When I tell people to teach before kindergarten, I get some pretty standard responses. Following the wide-eyed stare, there are only a few examples: “Wow, I never could” and “I have to enjoy playing all day.” Plus, others say things like, “Isn’t that the same as day care?”
As a 10-year-old teacher, I can confidently convey that many people don’t understand what pre-kindergarten teachers actually do. There are seven things people tend to be very wrong about teaching Pre-K.
1. It’s just a glorious babysitter
Teaching Pre-K involves more than simply supervising a child. Pre-kindergarten teachers are licensed educators with expertise in child development and early learning. Running an effective Pre-K classroom involves providing a structured learning environment that promotes cognitive, language, motor skills and social-emotional development. Pre-K teachers are environment-changing masters and oversee everyone for safety, along with a variety of educational techniques to meet the needs of young learners.
2. There are no ratings or “grading”
Pre-K teachers are educators who plan and implement age-appropriate curricula, teach basic self-help skills, and evaluate children’s progress. In my own condition, Pre-K teachers use all children and continuous assessments to monitor advancements in important early learning skills. Children are continuously evaluated for pre-academic, social, communication, exercise, and self-help skills. In the first-ever school experience, formative evaluations have occurred, managing small bodies with large emotions. KER-K teachers then analyze classroom data and work with special education providers to report to parents about their child’s learning progress.
3. Anyone can do that
Teaching before kindergarten requires specialized training in early childhood education and development. Play-based learning techniques and child development research are at the forefront of the minds of excellent Pre-K teachers. This is a profession that requires a deep understanding of children’s development and positive early learning techniques. Pre-K teachers will set the stage for all future achievements and walk with parents and students through their first formal schooling experience.
There are also many guidelines that exist because children are so young, beyond the usual requirements of education. For example, in many states, all certified Pre-K teachers must attend daily breaks, not only eating lunch with their students. Plus, daily life in the classroom before k can be quite over-stimulating. Teaching children between 3 and 5 years olds can do a lot at once, just like young children raising children. Temptranslator and toilet accidents require caution in addition to opening snacks and helping parents unfamiliar with their school experience. At the end of the day, being someone’s first teacher for a child’s entire classroom is not for the faint heart.
4. It’s all about scholars
It is true that it introduces pre-kindergarten concepts of literacy and calculation. However, it also focuses on social skills, emotional regulation, communication skills, and physical development. Children are given the opportunity to participate in early learning activities aimed at developing skills in multiple fields. Teachers promote play and small group learning and help children build important kindergarten reading skills.
Teachers aren’t the only ones who help children grow. The physical classroom environment and peers also teach children many new skills of independence. Pre-K teachers carefully arrange classroom environments to invite the curiosity and collaboration of young children.
5. It’s all about kids’ play
All great Pre-K teachers know that child-driven theater is an integral part of pre-kindergarten education. This helps children explore, experiment and develop problem-solving skills. While early childhood research proves the importance of play-based learning, pre-kindergarten also teaches children basic student behavior. Young children learn to follow their daily lives, wait for their turn, and try basic care tasks themselves. In this educator’s opinion, a balanced Pre-K program offers both developmentally appropriate play opportunities and structured learning.
6. That’s more important than later grades
Early education sets the foundation for future learning for children. An effective Pre-K experience can have a lasting impact on children’s academic and social development. Early childhood studies show that a child’s brain is the most grown between birth and age 5. Researchers are directly correlated with high-quality kindergarten experiences and positive outcomes that last up to adults. According to an empirical study led by MIT economists, an article in MIT News on the enduring effects of kindergarten nations says, “Participating kindergarten at age 4 makes it very likely that you will go to university.” The study is clear. Quality pre-K has a lasting impact on K-12 education and more.
7. It’s not a challenging job
While teaching the youngest learners in the district, KER-K teachers need to distinguish teaching, manage behavior, develop classroom environments, and adhere to many infancy-specific regulations. In many states, lawmakers don’t fund Pre-K, just as they fund K-12 education. This means that Pre-K teachers often have more specialized assessments with stakeholders both inside and outside the school district. In a typical year, different people can be evaluated 2-5 times for different reasons. Those with a clipboard will evaluate Pre-K teachers for classroom environments, teaching techniques, child interactions, and more. Maintaining a calm classroom environment and passing all assessments is extremely nervous as a teacher.
Understanding people wrong about teaching Pre-K helps to examine the important role kindergarten teachers play in shaping their children’s educational journey. Pre-K teachers are not babysitters or superheroes. They are respected educators who have dedicated their careers to carrying young children with them to adults.
