Pre-K

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Pre-K
By Chrissie

how difficult is teaching pre-k?

ahhhhh, an interesting question with MANY avenues to explore. i will try to address a few points and if you have specific questions, feel free to ask. to answer this question, a great deal
depends on whether or not your program will be run by a public school or by private organization. i currently work with a school district. with this position comes a great deal of paperwork and "fluff" (as i like to call it) to prove that we are doing our jobs (as if teaching pre-k were difficult). my district mandates that we follow certain themes each month. we have to come up with

ALL literature on our own (i LIVE at the library), all lesson plan ideas, meaning that there is no resource for us to go by ..... other than what you buy or find on the internet.

our program is split in 2 2.5hr sessions. during that 2.5hr period we follow a routine. (i am thinking of changing it a bit if i am still there next year.) it is as follows:
*breakfast
*circle time with books, etc
*journal time/ group activity time
*review circle time
*center time (child chooses 2 centers, each 15 min long)
*2nd review circle (we do a short story or songs during this time)

not too shabby a schedule, but i do come home drained! (and i am only 23!)

this is a tid-bit from my perspective. however, i would like to advise you to keep in mind that i am not typically excited by this age group and material. ideally, i would teach 3-6 graders. i enjoy thier independent abilities (tie own shoe, blow own nose, etc), the academic matieral (i feel as though my brain is turning to mush from lack of intellectual conversations), and the support that a real school provides. (I am currently located at a day care center although my program is funded by the public school.) i miss not having a principal to send a CRAZY child to (crazy defined as biting, kicking, spitting on me!). so think it over and decide! any questions, let me know.....