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Preschool Teachers Chatboard

Classroom helpers

by MsKarla

Jun 6, 2013

Hi, I am starting up a 3/4 year old classroom want to have a "helper" job for everyone. What classroom helpers do you use in your rooms and how often do they change jobs (daily, weekly?)

Thank you

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pkny On 6/06/13, MsKarla wrote: > Hi, I am starting up a 3/4 year old classroom want to have > a "helper" job for everyone. What classroom helpers do you > use in your rooms and how often do they change jobs (daily, > weekly?) > > Thank you

I tried having a job for everyone, but in reality some children are just not ready yet,...See More

Jun 16, 2013

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pktchr On 6/06/13, MsKarla wrote: > Hi, I am starting up a 3/4 year old classroom want to have > a "helper" job for everyone. What classroom helpers do you > use in your rooms and how often do they change jobs (daily, > weekly?) > > Thank you

I have a job for each child, they rotate daily. My job chart has a picture or symbol fo...See More

Jun 16, 2013

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maureen I tried the helper idea in the early years of teaching but with increased class size (I went from 10-12 students to 24-27 students in the classroom and in some schools the larger number in the morning and the same number in the afternoon). It was difficult to keep track of all the who does what of the classroom. I gave it up. I even stopped having ...See MoreI tried the helper idea in the early years of teaching but with increased class size (I went from 10-12 students to 24-27 students in the classroom and in some schools the larger number in the morning and the same number in the afternoon). It was difficult to keep track of all the who does what of the classroom. I gave it up. I even stopped having fish feeder and whichever child found the food cup sitting on top of the lid, got to feed the fish. My life was much easier and enjoyable after I gave up that need to micromanage. I just remind myself that no one ever said that life was fair and I was pleasantly surprised at how easily the children adapted to not having "assignments".

We had the classroom set up so that the children maintained the environment themselves with no specific "job". If a child spilled something, liquid or dry, that child would go to the area with the tools and take care of it him or herself. Each activity was designed with a beginning, middle and end. Walk and get the tray or container to set it up (beginning), then do the activity (middle) and clean up and return the tray/container ready for the next person. If the child wanted to water the houseplants around the room, he would look around and see if the "watered" sign was already placed in the soil On days that I knew the plants needed watering, I removed the signs and someone always noticed the plants needed watering. Each child prepared his own snack at the snack table area. Again, washing hands, preparing the snack, taking it the designated table, eating, cleaning up (putting leftovers in compost, pouring out one's water, wiping the tray and washing the dishes (I ran them through the dishwasher after class)were just part of the routine. That was how I avoided that need for assigning jobs. It gave me much more time to observe the children, enjoy them in a calm, relaxed setting and it sure took off a lot of stress I was only putting on myself. I set the tone and expectations from the beginning of the year and those just stuck.

I also never assigned "line positions" and simply called (by singing) who I wanted to lead and who to avoid putting together in a line. We didn't have to travel anywhere by line anyway except to come inside or go outside.

When I did try to chart idea for job assignments in the early years, I used pictures of the "job" like a picture of the fish for feeding the fish and just alternated those in their names' slot on a homemade chart. One problem I had was curious little fingers moving them once inawhile and then they would be all messed up.

I guess this approach of the children just taking care of their own needs and the classroom wouldn't work with all classroom management styles. I do have to say I would never go back to job charts even with a much smaller group.

Jun 16, 2013

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jmho5 It gave me much more time to observe the > children, enjoy them in a calm, relaxed setting and it sure took > off a lot of stress I was only putting on myself. I set the tone > and expectations from the beginning of the year and those just > stuck. >

Individual jobs are certainly not worth the effort if they cause the teach...See More

Jun 16, 2013

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