Issue with Pre-school Teacher and Child Behavior

When I was looking for pre-schools for my daughter...... I chose the one where the teacher was rolling around on the floor with the kids or covered in paint.

I look for a teacher to be involved. I look for them to emulate what I want my daughter to think a "good example of.....(whatever)" is.

Having said that.... preschool is the new kindergarten, which used to be just about getting ready to follow a routine. So, maybe that is this teachers's focus...... herding cats, as they say. sometimes all the cats fall in line.

I didn't really see anything of concern. As far as the stern voice, you kind of have to have a stern voice when you are trying to get a bunch of preschool kids to do something. She would not gain cooperation of the students if she asked in a way that the kids didn't really think she meant what she was saying.

As for the going potty, she had already told everyone to go. Having one child that didn't go then and then minutes later needed to go, was frustrating for her because now the entire class is held up waiting for this one child who should have gone when he was told to go. Can you imagine the chaos if one child every few minutes had to go potty? She was trying to keep things orderly.

As far as the Star and the kids in the circle, you can't expect preschoolers to sit and listen attentively. The exercise wasn't about that, it was about getting the students accustomed to public speaking so to speak. It didn't matter that the others weren't listening and there was a point to the exercise.

She takes your daughter from you and does not play into the tears because that would not be beneficial for your daughter. It is much better that you give a quick kiss, hug and be gone. Sitting around trying to pamper your child is not doing anyone any good and she knows that after you leave things will be fine so why prolong the tears?

Finally, the being nice part. As you said, this is something the kids say all the time. It is something neighborhood friends say to each other all the time. Answering a yes or no question with a yes or no is appropriate. Sorry if you don't like the response, but it is what it is and it's not being mean to answer a yes or no question with a yes or no. She can't tell the kids that they have to be friends with a specific child. She can tell them that they have to treat the student with respect, but she can't tell them that they have to be friends.

So, again, I see nothing to worry about. If you want a more coddling environment for your LO you should look into a home daycare.

So, she isn't exactly cheerful and kid-friendly, not everyone has that happy, child-like quality. Otherwise, does she do a good job? Is your daughter learning or having fun with her friends? Is she clean and safe? Those are the issues to really be concerned about. If the cheerfulness bothers you, then find another place. It really is great to have a preschool teacher to be more engaging.

I understand where the teacher is coming from, this works for her. But I would rethink my choice of preschool and look for another. You really want a kid-friendly teacher.

1. Best way to deal with drop-offs, though her wording and empathy could be changed.
2. Not sure what her goal of circle time is, ask her. She sounds distracted and like she doesn't care.
3. Not sure what you expected, she was giving them directions...on a field trip there's a certain amount of responsibility to keep the children well-behaved and controlled, directness works best.
4. They can choose to some point when to go potty, had they just gone? (My guy is three and can go when instructed to and hold it a bit if he has to.) But she shouldn't have made a face.
5. Six of one, half dozen of another, you parents were there and she could justify her lack of involvement by allowing you to be involved.
6. Kids are kids, and while she could comment that "We are all friends" parents should be reinforcing this at home. Pre-school kids are finding out what friends are at this point, this is a learning time for them in everything. If they're playing with each other they're friends.

You're not happy, seek out a new preschool.

This program doesn't sound like it's a good fit for your daughter or for you. I would look for another program that better meets your needs. This is your daughter's first exposure to "school" so it's important that she loves it! Throughout her school years there will be teachers that she loves and others that she won't but at this early age, you have control over who that teacher should be. Good luck!

Based on what you are saying it doesn't sound a very good program. Was this the best of all the schools you had to choose from? Maybe you need to go back and look at some other places again. I based my preschool choice almost solely on the friendliness and cheer of the director, staff and children. Preschool is supposed to be fun, and the teachers should be engaging and joyful most of the time.

I have a 4.5 year old daughter that I put in a 'pre' pre-school program through our park district at age 3-4 to get her used to being in a preschool environment. This program was once a week for 1 hour. She hated it! The teacher had a personality similar to what you described, so I pulled my daughter out of it. We did various other park district programs, music classes, dance etc. shorter classes & she still got the interaction with kids doing something fun. At 4 years of age, I enrolled her in a Catholic pre-school. LOVED the curriculum, the teacher was horrible. My daughter cried & cried that she didn't want to go, so I pulled her out. I enrolled her in another pre-school, non-denominational, and she is doing FANTASTIC! The teachers are ALL very kid friendly, she loves, loves to go. So... if it were me, I'd try some short/fun classes with your daughter until she gets a little older. 3 is pretty young for a preschool setting. Go with your gut! If you don't like the teacher & your child isn't wanting to go, then she shouldn't. Let her have FUN & be 3. Find a place your child LOVES to go too with people that care!

It just sounds like you're looking for something different in a preschool teacher. Not all teachers are alike, nor should they be!

I would look for another program. It doesn't sound like the teacher is bad, she is just dry.

My daughter's ballet teacher is very dry. But my daughter is learning a lot from her. Since my daughter is older I have told her that she needs to just get along and learn what she can from each teacher. I know your daughter is young so she may need someone to engage her more. But ultimately it's a good lesson in learning to get along with all kinds of personalities since there will be all kinds of different people in your child's life.