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Preschool / Childcare Teacher

Quick Facts

Median Salary$37,018
Most Common EducationHigh school or GED
Projected 10-Year Growth+19.57%
Assessment MatchTake the Assessment

What They Do

A Preschool or Childcare Teacher works with young children, usually ages 3 - 5, to help them learn the social, motor and language skills needed to be ready for kindergarten and elementary school. Organizes activities and uses play or games to help children learn; develops schedules and routines for children that include exercise and rest. Works in a school or in a childcare center or program.


Core Tasks:

  • Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.
  • Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.
  • Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order.
  • Serve meals and snacks in accordance with nutritional guidelines.
  • Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
  • Attend to children's basic needs by feeding them, dressing them, and changing their diapers.
  • Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and needs, determine their priorities for their children, and suggest ways that they can promote learning and development.
  • Organize and lead activities designed to promote physical, mental, and social development, such as games, arts and crafts, music, storytelling, and field trips.
  • Observe and evaluate children's performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
  • Identify children showing signs of emotional, developmental, or health-related problems and discuss them with supervisors, parents or guardians, and child development specialists.
  • Assimilate arriving children to the school environment by greeting them, helping them remove outerwear, and selecting activities of interest to them.
  • Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
  • Read books to entire classes or to small groups.
  • Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
  • Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to children.
  • Teach proper eating habits and personal hygiene.
  • Demonstrate activities to children.
  • Arrange indoor and outdoor space to facilitate creative play, motor-skill activities, and safety.
  • Enforce all administration policies and rules governing students.
  • Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
  • Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help.
  • Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence.
  • Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula.
  • Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.
  • Organize and label materials and display students' work in a manner appropriate for their ages and perceptual skills.
  • Collaborate with other teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of preschool programs.
  • Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guests, or other experiential activities and guide students in learning from those activities.
  • Meet with other professionals to discuss individual students' needs and progress.
  • Supervise, evaluate, and plan assignments for teacher assistants and volunteers.
  • Select, store, order, issue, and inventory classroom equipment, materials, and supplies.
  • Administer tests to help determine children's developmental levels, needs, and potential.
  • Attend staff meetings and serve on committees as required.

What to expect as a Preschool / Childcare Teacher

1Earn a High school or GED Diploma

33% of people achieve this level of education.

2Gain skills and experience

See Preschool / Childcare Teacher related courses on Tallo

3Land a job

15830 openings for Preschool / Childcare Teachers

Career Progression

in United States (Nation)

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