Career Essay

Submitted By WilliamsKristen2
Words: 946
Pages: 4

Kristen Williams
Amanda Sauermann
English 102
Feb 26, 2014
Preschool Teacher
The career I have chosen for me is a Preschool Teacher. I was not sure of what my career was going to be but I love working with children, teaching them, and watching them explore new things with their mind. I have been around children my whole life, I love to see them interact with other children and get excited when they learn new things. I have babysat for families with young children and they always learn something new when they are with me. I feel like this job is something that works for me because I love working with children so much.
Preschool teachers educate and care for children between the ages of three to five who have not started kindergarten yet. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the web, “Young children learn from playing, solving, questioning, and experimenting. Preschool teachers use play and other instructional techniques to teach children about the world. They use storytelling and rhyming games to teach language and vocabulary. Preschool teachers also help improve children’s social skills by having them work together or teach math by having them count with blocks.”
Preschool teachers are required to have at least a high school diploma and a certification in early childhood education. Preschool teachers in Head Start programs are required to have at least an associate’s degree. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Nationwide Head Start programs require a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field. In public schools, preschool teachers must have at least a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education.”
I know preschool teachers do not make a lot of money but I feel teaching children new things and watching their minds expand is a very important thing for me. According to The Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Preschool teachers make on average $27,130 per year which is about $13.04 per hour. Preschool teachers in public schools generally work during school hours. Many work the traditional ten month school year, which includes a two month break during the summer. Some preschool teacher have summer programs, teachers with a year round schedule typically work eight weeks in a row.” I am sure it would be exhausting working with young children but I believe it will be worth it.
There are some children that are not easy to work with. Every child is different, so there are some skills and requirements a preschool teacher would need. According to Snagajob, “To be a preschool teacher, you need patience, communication skills, creativity, instructional skills, and people skills.” Young children can be very loud, emotional, and irrational. Teachers must be patient with young kids who have tough times expressing themselves. Good writing and speaking skills can help teachers record and deliver children’s progress to their parents. Being able to communicate with difficult concepts to preschool students in a way they understand is crucial. Keeping students engaged requires a lot of creativity; preschool teachers have to know of inventive ways to involve children in learning.
One of the most important skills to have as a preschool teacher is reading aloud to the students. According to Early Moments, “Between ages two and three most toddlers experience an increase their vocabulary. Reading aloud gives children knowledge, which helps them make sense of what they see, hear, and read. The more excited the parents are about reading, the more enthusiasm the children will get.” Reading aloud helps children learn the language of books, which differs from the daily language heard in daily conversations. Reading allows children to explore their minds, and use their imaginations to explore people, places, times, and events beyond their experiences. One of the things attention is focused on with preschoolers is what children eat for lunch because obesity is