Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for Preschool Teacher
A Preschool Teacher is a professional who assists and leads indoor and outdoor recreational and educational activities. They interact with children to support their development and learning and help maintain a clean and safe classroom environment. In this blog post we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Preschool Teachers.
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Main Responsibilities of Preschool Teacher
The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Preschool Teacher:
Adapt
Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
Adhere to
Adhere to the policies and procedures in the Policies & Procedures Handbook.
Administer
Administer tests to help determine children's developmental levels, needs, and potential.
Apply
Apply first aid protocol and treatment, as required.
Arrange
Arrange a classroom environment in accordance to program goal and philosophy.
Arrange indoor and outdoor space to facilitate creative play, motor-skill activities, and safety.
Ask
Ask open-ended questions and listen respectfully to the answers.
Assess
Assess each child's developmental needs on an ongoing basis.
Assist in / Assist with
Assist and coordinates snacks, meals, naptime, and bathroom activities.
Assist children with hand washing and tooth brushing.
Assist children with meals in keeping with Family Style Serving Childcare Food Program requirements.
Assist in maintaining a variety of records.
Assist (model for them) children in cleaning their play areas.
Assist with maintaining artboards in the boot room, using student's artwork.
Assist with outdoor activities.
Assist with the creation and circulation of monthly newsletters and calendars.
Assume
Assume a professional working relationship between children, staff, parents, and management.
Attend
Attend all required staff meetings, workshops and / or school functions.
Attend all staff training sessions, meetings and programs sponsored by the Center, as required.
Attend in-service and staff meetings.
Attend staff meetings and serve on committees as required.
Attend staff meetings to discuss children's progress and challenges.
Attend to children's basic needs.
Balance
Balance between a creative mind and a practical acumen.
Clean
Clean and safe home environment.
Collaborate with
Collaborate with other educators.
Collaborate with other teachers to develop age-appropriate curriculum.
Collaborate with teaching Directors to include them in teacher-child ratio.
Communicate with
Communicate directly with parents and prospective parents to achieve success for the child.
Communicate regularly with parents, regarding each child's progress.
Communicate with parents daily through the reports and monthly newsletters.
Communicate with parents regarding their child's progress and classroom activities.
Complete
Complete 24 hours of professional development per program year.
Complete assessments and portfolios.
Complete weekly lesson plans, goals, and monthly newsletters.
Conduct
Conduct quarterly developmental assessments portfolios and Parent Conferences.
Contribute to
Contribute ideas to weekly curriculum.
Coordinate
Coordinate and supervise any designated duties of parents assisting in Preschool.
Create
Create a monthly calendar with activities to be put out the last week of the month.
Create a safe and nurturing environment for children.
Create a safe, nurturing environment where children can play and learn.
Determine
Determine the student count and distributes meals / snacks in each classroom accordingly.
Develop
Develop and implement curriculum.
Develop and teach / facilitate an engaging program for young children ages 3-6.
Develop a positive relationship with parents and communicate with them daily.
Develop a warm, positive, nurturing relationship with each child.
Develop collaborative and cooperative relationships with families and staff.
Develop enjoyment, appreciation, and interest in music, books and the environment.
Document
Document and share with parents the important milestones in a child's day.
Document baselines, ongoing assessments in Galileo according to agency benchmarks.
Document child's interests and integrates these concepts into the curriculum.
Document student developments and progress to share with parents.
Encourage
Encourage and model social behavior and expectations which are developmentally appropriate.
Encourage assistants to contribute to curriculum planning.
Endeavor
Endeavor to teach children social skills and respect for their peers and adults.
Enforce
Enforce all administration policies and rules governing students.
Engage
Engage and encourage students to use their language skills.
Enjoy
Enjoy being outside every day, rain or shine.
Ensure
Ensure a healthy, safe and stimulating environment.
Ensure all children are accounted for and properly supervised.
Ensure children are safe and supervised.
Ensure children are supervised at all times.
Ensure confidentiality of sensitive information.
Ensure equipment and the facility is clean, well maintained and safe at all times.
Ensure other caregivers interact with children appropriately.
Ensure space and shared toys are clean, sanitized, and orderly.
Ensure that appropriate equipment is available for classes and events.
Ensure the children are eating healthy and nutritious snacks.
Ensure the safety & good health of the children attending the school.
