Becoming a Teacher

Class Year: 2021

Majors: Chemistry and Secondary Education

Company: The Adirondack Club

What I did: Preschool Teacher

Going into a preschool you never know what to expect. I always envisioned children between 3.5-5 years old running around learning the alphabet and reading stories. But it was so much more than anyone could imagine. Preschool is an essential part of a child’s development not just for school, but also dealing with social, mental, and emotional stages of life. Surprised is an understatement that I had when becoming a preschool teacher. After witnessing what the other preschool teachers do for the children, I was amazed. In preschool, the children learn what a line is, how to work with other children, how to write, the basics of life, and so much more. I never realized that here is where you learn everything.

On a day-to-day basis the children will start with circle time, and then move into stations and end with a fun activity. Circle time usually included reading a story, learning about a letter, a number, learning the weather and days of the week. Stations could include many different things from playing with sand for sensory skills, learning to use scissors, learning to write their name, doing patterns, and so much more. Every station has an intent behind it to improve upon skills learned to help them move up to kindergarten. Fun activities at the end of the day usually include physical activity from yoga, to gym class, to their swim lessons.

These children look up to their teachers so much. While at the school, teachers act almost as a parent. In a million years, I never thought I would find so much joy in becoming a preschool teacher, but this experience taught me exactly what I need to know. I want to be a teacher, and I look forward to that day every day!