Must Haves for Successful ECE Teachers

Posted On December 17,2021

It takes a very special person to be able to work with young children. Your personal qualities and skills will influence how children develop and learn in your classroom environment. Patience, flexibility, and creativity are just a few important attributes that will make your career as an early childhood education (ECE) teacher a success.

Passion for ECE

If you don’t have a passion for the work that you do, then it will be challenging to achieve long term success as an ECE teacher. A successful teacher is someone who has a love and enthusiasm for teaching children and recognizes the responsibility of the role they play in installing a passion for learning in their students. 

Sense of Humor 

Young children are naturally funny and silly at heart. They tend to respond better to adults who aren’t afraid to smile and show their less serious side. If you’re interested in becoming a teacher, you should strive to bring a little humor into the classroom to keep children engaged and motivated to participate in activities. 

Patience 

Teaching young children isn’t easy as they know how to test an adult’s patience. Maintaining your own patience under pressure is a must have trait. If you’re easily agitated when your patience is tested, you may not have the best disposition for becoming a teacher. The most successful ECE teachers are those with a kind, calm demeanor. 

Creativity 

A successful ECE teacher does more than hand out worksheets but understands the importance of planning creative and engaging lesson plans and games. Early childhood educators should always keep their teaching style fun and lively to engage and motivate students to want to learn and participate in activities. 

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Flexibility 

Dealing with young children means anything can happen at a moment’s notice. No two days will ever be the same. An ECE environment is filled with constant motion, disruptions, and unpredictable situations that arise. The most successful ECE teachers are those who learn to go with the flow and can adapt their plans quickly to keep things running smoothly no matter what the day brings.

Communication Skills 

Young children often lack the ability to express themselves or communicate their needs, so having strong communication skills is crucial for a successful ECE teacher. In addition to communicating with your students, you’ll also need to communicate with fellow teachers and staff, as well as your students’ parents and caregivers. ECE teachers must know how to communicate clearly, calmly, and professionally with other people. 

Collaboration 

The majority of ECE teachers don’t work alone. Teachers in childcare centers or preschools work with teams of other professionals to lead the classroom. The ability to collaborate with others and work as a team is an integral part of a career in early childhood education. Teachers need to be on the same page with the rest of the team to serve a common goal of helping children learn and grow in a supportive classroom environment. 

Organization 

While it’s true that children learn through play, that doesn’t mean your ECE classroom should be a disorganized free-for-all. Developing a strong classroom management strategy with structure and routine is important. Children feel safer when they know what’s coming next and what to expect throughout the day. 

Ready to Get Started? 

While studying hard can prepare you to be a good teacher, developing your personal attributes will help you stand out above the rest. Athena Career Academy can help you prepare for an exciting and rewarding career in early childhood education. If you’re interested in becoming a teacher, contact us today for more information.