Top 10 preschool teaching tips

Once graduating from a High School I realized how helpless I was when teaching children of pre-school age. They can’t read – so, textbooks are of no value to them, and reading aspect of teaching  can not be realized;  they can’t write, so, memorization via writing, spelling and grammar aspect are also out in this case. They often don’t make one activity for more than five minutes, and sometimes plainly refuse your game (so hardly developed and prepared on the eve) and from time to time simply refuse to learn or to hear “your English”, cause the mood is different and they would better do something else.

As a teacher, I suffered from this all, as a mother teacher, I try to take it into account and make benefit from it.  

1) Make the information you want to hang down mysterious  and secret. For few weeks I could not interest my son in any of the French learning until one day, walking through the tree alley we saw a strange tree. This tree wants to tell you a secret, I said. What is the secret? – he asked, intrigued. It wants to tell you how to say in French “nice to meet you”, that is its secret. It would be “ENCHANTE [a~sha~te]“. Please, don’t tell this secret to anyone!

And you know what happens? He runs to another tree and says: “Hello, tree! Your brother told me a secret, it was “ENCHANTE”!

And what does it mean?, asks the new tree. – It means “nice to meet you”, was the answer. Well, says the tree, you should know, that I also have a secret… but don’t tell anyone!

In this way we learned about a dozen French words in the same manner. Moreover, whenever we come to these trees, I can ask -  do you remember, what secret this tree hides? – He remembered the game, but didn’t remember the words themselves at first. Though, he was very eager to hear them. Hope, they are all well-recorded in his memory now.

2) Give out presents – kids are lustful for a present as a conception, not as a precious thing. Let it be cardboard stars or acorns from the forest – I even tried chocolate candies with a group of grown-up students – it works!

3) Pretend to be someone or something  – when a child refuses to be taught by you – just become a hedgehog that can speak English only.

4) If it doesn’t work at the moment, it can still suit well in a proper time. Take your time and watch for a suitable moment.

5) Do not repeat yourself – the most horrible thing is to bore them – and be refused at the sacred circle of game and attention.

6) Do not verify or make any tests – just give knowledge, gratuitously and generously.  Otherwise you’ll be fired from the corporation of trusties.

7) Perform and play, don’t teach – many children don’t take for granted that you are older, you know better and you are to be listened. So, sometimes it’s they who like your game (and it must be interesting to merit attention), and sometimes it’s them who have brilliant ideas how to play and there’s nothing left for you than to accept the rules. And in those very moments be the most attentive – they show you by their game HOW they want to be taught, observe and take a good note.

8/ Where to get inspiration and fresh ideas? – Well, internet! It has plenty of resources and what you have to look for is not really ready-made worksheets – they are good for adults, but a flash that would turn your lesson into a feast! and no danger for author’s rights violation. Be the author. And always work on self-development! (to have a couple of ideas as a backup!)

“Now here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!” (Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass)

9) Move a lot! You would never be successful with kids without motion – activity songs, challenges picking ups from the ground or classmate’s back – for you to invent.

10) Make crafts. Draw what you learn, cut it out, decorate it, put eyes on it, and so so so on. Use all sorts of sticky, modeling, liquid, granular, natural substances. They are always in favor.

Good Luck!