Preschool teachers typically do the following:

Teach children basic skills such as identifying colors, shapes, numbers, and letters

Work with children in groups or one on one, depending on the needs of children and on the subject matter

Plan and carry out a curriculum that focuses on different areas of child development

Organize activities so children can learn about the world, explore interests, and develop skills

Develop schedules and routines to ensure children have enough physical activity and rest

Watch for signs of emotional or developmental problems in each child and bring them to the attention of the childs parents

Keep records of the children’s progress, routines, and interests, and inform parents about their child’s development

Young children learn from playing, problem solving, and experimenting. Preschool teachers use play and other instructional techniques to teach children. For example, they use storytelling and rhyming games to teach language and vocabulary. They may help improve children’s social skills by having them work together to build a neighborhood in a sandbox or teach math by having children count when building with blocks.

Preschool teachers work with children from different ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds. Teachers include topics in their lessons that teach children how to respect people of different backgrounds and cultures.