Several states require that preschool teachers hold an associate degree in early childhood education or similar, according to Education Portal.com. Other states require a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, a certain number of college course hours or other type of teaching certification. For any of these programs, courses might include child development, curriculum design, classroom management and hands-on learning through student teaching or observation hours. Some states do not require that their teachers hold a degree. In this case, prospective teachers should endeavor to learn all they can about child development and lesson planning.
Regardless of whether your state requires a college degree to become a preschool teacher, most preschools will expect teachers to have experience. This may include working as a student teacher. Some preschools may allow prospective teachers lacking experience to work as a teacher's aides or assistant teachers until they have learned enough or taken the classes required to become full teachers. Several years experience as a babysitter will also provide beneficial experience. Prospective preschool teachers should spend as much time as possible interacting with preschool-age children to gain experience. Discover the books and toys preschoolers enjoy. Practice reading aloud to a group of children or interacting in a game of hide-and-seek.The more time you spend with young children, the more comfortable you will be around them.
Most preschools require teachers to have CPR and first aid training or certification. However, if this is not a requirement, it is still advisable that new and prospective preschool teachers learn these skills. Schools that require CPR and first aid certification often reimburse teachers for the instruction and certification fees.
Before your school year begins, take some time to plan lessons for your classes. Many preschools have a predetermined curriculum that you must teach; others ask that teachers plan the lessons, sometimes based on a specific theme that will change weekly or monthly. Many schools also require teachers to turn in lesson plans for approval. Whether this is the case for you, it is a good idea to have lessons and activities planned for the first several weeks that you are teaching. It is also a good idea to plan the layout of your classroom before you begin teaching. Preschoolers do not typically sit at desks all day; rather, the preschool classroom is usually made up of centers for specific activities; dramatic play, art, music and blocks would all have their own centers. Provide plenty of room for circle time activities and indoor play when the weather is bad.