Students of preschool age learn well when visual aids are presented to them. For example, instead of simply teaching them how to count from 1 to 10 by reading the numbers, use objects, such as pebbles or small candy. Give the child one object and tell him, "This is one." Continue giving him objects and announcing the number so he can see how many that number is. This helps make information seem more concrete and real.
Preschoolers are young children with plenty of energy, so they enjoy learning and playing at the same time. Instead of just reading a story to your pupils, invite them to act out the events of the story. Encourage children to develop their imagination by asking them to pretend to be anything they can think of, such as an astronaut, a cowboy or an animal. As they play, ask them to talk about what they are doing. This helps pupils develop their language skills.
Having an unstructured classroom can let pupils become loud, boisterous and hard to control. Instead, create stations, or areas, where children can go to perform specific activities. For instance, place bookshelves in the corner of the room, along with comfortable and inviting seating, to encourage children to sit and read. On the other side of the room, a station can be devoted to creating artwork with finger paints and crayons. Other stations can include a writing area, a games corner and a dress-up costume box.
Preschoolers are learning a lot about unfamiliar topics, so they may become overwhelmed and discouraged. To keep young pupils motivated, ask them questions to get them thinking when they seem to be stumped by a problem. Help them find solutions to problems they don't understand. Give a child a task to complete, such as turning on a light switch. Have the child figure out how she will reach the switch to turn on the light. If she can't figure it out, offer suggestions. Guiding preschoolers to find solutions encourages them and keeps them motivated.