One of the frustrations that pop up with the transition to online learning is the inevitable increase in screen time that works for students of all ages. When it comes to preschool educators, the concern gets compounded with guidance for three/four years. As one veteran preschool teacher, we are going to share with you some of the goods of enlisting your kids to the online preschool classes.
Preschool teachers should lean in with empathy.
Educators need to be kind to themselves. No early childhood teacher got trained to teach in preschools before. Online preschools don’t get listed as a pre-service course. But, childhood educators are experts at understanding your kid’s behavior and creating an appropriate learning environment. You’ve got more tools in your box than you think. Teachers should be kind to the families too. Parents of kids have been going through a mixed emotion and stressful adjustment like you. Family routines get disrupted. It might be somewhat difficult for a parent to send kids for an online class for kids, especially when they go to work.
Preschool teachers should focus their mindset on growth.
It is worthwhile to try different approaches. Don’t be afraid to have a floppy speech. Keep in mind that each experiment furnishes more information that confirms the design of the next lesson. It doesn’t harm to keep experimenting with things all the time, and it’s more like a regular classroom. What worked for a particular group of kids might not work for others.
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Preschool teachers should keep short activities.
When you leave them in online preschool classes, a kid might sit in a circle or a whole group for about ten minutes. But, the same activity might not hold attention when left in a conferencing setting. For instance, a kid might not sit for over five minutes in a conference room like Zoom or Google classroom. So, teachers should think about breaking a lesson into small fragments with lots of movement embedded.
Preschool teachers should display books on the direct screen rather than reading them aloud.
Experience taught us that preschoolers prefer viewing pictures displayed in a book on the screen. It’s better than viewing the teacher in an online class for kids to hold a book and read aloud. It’s much like the difference between having a group read aloud to have kids clamor the pictures versus having a kid on your lap.
Keep kids moving.
Switch between passive and active movements to keep kids engaged. You can create a group activity like a fast scavenger hunt. Regroup kids online to know what they learned.
Self-care is a must.
Teaching a preschool kid virtually is a different thing. Covid-19 cases seem to increase with time, so does our stress level. You ought to glance at yourself and give a mental, physical recess. Teachers at an online class for kids should set aside time for meaningful contact with kids or get some time alone.