Ensure up-to-date lesson plans using the school's software application (Brightwheel).
Enter
Enter new family information in all systems.
Establish
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order.
Establish and maintain a solid and professional working relationship with Lead Teacher.
Establish routines and provide positive guidance.
Follow
Follow all COVID-19 safety procedures and guidelines.
Follow allergy protocol and careful administration of foods during mealtimes.
Follow all safety procedures, indoors and outdoors.
Follow an age appropriate curriculum plan.
Follow and maintain Health Department regulations.
Follow children's care routines, such as feeding and diaper schedules.
Guide
Guide and assist children in the development of proper eating, dressing and toilet habits.
Guide children in self-motivated learning, helping stimulate their natural desire to learn.
Help
Help prepare lesson plans.
Help the children in your care feel safe, comfortable, and nurtured.
Help with meal and snack preparation, feeding children, modeling table manners at family style meals.
Help with meal serving and cleanup.
Implement
Implement a Christian education program including daily devotionals, bible stories, and prayer.
Implement daily curriculum and activities.
Implement KCE's curriculum in a way that is consistent with the unique needs of each child.
Incorporate
Incorporate lessons through song, and provide learning through play.
Inspect
Inspect and replace damaged or lost materials.
Keep
Keep all appropriate records such as records, attendance, and medication administration.
Keep all children under direct supervision at all times.
Keep children within sight and sound supervision at all times.
Keep track of all physical and immunization upkeep.
Keep welcome packets stocked.
Lead
Lead, coach and mentor less experienced teachers in your classroom.
Liaise with
Liaise with assistant, parents, licensing, other teachers and board.
Maintain
Maintain accurate records as required by law, licensing, and by the philosophy of the school.
Maintain a clean and tidy classroom consistent with health and safety standardsTOKK.
Maintain a clean police background check (verified every 3 years by ADE).
Maintain an interactive environment, such as reading and playing with the children.
Maintain appropriate child / adult ratio.
Maintain a professional and friendly relationship with parents and families.
Maintain a professional personal appearance, attitude, and work behavior at all times.
Maintain a safe and healthy environment in accordance to the Alberta's Health and Safety Guide Lines.
Maintain a safe and healthy environment in accordance with health and safety policies.
Maintain a separate, complete current record for each child.
Maintain daily open communication with parents.
Maintain effective, proactive and positive parent communication.
Maintain records, documents and confidentiality.
Maintain safe and clean classrooms and building.
Maintain student learning process files.
Maintain the cleanliness and order of the classroom and centre.
Make
Make appropriate decisions and follows health and safety procedures for toddlers at all times.
Make sure classroom is clean and organized.
Make sure cleaning lists are being initialed and address it if not.
Manage
Manage groups of children in an organized, safe and well-planned fashion.
Meet
Meet all applicable licensing regulations as per Alberta's Child Care Licensing Regulations.
Meet and report regularly to the Preschool Director regarding program site and staff performance.
Meet regularly with the Preschool Director regarding professional progress and team accountability.
Meet regularly with the Program Manager regarding professional progress and team accountability.
Meet state-specific guidelines for the role.
Meet the daily needs of all children (i.e. feeding,diapering, toileting).
Meet the emotional, social, physical and cognitive needs of each child.
Meet the individual needs of the children.
Model
Model behaviors and provide feedback.
Model respect and positive behavior.
Monitor
Monitor students' playtime and physical activities.
Observe
Observe all rules and regulations pertaining to the health, safety, and care of children.
Observe and evaluate children's performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
Observe children and make notes of progress.
Oversee
Oversee all schedule changes made after the schedule has gone out.
Participate in
Participate in at least one bussing component daily.
Participate in evaluating and improving centre programming.
Participate in parent conferences under direction of lead teacher.
Participate in parent teacher conferences.
Participate in staff and training meetings.
Perform
Perform additional duties as assigned by management as per program needs.
Perform administrative duties such as hall and cafeteria monitoring, and bus loading and unloading.
Perform administrative duties, such as hall and cafeteria monitoring and bus loading and unloading.
Perform other related duties as requested by a Lead Teacher or Center Director.
Perform other related duties as required.
Perform our best every day.
Plan
Plan and implement age-appropriate programming.
Plan for the development of the whole child, and for modifications required for individual children.
Plan lessons that foster an environment of peace, rest, and growth for students.
