Preschoolers have a wide variety of learning styles.
Preschool directors are charged with the responsibility of identifying the individual learning styles of students, creating a safe environment, encouraging socialization and providing a stimulating environment for learning. Children often mature at different rates at the preschool age. Ideas for preschool directors should revolve around developing techniques of teaching preschool students that meet the changing and varying needs of all students in a classroom.
Hire Knowledgeable Teachers
Too often, preschool instruction is viewed as a "babysitting" job, when in reality, it is early childhood education, and therefore a very important part of a child's development. Look for teachers and aides who have experience in early childhood development, are knowledgeable in working with a wide range of personalities and skill levels and who have a genuine love of children.
Design Classrooms to be Child- and Teacher-Friendly
Ideas for preschool directors designing a classroom should take into consideration the age of the students who will be using the room(s), the subject or subjects being taught and the material to work with, such as desks, chairs, work tables and shelving. Consider room for learning center activities, for individual instruction and for group activities. Every classroom should have designated areas for storing supplies and personal items.
Create Routines
Daily routines in a classroom will help preschool-aged children understand what is expected from them throughout the day. This type of structured flow can help preschool directors and teachers provide different levels of attention to students in different categories.
Use a Variety of Instructional Materials
All students have individual preferred learning styles that work best for them, so presenting information in a variety of mediums (oral, written, hands-on) will help preschool-aged children develop flexible learning skills.
Develop Methods for Teaching Diverse Learners
Where possible, divide children into developmentally appropriate groups for small group instruction on core subjects. This will challenge students who are more advanced while providing individual attention to others in need. Continually evaluate the educational and social developmental of preschool children to help adapt the school's approach to teaching diverse learners.
Develop Learning Centers
Preschool learning centers provide a chance for students to work independently, in groups and under the supervision of a teacher. Learning center activities can help preschool-aged children understand skills such as following directions, respecting others and working as teams. Centers can be created to reflect the current instructional themes of a classroom or to correspond with the skill levels of different groups of children.
Use Music and Dance
Encourage movement, verbalization and rhythm by introducing upbeat, easy-to-follow songs and forms of musical story-telling that feature lively characters and simple story lines. Introduce simple musical instruments such as wooden rhythm sticks, hand bells and maracas to encourage musical discovery.
Involve Parents
Ask for parent volunteers to assist in regular and special preschool classroom activities. This approach will keep parents informed about daily routines, instructional approaches and leaning goals. It will also help free up teachers to provide more one-on-one attention to students who need it. Additionally, keep parents updated about various areas of study to be covered on a weekly basis and encourage a "pre-introduction" of topics at home.
Tags: help preschool-aged, help preschool-aged children, learning styles, preschool directors, preschool-aged children, attention students