Teacher Roles and Responsibilities

Being an early childhood teacher, you must be willing to wear many hats. As an experienced teacher, you're already prepared to be flexible. As a new teacher, remember that your job description may change on a daily basis.

In most cases, your role as an early childhood teacher be very similar to a guide. A guide leads others down new paths. A guide walks beside a person on a journey, not the front. The guide also includes other safe from harm.

As an early childhood teacher, you will be challenged to find new experiences to share with children. Guide children who do not complete them and move in a direction that interests the child. As a guide, allow the child to choose their learning and playing style, while ensuring safety your number one concern!

Abandon the idea that a teacher knows everything. Become a partner in learning and encourage children to find their own answers instead of giving answers to them. By being a partner, teach the teachers with the children and share their experiences.

Early childhood teachers support learning through activities and materials which children find exciting. By facilitating learning, providing a developmentally appropriate environment, interesting materials and enough time to explore, play and interact, children find learning easy and fun!

To care is to feed. Development of a child includes all aspects of development: social, affective, cognitive and physical. In every interaction should be a teacher nurture proper growth and development.

Teachers must also make sure to listen to a child, including interpreting words and deeds. Listening carefully will help teachers determine a child's needs and support in promoting child development.

Teachers communicate with many people throughout the day: parents, children, support staff, general public, and administrators. Early childhood teachers must be prepared to communicate with all these people. You must feel comfortable opening, ask questions, seek advice and share your experiences.

Paperwork, lesson planning, preparing materials and environment, and negotiation requires teachers to have strong leadership skills. Managing a classroom requires organizational skills, attention to detail and commitment. There are many balls in the air, and it is your job to keep them up and move!

Teaching is full of many responsibilities, roles and challenges. Like most worthwhile endeavors, brings both challenges and rewards. Be flexible and you will easily enjoy the rewards of teaching young children.

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