A preschool teacher is a person who educates young children from ages 2 to 4, though some infant and toddler littles are now starting their development even earlier. Deciding to become a preschool teacher is an excellent choice because there are many different ways you can work as one, including in child care programs, after-school centers, and as a private contractor for one family or group. In this article guide, Resume Now’s certified experts give you tips to create your best resume and land yourself a cool preschool job.
Let’s begin by having a look at the three standard resume formats.
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Job Duties of Preschool Teachers
Preschool teachers are responsible for managing, organizing, and facilitating preschool activities for children in group settings and individually. Beyond their work with children, other primary duties are always communicating with parents and coworkers, planning out lessons, and ensuring that all medical, physical, mental and economic resources are available.
Their most common duties include:
Helping children learn many different early childhood subjects through playful activities and develop better coordination and new motor skills.
Teaching appropriate social behaviors such as personal dental hygiene and potty training. Enabling children to use words, colors, shapes and toys to recognize and share their feelings.
Imparting necessary language, logic and reasoning skill development through numbers, letter recognition, trial and error games, and open-ended challenges and materials.
Planning creative activities and demonstrating them to children, especially preschool children who need to develop the ability to discern between concrete and abstract concepts.
Reporting children’s progress to parents and administration.
Identifying various developmental and health-related problems such as nutrition issues and undernourishment.
Advocating for proper safety tools and safe behavior around the premises.
Preschool Teacher Median Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a preschool teacher’s median salary across all states is $30,520 a year. Career growth in this industry depends on people’s certifications and experience.
Top Skills for a Preschool Teacher
Preschool teachers should have a ton of applicable hard skills, like lesson planning and soft skills, such as compassion, to get a preschool teacher job. Ensure you read the job description to ensure you possess the job’s required skills meticulously.
We’ve listed the top skills you need for this job below. They are:
- Organization: Preschool teachers are responsible for planning lessons and keeping the records of all children. Like in other professions, good organizational abilities allow preschool teachers to be productive, make quick decisions, set goals, think creatively, and collaborate efficiently.
- Clear oral and written communication: You can’t impart knowledge adequately if people, especially children, can’t understand you. This is an especially important skill because its execution is quite broad: You need to communicate differently and precisely to children, their parents and your colleagues.
- Emotional intelligence: Because a preschool teacher is a critical link between children, parents and coworkers, understanding the child’s emotional needs, and developing healthy relationships is essential.
- Artistry: Children at the preschool level need extra special attention to stay engaged. The teacher should have the ability to develop innovative techniques through fun activities to make the learning exciting.
- Emergency prep: Children are often careless and ignorant of their surroundings and the resources available to them. Sometimes, if people aren’t watching and providing proper guidance, they may even get into life-threatening situations. So it’s necessary to know emergency procedures like CPR and provide First Aid when the situation demands it.
Educational Requirements for Preschool Teacher Jobs
Degree
According to Teacher.org, 61% of preschool teachers in the U.S. have an associate degree or higher. A candidate with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood development is usually most sought after. However, one can definitely start a career with a certificate in early childhood development at a high school diploma level.Certifications
The Council for Professional Recognition provides potential preschool teachers with a Child Development Associate (CDA) certification through its national credentialing program. This certification is the most common and essential requirement in several states for preschool teacher jobs, including California. The certificate is available in four categories: Preschool, infant-toddler, family child care, and home visitor. The certificate;s validity lasts initially for three years, and you can renew it in five-year increments. Costs for certification runs between $425 and $500 depending on whether you do it through the web or U.S. mail. Renewal costs run around $125-$150. About 20,000 early childhood workers receive this certification every year.
You can also become a Certified Childcare Professional (CCP) by enrolling in a course conducted by the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA). It is meant primarily for preschool teacher candidates that do not have a bachelor’s degree. The certification is recognized across most states and is valid for two years, and then it needs to be recertified every two years. The cost to earn a CCP accreditation is about $350.
Certifications in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid from the American Red Cross also give your resume greater credibility for the job’s safety and health. Both credentials are valid for two years at a time and are renewed easily. Cost is fairly affordable at around $30 per certificate.
Preschool Teacher Resume-Writing Tips
There are many different ways you can write your resume, as long as you properly define your skill and work sections depending on your experience. To successfully land your desired interview as a preschool teacher, we recommend that you follow these tips:
- Begin with a quality professional summary or an objective statement. Summaries or objective statements are the first things that a recruiter or school administrator will read about you at the top of the resume. Hence, you need to work hard at writing exactly how the school and its children will benefit from your hiring. If you’re a recent graduate with a child education background, focus on your skills related to the job. If you’re an experienced candidate, use a summary that briefly cites your previous work experiences and how you made an impact.
- Optimize your resume through keywords. Any skills mentioned in a preschool teacher resume need to incorporate specific words that match job requirements. “Child development,” “critical thinking,” “interactive exercises,” and “guided reading" all make it relevant. Incorporating keywords in your resume will also help it clear the applicant tracking system (ATS) screening process that most school districts use nowadays.
- Differentiate between soft and hard skills. Schools want their teachers to have a broad set of skills that can benefit their students. Preschool teachers reinforce their soft skills such as cultural competency and kindness through examples in both the skill section and the resume’s experience section. For example, volunteering at local preschools during college shows that you have an emotional commitment to developing young hearts and minds.
- Add data measurables in past accomplishments. While mentioning your previous experiences and achievements adds relevancy to your resume, showing actual, measurable results adds credibility. For example, in the case of an experienced professional, describe the data analysis you used to improve children’s cognitive or critical thinking abilities.
FAQ
What do you call a preschool teacher?
Preschool teachers use playful activities to teach children less than five years of age and play a crucial role in their growth and development. They educate using child’s playtime to develop their language and vocabulary and use innovative methods to develop appropriate learning plans. The job is ideal for anyone who likes to spend time with kids and participate in their growth.
What are all the steps you have to follow to become a preschool teacher?
Most preschool teachers in the U.S. have an associate degree or higher. Though it is not mandatory, individual institutions might insist on having a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or related fields. People with a degree in a different but related field should have previous experience teaching small children.
Is a preschool teacher a promising career in the long run?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a preschool teacher employment increase of 2% between 2019 and 2029. Though the projected growth seems small, the demand for well-skilled and certified preschool teachers is still very healthy. Combining a good salary with a passion for this type of work usually leads to happy and fulfilling careers.