abc
eating snacks
making crafts
mozart
preschool
singing songs
teaching math
twinkle twinkle
washing hands
I worked in a preschool for several years
@GardenGerty (160713)
United States
November 3, 2007 8:56pm CST
and I loved it. I came to realize that a preschool teacher is a special breed of person. Giving a nod to Jeff Foxworthy's redneck jokes, I realized that you might be a preschool teacher if... you sing a song for everything you do, if every song you know has the same tune, and it sounds like Twinkle, Twinkle, or the ABC song (aka Mozart's variation on a theme). You might be a preschool teacher if . . .you tie every bow in a double knot (dangerous if you wear drawstring pants, and get in a hurry for the bathroom), if . . .you save every empty toilet paper roll, baby food jar, plastic lid, etc. because you can use them for crafts, or teach math properties, or to make a gift. You might be a preschool teacher if you carry wet handy wipes, and hand sanitizer in your purse, car, backpack, and your motto is wash your hands and now lets eat. Would you care to add to my list? Is there something that completely characterizes your job, that you can sum up this way? Have fun with this discussion.
4 responses
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
4 Nov 07
It takes a special person indeed to teach preschool. Fourth grade is about the youngest level I can abide, but I know what you mean. Teachers at all levels develop the habit of collecting strange stuff, and probably most of us keep the habit long after retirement. I still wear scrubs everywhere because that is the only kind of women's clothing that has enough pockets to carry all that stuff. Even teaching at the university, I had to carry a pocketful of tissues around as first aid for students with teary eyes, snotty noses, and leaking pens. Fun? Hmmmmmmmmm.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
4 Nov 07
I work well up to third, after that, I am glad someone else loves them. It gets too emotional, too picked on, too stuck up. At least around here. I have lots of strange stuff. I tell people that is how I insulate my attic.
@mtporcelli (7)
• United States
4 Nov 07
What you are saying is so true. I am an aide in a special ed pre-school, but the same things apply. I find myself at home with my boys, ages 5 and 8, singing everything to them. When they don't listen to me, how I start to count and threaten with a time out. As far as collecting things, I can't do the laundry without looking at the detergent lid thinking I have to save it to bring in class for the sand table or collect all of the trinkets around our house that we don't use to use as rewards for the children in class. Its funny how it becomes a part of you at home as well as at work but I wouldn't trade either for anything.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
30 Nov 07
My preschool combined special needs and at risk kids. Those detergent lids can have a little play dough stuck in them and a bouquet put in, add a handle and have a May Day basket, or Mother's Day token.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
5 Nov 07
I could relate to a lot of this. I taught mostly year 6 & 7, but occasionally I taught the younger year levels, including in my later years, year 2 children..
I didn't know that some year children couldn't rule a margin??
I didn't know I had to celebrate every birthday?
I didn't completely get over saving things for teachers. When my daughter in year 9 mentioned that her art teacher needed more black plastic meat trays, to use as paint containers, I started collecting them. Week after week my daughter had to take a pile of plastic trays in for her teacher, until she said " I think the teacher has enough now".
She was the only student to bring these items in to help out the teacher.
@raydene (9871)
• United States
4 Nov 07
Honey my creative mind has taken a vacation so I really can not think of anything.
Your discussion is very cute .
I really enjoyed reading it.
Took me back to the times when mine were little.
I could add one thing
You know you are a mom of little ones when you carry a coffee can with lid for car sickness emergencies while going almost anywhere!
xooxxoxo
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
4 Nov 07
I need to pass that along to my daughter. Her little one seems to get car sick on long trips. Thanks for the tips.