Plan and facilitate age appropriate, meaningful, and relevant programming and activities.
Plan with a member of the Leadership Team the parent-teacher conferences and student evaluations.
Plan with the Director all required parent-teacher conferences and student evaluations.
Prepare
Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help.
Prepare and set-up materials for classroom activities of all interests.
Prepare classroom materials to support developmentally appropriate curriculum plans.
Prepare for lessons by gathering materials or setting up activities.
Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
Prepare monthly plan charts, newsletter and calendars.
Prepare reports on students and activities.
Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.
Prepare snacks and arrange rooms or furniture for lunch and rest periods.
Prepare weekly lessons in a timely manner.
Provide
Provide and implement an annual professional growth plan.
Provide a safe and healthy environment for students.
Provide a safe and secure environment for children to feel comfortable.
Provide a written teacher's report for monthly board meetings and attend meetings if requested.
Provide children with an educational, safe, and healthy learning environment.
Provide feedback and suggestions to lead teachers as needed.
Provide guidance to children as a positive role model.
Provide high quality, safe, fun, challenging and stimulating child care for preschoolers.
Provide medical attention whenever necessary.
Provide patience with a listening ear.
Provide personal care or support in personal care to participants enrolled in programs.
Purchase
Purchase miscellaneous craft and school supplies within an allowance set by the employer.
Read
Read books to an entire class or small groups.
Read stories and lead students through alphabet and letter recognition.
Record
Record and maintain all incident reports.
Remove
Remove trays and leftovers from classrooms and disposes left over food.
Report
Report any suspect abuse to the appropriate authorities and the LT / DOO.
Report to supervisor any accidents, incidents or injuries immediately.
Report to the Director issues relating to children, parents, staff, or the program.
Report to the owner / director of the program when issues arise.
Represent
Represent CCG to parents and co-workers in accordance to CCG SPIRIT standards.
Select
Select, store, order, issue, and inventory classroom equipment, materials, and supplies.
Serve
Serve meals and snacks in accordance with nutritional guidelines.
Spark
Spark imagination, build self-esteem and help children discover new things each day.
Supervise
Supervise assistants, aides and volunteers in the classroom.
Supervise, evaluate, and plan assignments for teacher assistants and volunteers.
Supervise nap and snack / meals to ensure children are safe at all times.
Supervise and manage daily functions for a class of children.
Supervise, evaluate, and plan assignments for teacher assistants and volunteers.
Supervise, observe no more than 12 children in attendance and may not exceed licensed capacity.
Supervise students in class, between classes, during lunch, and play periods.
Support
Support children in taking safe physical and emotional risks.
Support children's learning outcomes in the context of a coherent nursery-wide curriculum.
Support the lead teacher with daily lessons, such as large group, small group, and songs.
Take
Take necessary and reasonable precautions to protect children, equipment, materials, and facilities.
Teach
Teach proper eating habits and personal hygiene.
Track
Track children's progress and report to parents.
Understand
Understand and comply with the franchisee's employment policies.
Understand and support the education program using "learning through play” philosophy.
Uphold
Uphold & support company policies, licensing and accreditation standards.
Use
Use age, developmental, and culturally appropriate curriculum / lesson plans and activities.
Use 'Flock' software for team and staff communication.
Work with
Work hours are based on the needs of the school and number of students enrolled.
Work with children ages 3-5.
Work with experienced RECE team.
Work with individual students or small groups of students to reinforce learning of materials.
Work with the Lead Teacher and the board to adhere to the Covid Response Plan.
Most In-demand Hard Skills
The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Preschool Teacher:
First Aid
Teaching
Child Development
Early Childhood
Computer
TB Test
CDA
Childcare Setting
Children Who Have Special Needs
Preschool
Child Safety
Lift Up To 35 Lbs
Most In-demand Soft Skills
The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Preschool Teacher:
Written and oral communication skills
Organizational capacity
Friendly
Team player
Clear and consistent communication
Discreet
Trustworthy
Interpersonal skills
Potential emergency situations
Dependable
Energetic
Flexible
Positive attitude
Punctual
Bilingualism
Cool-tempered
Mature
Reliable
Warm
Instructional
Leadership
Patience for children
Verbal and written english
Love
Multi-task
Respect every child
Work well with others
Curious
Work with young children and their families
