Anyone with any preschool experience that has any suggestions for getting the children to actually stay in centers instead of dragging everything all over the room? I kid you not, I even had to deal with throwing today...I peek in the other classrooms and all it's all "Butterfly room" and I am "Caterpillar room" I think my toys plot escaping at night...they are 3 year olds in a preschool program. We do two circle times and we have an art project and we usually do one other project where we sit down and work at our desks, but otherwise we have free play and we call the different areas "centers"
Having a tough time getting kids to stay in the center and also any advice on getting them to participate more in clean up? We sing the song ( they like to sing the song even) but getting them to help even when I point out ...so and so is being a good helper, I like the way Susie is helping pick up etc...and I have tried lets see who can pick up toys fastest....to no avail....I really dislike resorting to bribery ( candy)
Suggestions? Thanks!
***it is an actual Preschool, not sure if it is State run or not, it is owned by a church. I have my own classroom, I do not have a co-teacher, I usually have 10 or 11 three year olds. I know from evaluations that they need help with basics so we have been focusing on color recognition, letter recognition, shape recognition and also writing ( Tracing) I adore it, but I am sad because I feel my class is more chaotic than the other classes. I know part of it is I lack the experience that my fellow teachers have and really want advice on how to make my classroom run smoothly. I love children, I enjoy helping them learn and discover new things, lately I have felt like maybe it is me and I am just not that good at it. I mean...I know some people might think it is an easy job, and some days I do feel like...this is awesome, I get Paid to play! But their is also a very real responsibility and I do not want to let the little ones down.
In my home no one eats until the house is picked backup. Sometimes I will hide ten buttons in messy areas and we clean up to find the buttons. If they find the button and the area isn't clean they don't get credit for finding the botton. Sometimes I set the egg timer and they have to beat the clock.
Hope this helps.
I ask my preschool kids "who can be my helper and pick up the blocks?" "Oh, that's great Natalie! Now who can pick up the dolls?" They seem to respond well to one task at a time and being a "helper". Also, making sure that you have something fun for them to do afterward helps. "After we get it all pretty and clean, we can go do our craft!" Or snack or whatever you have planned.
I know it's tough and embarrassing, but ASK the other teachers what they do/don't do. They'll feel really awesome that you came to THEM for help, and YOU'LL feel better because you'll have some good, concrete suggestions that come from people who are dealing with the same kids. (I mean "same kids" as kids at the same place from the same type of background. Granted, the background thing is an assumption of mine based on the fact that you said it is owned by a church.)
Make a chart for each kid and give every one of them a sticker for doing things they're supposed to without having to be told more than once. Cut back on the play stations and rotate the things so one week have 4 centers to play at, the next week a few different ones etc. Make sure the ones not being played with are completely put away so they can't see them and get distracted. Follow a schedule and stick to it. For ex in a 2 1/2 hour preschool sched, they should have 30 min outdoor play, 15 m snacktime, 15 min story circle time, 30 min craft time and one hour free play (or similar type of sched). Be firm but super friendly. Nice but not wishy washy ever.
Less toys, The car center has only a few cars,(if you expect three kids= no more than 5 cars. the kitchen center, again if you expect four kids, they need a few dishes and one or two dolls, puzzle center 2 or 3 puzzles, they can be different every day.
Less centers. For example Put away block center until kids learn to play well and put away toys.
I don't know what church you work at, but according to state law you have to have two teachers in a room of 10-11 three year olds. It doesn't matter if your preschool is state run or not. It is a childcare facility and according to MO state law you have to have a certain child/teacher ratio. I teach at a church preschool and we get in trouble with the state inspector for not having two teachers in a room at all times (according to the state we have to take half of the kids to the bathroom with us if one of us has to go, lol). We have babies thru 5 year olds. I don't know how long your preschool has been running, but most of your troubles would go away if you had a co-teacher. I don't know what the other ratios are in your school with teacher to children number, but you are SUPPOSED to have another teacher with you with that many kids. 10 kids doesn't seem like a lot, but ten 3yr olds or almost three year olds or even almost 4 year olds is a lot for one person. I would either contact the county you work in and see if they know there is a preschool open in this church and if so if they've inspected it recently to see child/teacher ratios (this can be done annonymously). It is not fair to you or the kids. Good luck and God Bless.
Are you doing this out of your home or in a state run place? Maybe your centers are too hard for them and they can't do the activities on their own? Do you have any help? Are you doing reading and writing? I would align your curriculum with the state standards for your age group, it will help you focus your day and give you ideas for learning themes, book ideas, etc. And, I would continue avoiding bribing them candy. As a parent I would be upset to find out that my 3 y/o was given candy b/c she picked up after herself...just sayin'!
i don't know if this helps, but in my son's class, they go outside in the afternoons (after rest time). when they get inside, they all line up on the floor until everyone has come in and gotten their drink from the water fountain, and the quietest one gets to pick their toy first. the teacher goes through the line picking the quietest one until everyone has picked a toy station to play with. then when the parents get there, if their child is the only one playing with it, that child picks it up before they leave - that's the rule. if another child is still playing with it, they don't have to pick it up, or maybe they have to pick up 5 things, or etc. whatever is fair. it works great for them. good luck. part of me wishes i could try early child care as a career, but part of me is terrified lol.
