Back-to-School: The Ultimate Challenge for Pre-K Teachers

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By: Jamie Carter
Updated: Aug. 10, 2020
Originally Published: Sep. 7, 2015

Teaching pre-kindergarten was a joy that I cherished throughout my career. I’ve taught various grades, but pre-k was the highlight. There were moments when I’d find myself pretending to be a frog during storytime or witnessing a child write their name for the first time, and I’d think, “How am I getting paid for this joy?” But the start of the school year? That’s an entirely different saga.

The first six weeks of pre-k are a whirlwind of chaos. Each year, I’d come home utterly exhausted, questioning my life choices and wondering why on earth I had decided to teach 4-year-olds. It was easy to forget the joy that comes later in the year, as I was convinced my principal had assigned me a class of tiny troublemakers just to test my limits.

“What’s so hard about it?” you might wonder. “Isn’t it just Play-Doh and crayons?” Oh, dear friend, if only it were that simple. Allow me to enlighten you:

1. The Age Factor
   Your little learners are technically 48 months old. While that sounds like just four years, trust me—it feels like an eternity. At this age, they’re still grasping fundamental social skills, like sharing blocks and refraining from inappropriate bathroom behaviors. It takes endless practice to master these skills.
2. Separation Anxiety
   For many, it’s their first substantial time away from home. Sure, they may have spent a night with Grandma, but leaving mom for an entire school day can be daunting. Meeting a new teacher and 20 classmates doesn’t help ease their fears, especially when mom keeps snapping photos instead of leaving.
3. Fight or Flight
   During the first month, I wore sneakers daily, ready to chase down what we dubbed “the runners.” Some kids would bolt unexpectedly, and I’d find myself in the middle of a story, only to glance up and see a child making a swift exit. I often feared I’d end up on the evening news as the teacher who lost a student while she was munching on her lunch.
4. Basic Skills Deficit
   These little ones don’t know how to do anything—like walking in a straight line or even forming one. They struggle with simple tasks, like buttoning their pants or opening glue bottles.
5. Teaching the Basics
   I’m fairly certain my gray hairs are a result of teaching 25 preschoolers how to line up year after year. You can employ tricks—like pretending to be a train—but somehow, the line always ends up resembling a twisted piece of taffy, especially during dismissal when parents and the principal are watching.
6. Short Attention Spans
   At this age, the attention span is about eight minutes. When you multiply that by a six-hour school day, you quickly realize how many activities you need to have planned. And if a real gnat happens to fly into the room during a lesson, you might as well call it a day.
7. Classroom Overload
   They’re everywhere, all the time. Just when you think you’ve got everyone back in line after recess, another one pops up, like a game of whack-a-mole. Many states have no limits on pre-k class sizes, so you’re often managing a full house.
8. Emotional Contagion
   Kids can catch feelings as easily as they catch germs. One child’s tears can trigger a chain reaction, and if one starts to vomit, you’re in for a chaotic scene. A child belting out “Let It Go” during circle time? That’s a recipe for disaster.
9. Boundless Energy
   You’re likely aware of the energy your little ones have. Now picture that multiplied by a classroom full of them. It’s enough to power an entire state for a year.

Thankfully, by November, things begin to settle down. It’s like an early holiday miracle when your students start finding their rhythm, and that’s when the real fun begins. Until then, it’s a daily dance with chaos.

So, if you have a little one who just started school, why are you still reading this? Perhaps you should consider grabbing a bottle of scotch for their teacher as a gesture of appreciation.

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In summary, while teaching pre-k can be a challenging experience, it’s also filled with moments of joy and laughter. The early days may be tough, but they lead to wonderful adventures in learning.