Obtain the necessary education. Depending on the state and school where you want to teach, you may need an associate's or a bachelor's degree with credits in early childhood development and education, psychology and curriculum development. You may also need supervised hours in a classroom and CPR training.
Be patient and enthusiastic. Preschool age children need teachers who can explain rules and remain loving and kind amid the challenges of supervising small children. They must always have the children's well-being and safety in mind. A great teacher knows when to spend extra time with a child who might be having trouble while also encouraging the most advanced student.
Spend time with children in preparation for having your own class. You can babysit small children, volunteer at the library or observe in a local classroom. Gaining experience with children is one of the best ways to become a great preschool teacher, because you learn their needs and how to relate to them. Working with a smaller group will give you more confidence when you have your own classroom.
Learn how to take control of the classroom. You want the children to love you and have fun, but you also need for them to respect you as the ultimate authority in the room. It will be more difficult for them to create chaos if you adhere to specific classroom rules and codes of conduct and always have consequences for inappropriate actions, such as timeouts.
Create lesson plans and activities that are educational and fun. Often, preschool teachers will create learning centers within the classroom, where subjects are divided by station. Students can then visit each station, such as the math or the reading station, and complete tasks. This encourages a child's independence as he completes tasks and is rewarded, and it makes school fun, exciting and different. There are many websites dedicated to lesson plans for children, and a new teacher can also seek out advice from the more experienced teachers at the school.