The Top Traits of an Exceptional Pre-K Teacher
As a parent, you want to know your child is in good hands. That’s why we at MECK Pre-K are committed to hiring qualified teachers and assistant teachers in all of our schools. Learn more about what to expect from your child’s pre-K teacher and assistant teacher before the school year begins.
Basic Requirements
MECK Pre-K teachers are qualified educators ready to meet the demands of early childhood education. In particular, our pre-K teacher requirements are as follows.
- MECK Pre-K teachers must have a minimum of an Associate’s degree in early childhood, child development, or related field and have a BK (birth through kindergarten) license or be continuously working toward a Bachelor’s degree in early childhood and BK license.
- MECK Pre-K assistant teachers must have or be working towards a minimum of an associate’s degree in early childhood education or child development. At least 9 hours of early childhood coursework must be completed before beginning the role of assistant teacher.Our teachers and assistant teachers uphold state education standards tailored to child development.
Personal Traits
Teachers and assistant teachers bring much more to their jobs than official qualifications. Relating to children on a personal level is also part and parcel of quality education at all ages. Here are a few of the core qualities our talented teachers possess for your child’s growth and well-being.
- Patience. As any parent can tell you, patience is a virtue! Kids require close observation and an even keel. Our teachers and assistant teachers have specialized training in dealing with all types of situations and issues. This allows them to stay calm and collected regardless of the day’s activities.
- Empathy. Pre-K children are new to the world of emotions and self-expression. That’s why it’s important our teachers help students identify their own feelings in group situations. Educators provide valuable emotional guidance to young children as they acclimate to social activities.
- Organization. Keeping track of many students requires excellent classroom organization. Our educators also show children how to pick up after themselves, and lead by example.
- Educational focus. Even though kindergarten is still around the corner, our educators are already focused on getting their students ready. Teachers and assistant teachers are trained to recognize children with potential special needs and will provide parents with the proper resources to access the help their child may need.
- Enthusiasm. Young kids are sometimes shy about leaving home, but a friendly teacher can coax them out of their shell. Connecting with children emotionally keeps them curious about their environment and engaged in social activities.
- Collaboration. Many pre-kindergarteners are learning to share with other kids for the first time. Our staff show students how to get along in a collaborative classroom environment.
Development Areas
Curious what your child will learn? We’ve got a lot of good things in store. Here are a few of the main learning objectives for all our pre-K students.
- Social & Emotional Skills: Children are nurtured and guided to develop self-regulation, effective communication techniques, positive behaviors, and the ability to successfully form and sustain social relationships with adults and other children.
- Language and Literacy Abilities: Children will have daily opportunities for language and literacy development and enrichment through book readings, print-rich environments, letter and word recognition activities and games, and word play such as rhyming and identifying letter sounds.
- Mathematical and Scientific Thinking: Children build investigative and problem solving skills through daily hands-on exploration of real materials. They are encouraged to formulate problems, ask questions, research solutions, and report findings.
- Joy of Learning: Children develop a love of learning and confidence in themselves through activities such as music, art, use of engaging and age appropriate technology, drama and role playing, and vigorous outdoor play. These all enhance the curriculum and help children become able learners.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right pre-K program for your child is an important decision. We encourage you to learn more about our program, parent testimonials, other frequently asked questions, and look for participating MECK Pre-K locations.
Are you ready to enroll your child in pre-K? If so, we’d love to help! Check out our easy three-step process or reach out for more information. Funding is limited, so parents are encouraged to apply early. Thanks so much for your time, and we wish you a smooth enrollment process!