Students may exhibit extreme discomfort for the first several weeks of preschool. Many will cry for the first few days. Others may be overly aggressive. Often students will physically fight with one another over toys or personal space. Preschoolers attempt to impose a sense of control over a new situation using these behaviors. Preschool teachers must create an inviting, nurturing and safe space for students to transition into the classroom environment.
Educators at the Rural Education Action Project at Stanford University have conducted a review of the recent literature and studies concerning the importance of preschool and kindergarten education. They concluded that the quality of early childhood education is correlated to later school success. Preschool teachers are responsible for teaching students social skills necessary for academic success. The researchers suggest that student motivation and social skills influences academic performance and job readiness.
Preschool teachers have a duty to teach language skills such as reading, writing and listening. Students with strong language skills better understand teacher communications and interact socially with peers. Preschool teachers need to transmit information in a way that's understandable to preschoolers. Dr. Lisa Klein of the National Center for Children of Poverty at Columbia University advocates for training programs that are "closely tied to knowledge about early childhood and child development" for preschool teachers.
Preschoolers must learn how to deal with their peers respectfully. Physically aggressive behaviors like hitting and biting are common among preschoolers because they lack the necessary linguistic and social skills to solve problems and express their wants. Preschool teachers must teach respect and responsible social action. They can do this through personal modeling combined with effective curriculum emphasizing cooperation and communication.