What Teaching preschool in Cameroon is really like. Tips for aspiring teachers.

 

Before I started teaching Preschool or better yet Nursery school, I use to think It was all about singing and dancing with kids, teaching them ABCD to Z,  making sure they eat their food during break, and ofcourse giving them assignments in their textbooks to do at home..

However preschool is so much more than that and I realised it when I got into the job.

Now before I got my job as a preschool teacher, my last employment was a secondary school teacher but the pay was not encouraging so when I got the opportunity to get paid higher, with good conditions, I took it and so that's how I turned to a preschool teacher.

Look there is fufilment and so much happiness you feel teaching kids. Like their contagious big smiles, their huge curiosity, their naughty attitudes, their loud screams, their admiration for you and so much more..

frankly speaking, all these things I've mentioned above gives me the strength to continue the job no matter how stressful it quickly gets because as I came to understand, Preschool is Not Play school for teachers.

HERE IS WHAT YOU'LL DO EVERYDAY.

Setting Friday evaluation, preparing textbooks for homework.

1) You are responsible for all the children.

As a preschool teacher, you are responsible for each and every child  and what they come with to class.

 their bags, water bottles, food dishes, spoons, etc I mean all the utensils that comes along with the child in your class.

 And If They need to pee, poo, sleep, eat, drink water, etc You assist them. You take them to the toilet, you make sure they don't fight, get injured in anyway. In addition, you make sure they go back home with all their bottles and feeding utensils.

2) Your Classroom is your responsibility

Your Classroom is your office and you are responsible for making it look clean and kids friendly. For example,Cleaning your classroom at the end of the day after all the kids have gone back home, Creating decorations for your class with fun and educative items made from Cardboard papers.

3)You need to know how to draw or atleast Learn how to.

Drawing is an everyday thing in preschool teaching. there is no way you teach 3-5yrs old without drawing. Kids understand by seeing and drawing is the only way they can understand what you say. So Drawing on the blackboard, Using flashcards, painting, etc is a must. Even if you don't know how to draw you'll have to learn (just like I did).

4) You're in charge of save keeping all their school materials.

 You will be in charge of Save-keeping and organizing all kids textbooks. Their coloring, painting, drawing, home work, evaluation books. Since these books are used constantly, you'll have to organize them and keep them in the school office or library 

where you can easily get access to them at will.

5) Writing lesson notes

As a preschool teacher, you'll need to prepare lesson notes weekly to pass to your head teacher who will go through it to see if its well written and also to be aware of what you'll be teaching the kids.

 Conclusion.

Although there is always so much to do as a preschool class teacher, you also gain tons of Artistic and creative skills which I love coupled with the fact that the kids show you genuine love.