learning strategies is a hallmark of skillful communication.
5. Organization
Paperwork, plans and reports can dominate an educator’s desk. Keeping accurate lesson plans and records is imperative for proper documentation of children’s education. The educator is responsible for developing a curriculum that meets state and national standards as well as draw out the lesson plans to go along with their proposed curriculum. They must also document attendance, oral presentations and book work for their students. Recording any deficiencies and keeping track of progress will enable an educator to fix learning problems before they become bad habits.
Resource: Top 10 Best Online Master’s in Education Degree Programs (M.Ed.) 2016
Being a preschool teacher is a noble profession for which many people are not cut out. Early childhood education can bring many blessings if the educator has their heart in it. Honing these skills will enable someone to become a successful preschool teacher with the power to enhance the lives of many children.
