How to become A Kindergarten Teacher

Kindergarten helps children make the crucial transition to school. Kindergarten Teachers who know that “what happens in kindergarten lasts a lifetime” strive to inspire their charges to open their minds and remain eager to learn. They go all out to shape little minds, so they become confident and “open themselves to life.”

• Preschool Teacher
• Nursery Teacher
• Infant Teacher

What do Kindergarten Teachers do?

A Kindergarten Teacher would typically need to:

• Use play-based learning and hands-on teaching methods to motivate students and stimulate their education in a positive and secure learning environment
• Develop a customised program that helps all students achieve optimal learning objectives and curriculum goals
• Integrate competencies, goals and objectives into lesson plans; select essential resources to implement them
• Choose and develop visual instructional methods and teaching material that adds value to the learning activities
• Use games, music, books, artwork, imaginative play, technology and other viable resources to teach personal, social, language, mathematical, creative and physical coordination skills
• Teach letter recognition, phonics, numbers and awareness of nature and science; encourage curiosity and thirst for knowledge in the children
• Modify the standard instructional methods to meet the varied needs and interests of individual students
• Foster a positive learning environment conducive to learning; devise and implement an appropriate classroom management system that includes rules for acceptable behaviour 
• Enforce approved disciplinary interventions and monitor the results; adapt the intervention or make referrals for professional intervention, if necessary
• Teach the children essential personal hygiene and self-care routines; use games and activities to nurture accommodative social behaviour 
• Monitor, assess and record the children’s social and academic progress; maintain an open line of communication and offer constructive feedback to parents, guardians, and the authorities
• Collaborate with teaching assistants, nursery nurses and volunteer helpers to plan and conduct indoor and outdoor activities for the children
• Prepare written reports and deliver them to the relevant stakeholders; attend staff meetings and staff training days; keep abreast of developments in curriculum and best practice
• Itemise and order/requisition desirable equipment and supplies; make sure the facilities and equipment are child-friendly
• Preserve the school’s code of conduct and endorse all school policies, rules and procedures in a fitting manner

Kindergarten Teachers spend their workday inside a classroom conducting lessons or in the open-air supervising break time or recreational activities. They collaborate with other school staff and the parents of the students in providing the children with all possible means of development.

In general, full-time Kindergarten Teachers work 40-hour weeks during a ten-month school year with a two-month summer break and a short winter break. Evenings and weekends may be spent in preparing lesson plans, parent meetings and other non-classroom activities.

A portion of the school break may be spent attending staff training programs for the upcoming academic semester. Part-time work is a viable option.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Kindergarten Teachers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting employers directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies. Educational institutions that employ Kindergarten Teachers may be private or state-owned.

Kindergarten Teachers are generally employed by:

• Nurseries
• Preschools
• Child Care Services
• Private & Public Schools

Professional associations and organisations, such as the Childhood Education International, are crucial for Kindergarten Teachers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation.

Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• The need to be patient and firm when working with children who may be difficult or downright cranky
• Dealing with parents’ requests, complaints, and questions regularly can be distracting
• Lack of work-life balance due to work hours which often extend beyond the regular school timings
• Frequent lack of adequate resources and teaching tools such as computers and recently published textbooks due to budgetary concerns
• Stress due to large class sizes

Fieldwork is often the cornerstone of a bachelor’s degree in teacher education. Ideally, the program should comprise one or two semesters of practical teaching experience and evaluation in classroom management, effective lesson plans, student evaluation and parent-teacher communication. 

Where the course providers do not offer such internships, you will need to actively seek avenues to gain relevant work experience with children in a school or nursery environment.

The location of your experiences will vary, although the majority of them will likely be with kindergarten children. Most programs require that a candidate spend some time in all classes and ensure that they gather some experience with special needs children.

Some student teaching internships may offer aspiring Kindergarten Teachers the opportunity to meet parents of the students in the host class and practice invaluable communication skills.

Volunteer in a local playgroup or playscheme, or engage in work that shows you care for and promote children's development. Read about the profession and visit nurseries and schools to job shadow/interview early childhood educators to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.

Employers prefer Kindergarten Teachers with a bachelor’s degree in elementary or early childhood education. Typical courses in the four-year program include early language development, early literacy, early childhood development, educational psychology, and educational policy, law, and advocacy.

Ideally, the study of basic math, science and English composition alongside classes in children’s literature and art should form part of the curriculum. Courses that teach a deeper understanding of multicultural classrooms, learning technologies, and instructing children with special needs would add value to the program.

Kindergarten Teachers need to be certified to show that they are eligible to work with young children.

A combination of education, experience, and basic proficiency exams in instructional methods is generally required to gain certification from an objective and reputed organisation. However, requirements differ from region to region. 

Most universities incorporate authorised preparatory courses that will enable you to acquire a teaching certificate while pursuing the academic degree program.

A teaching license issued by an authorised body on completing approved early childhood or related degree programs is mandatory. Check with your prospective employers and local regulating authorities for exact prerequisites.

Competent Kindergarten Teachers with requisite educational qualifications and experience may be able to advance to a managerial position as the Staff Supervisor or Manager of a nursery or a network of nurseries. It is also possible to become the Lead Teacher in charge of multiple classrooms or a preschool or childcare centre Director.

Candidates who are geographically mobile and willing to work in urban and rural school districts will have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Kindergarten Teacher build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. 

It allows you to upskill continually, regardless of your age, job, or level of knowledge.

The nursery or school where you work will conduct regular in-house staff training programs. Invest in master’s programs that offer a comprehensive knowledge of teaching and an opportunity to be actively involved in academic research. 

If you are keen on moving into a management role, focus on courses in business management and leadership skills

Attending training courses & webinars, reading relevant publications, attending events and conferences focused on early childhood will also help you gain additional knowledge and help career advancement.

Kindergarten Gets Due Credit

Kindergarten is a critical step in the early grades and is becoming the new first grade, according to an increasing number of instructors. 

Research shows that more than 50 per cent of public school Kindergarten Teachers agree that children should learn to read in kindergarten. Students are encouraged to read stories accompanied by visuals, making it easier to comprehend the text.

Current Challenges

Kindergarten Teachers face a difficult task in providing appropriate support to children with diverse skills and capabilities.

Some students may be budding readers, while others may not recite the alphabet or recognise letters or numbers. Yet, others may have zero experience with an English-language environment.

These challenges are compounded when class size is large, leaving the teacher with little room to adapt to the needs of individual students.

Studies have proven that reducing the class size helps make the kindergarten classroom a “recharging station” where the students pick up positive and significant skills that last them a lifetime. 

A student’s behaviour in kindergarten is highly indicative of learning outcomes in the first and second grades. Kindergarten is a diagnostic and educational tool for early intervention.

Most individuals do not forget their Kindergarten Teacher during their lifetime - and for a perfect reason. How does one forget the champion who never gave up on them and encouraged them to become the best they can be?

It is essential to understand that for many children, this is their first schooling experience. It could be the longest time they have ever been away from their parents - or their home.  Therefore, it is crucial to be patient and make the little ones feel at home.