Sally Lamkin, Preschool Teaching & Administration

Brief Description of Experience

Career(s) Shared:

Preschool Teaching, School Administration, Child-Care Work

Time Needed: 2-4 Hours

Things We May Do:

Sally will introduce you to the field of early childhood development and many of the jobs available for those who love to work with young children. You will go with Sally to a Head Start or other preschool program with which she works to see firsthand what it is like to be an early childhood teacher, administrator, or assistant. You will find out how the early childhood educator plans, organizes, and leads activities to encourage the social, intellectual, physical, and emotional growth of young children. You will interact with children and gain some understanding of why we offer certain kinds of play experiences, creative movement and art projects, individual and group activities, and the rationale for quiet resting and nap time. Gain an appreciation for child development psychology, some learning theories, and issues that professionals and parents are facing today with children in this age range. You will appreciate parenting skills and the needs of youngsters below the age of five.

One specific kind of teaching you may wish to explore with Sally is working with long-term patients at children's hospitals like C.S. Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan. Activity therapists, teachers, and volunteers help ease the effect of hospitalization on pediatric patients through group and bedside activities, schooling, creative arts and crafts, medical play, holiday celebrations, and entertainment by visiting groups.

You may step into an administrator's life, too. Find out about laws and regulations related to child-care facilities, home care, and school programs. See how budgets are coordinated and learn about common issues related to paying staff and being able to keep effective staff. You will find out the various record-keeping practices that are used and how staff work with the parents of children. You will enjoy a complicated day as you may discover health-related issues for young children, gain more appreciation for who spends time with little ones and what they do, find out how young children learn through what appears to be just play, and the vital role preschool education plays for preparing many children for elementary school.

Prerequisites

Age level: Middle through High School and Adults

Interests: Young Children, Teaching, Counseling

Previous Classes/Knowledge: None required

To Arrange for Shadowing