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Sep 30, 2020

The Preschool Diaries



for those of you who may be newer to heavens to betsy, let me give you a little background about me.  i went to college and ended up with a b.a. in psychology, which is basically a degree that you follow up by saying "and then i went to grad school for..."

so, then i went to grad school for education.  i graduated with my m.ed in multicultural education and my certification is in pre-k through 6th grade.  i student taught in 3rd grade, and it was my sweet spot.  i didn't end up with a teaching job right out of grad school and instead landed in a creative position at my rather large church, which i absolutely love.  but this summer, i was approached by the directors of our preschool and asked to take over a class.  they had a teacher resign at the last minute, and so, two weeks before school started, i found myself agreeing to take on a class of 13 3-year-olds.  

it was only two days a week, how hard could it be?  well, i'm finding out.  and here are a few lessons i'm learning along the way:

we like to use gluesticks as if they were crayons.  i learned quickly that 3 year olds just don't know what to do with glue.  it's the most fascinating thing to them, and they will attempt to smear it anywhere given the opportunity.

walking in a straight line is an impossible task.  even when holding onto a rope, it is very difficult to keep small children walking at the same pace and staying behind the person in front of them.  for the most part, the rope helps.  but then it also causes insane jumbles when the child in the back of the line uses it as a sort of corral when she tries to get to the front of the line, ensnaring the rest of the class along the way.

dressing up weather frog is the coolest thing ever.  seriously, everybody wants to do it.  best part of the day.

make sure you thank the right person when praying for the snack.  because if you thank jesus for providing the food, you might just get corrected (mid prayer) by the child who brought in the snack that day.

mommy is coming back. i promise.  the concept of time is a difficult one for a three year old to understand.  it doesn't matter how many times you say the word "soon" or "an hour", they will continually cry and ask when it's time to go home.

ice cream is a healthy food.  well, anything you suggest is a healthy food, as preschoolers mostly just answer "yes" whenever their teacher asks them a question.  oy vey.  

the list goes on, but i think i'll save them for another day.  let's just say that i've blown enough slobbery noses and soaked up enough toddler tears with my shoulder in the past four weeks to last a life time.  mommas of three-year-olds out there, i have a new appreciation for you!

28 comments:

  1. This has me laughing...a lot. My son turned 3 in July and it was like you were telling me about him. HA.

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  2. Hahah, so fun :) And I loved your note about graduation in Psychology -- it's so true! I didn't, but my husband did, and it's very often I hear "but I got my graduate degree in marriage and family counseling..." :)

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  3. I always love when little ones try to do anything organized. T-ball was always a favorite since they tend to run to 3rd instead of 1st for instance. It's just too cute.

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  4. Oh man, this brings me back to my daycare days! Our full time teacher left and they had no one to replace her so I was in a room with 15 2 year olds for long periods of time--it was a mess but I loved every second of it!

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  5. Awww... Sounds like a fun, HARD, rewarding job!!! :-)

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  6. Betsy, I had no idea you studied education. It is one of the best fields out there. Have any of your students called you "Mommy" yet? It is so precious.

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  7. 3 yrs old was our hardest year with Claire so far. You are a SAINT! Like seriously...when we get to heaven, you'll be the one weighed down by the extra heavy crown with extra jewels. You are brave and awesome!

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  8. This is amazing Betsy! I had no idea you went to ed school-- I'm planning on becoming a teacher too:) Love this post-- that is such a fun (and sometimes tough) age. Exciting!

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  9. You ARE a saint, Betsy. I have a three-year-old nephew and I can't imagine 13 of him running around! I'm sure it keeps your life interesting. ;)

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  10. I absolutely love this!!! My Mason is in Pre-Kindergarten this year and
    his teacher and I were laughing about the things she sees and hears
    throughout the day. It takes a very special and patient person to teach
    that many 3 & 4 year olds at once. But I am sure that it is also
    pretty rewarding! Kids are such a gift. I especially love this one -

    make sure you thank the right person when praying for the snack.
    because if you thank jesus for providing the food, you might just get
    corrected (mid prayer) by the child who brought in the snack that day.

    So cute! We are learning fast that 3 & 4 year olds take everything very literal!

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  11. haha! soooo cute!!!!! I want to hear more preschool stories!! :) (I bet you are the best teacher!)

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  12. that thanks girl! the kids are adorable!

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  13. awe...pre-k-ers say the funniest things! it is definitely rewarding (but also exhausting! haha)

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  14. awe, thanks Leah! it can get crazy...like herding cats! haha

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  15. that's awesome daisy!! i definitely love elementary-aged kids, but i'm learning how fun preschool can be as well!

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  16. haha...well thanks girl...my patience can definitely wear thin some days, but it really is fun! today, a boy that cried every day for the first month of school told another boy to stop crying...i laughed so hard...if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black, i don't know what is!

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  17. right???!? what age do you teach? i even thought it would be easier before I took the position! haha

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  18. haha oooh! that's a good idea, but I'm not sure that it would work on some of mine...haha...i have a few boys who are VERY aware that their parents aren't there for the entire time we're in school!

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  19. yeah, I have my certification in pre-k through 6th grade! I haven't had a student call me "mommy" but even hearing their little voices constantly say "Miss Betsy" is adorable :)

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  20. oh my goodness...yeah, 3 year olds are as low as i could imagine going! haha...i subbed in our pre-k (5yo) class last week and it was crazy what a different that two years makes!

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  21. haha oh my word, i can only imagine!

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  22. haha....yeah, there's not a whole lot you can do with just a bachelor's in psych! that's awesome that your husband is a counselor!

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  23. haha...glad to know 3 year olds are the same everywhere :)

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  24. Haha...kids are so great! I know what you mean about running low on patience. Then they say the cutest or funniest thing and changes your whole perspective! :)

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  25. Too funny!! I worked for two years in our church preschool as an aide three days a week...ohhh the memories! I think THE worst thing was having to search kids hair for lice!? Eeew yuck...hopefully that's something you don't have to do! :)

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  26. Aw this is adorable. Also, I would really appreciate seeing a picture of this weather frog.

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