What are the working conditions of a preschool teacher?

Question

I do daycare out of my home. I am interested in getting a job in a day care center. Can someone describe the working conditions and physical requirements. How is a preschool teachers work checked?

Answer 1

I am a preschool 4's teacher. Currently our enrollment is down, so I am alone everyday with the kids.  I watch them (obviously), feed them snack, clean-up after snack, do a circle time (talk about weather, calandar, read a book, sing a song), do an activity with the kids, take them outside, supervise lunch, clean-up, nap time, take them outside again, and then usually someone takes over. I have to write weekly lesson plans, write newsletters, do assessments once a year and have parent/teacher meetings.  I have to follow a curriculum provided by the center.  I also have to teach about Jesus daily, because it is a religious center.  Sometimes there are outside events that I have to attend, like a musical at night, or open house, etc.

Answer 2

:-)  After doing both I would say that it's a lot less stress on your body to work in a center.  :-)  I think most handbooks state that a preschool teacher must be able to lift 30 lbs.

As for the working conditions...it depends on your day care... do you have education?  A teacher's certificate?  CDA?  Often if you don't you will be hiring in as an aide and often a "floater".  You go to the room that needs you.  If you have no problem with that... go for it.  There are some wonderful programs out there that specifically hire for the classrooms and stick to it...but reality is...in daycares...you go where they need  you at the moment or for the day.

A teacher's responsibility is to make sure the classroom is running smoothly and the staff are doing their job.  You organize and help with changing out the toys/manipulatives, keeping the centers stocked, creating lesson plans, facilitating the children's play, assessing the children and your program, etc.  If you go in as an aide...you pretty much do what the lead teacher ask of you.

You'll probably have some evening programs to organize and attend.  

In home- 1:6 ratio...in a preschool classroom it's usually 1:10 in a day care (that's minimum licensing requirement) in preschool only program it's usually 1:8.

Consider looking into state or nationally funded programs to be employed.  They usually have trainging available as well.

As for who checks your work?  I would hope that the director would be in and out of the classroom and observing you.  In some programs, the lesson plans need to be turned into to the director.  Most programs should have a self-evaluation and a program evaluation minimum 2x's a year.

Good luck!