Things You'll Need:
- pre-school age children
- discernment
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Step 1
Integrity can best be described as doing the right thing even when no one else is watching. Preschool teachers must have personal integrity, and they must establish integrity within the classroom to accomplish the goal of effective education.
Why is integrity a pre-requisite for preschool teachers?
Children of all ages, but especially those that are preschool age are experimental by nature. If preschool children see something that is new, challenging, or inviting, they will jump at the opportunity to explore. Adventure is a great avenue of experimentation, but preschool children often don’t take the time to think before they act. As a result, a preschool teacher must respond to highly energized students and correctly assess the consequences associated with their experimental nature. Preschool teachers don’t always have the time to analyze a situation before they are called upon to react. Needless to say, a preschool teacher has to have personal integrity, so they can make fair, reasonable, and rational decisions at a moment’s notice. There is no place for harsh, irrational, or unfair behavior exhibited by a preschool teacher. -
Step 2
How does a preschool teacher use integrity in the classroom?
Most of the time, a preschool teacher is unsupervised during her time with the students. There are no parents watching, principals critiquing, or co-workers speculating about the classroom environment. Therefore, it is vitally important that the teacher exhibits proper classroom instruction and discipline even though no adults are watching. Children deserve to have an education free from gender bias, race discrimination, and stereotypical typecasting. Because a teacher has integrity, she can fairly judge and discipline in an appropriate manner so that proper order can be maintained in the classroom. -
Step 3
Can a preschool teacher’s integrity influence her students?
A big part of a preschooler’s classroom experience is preparing them for kindergarten and elementary school. Even though academics are a part of the goals of a preschool experience, the social aspects are far more important. A preschool teacher must exhibit integrity, so she can effectively set an example for the kids. The preschool experience consists of important life skills and meaningful objectives that include: learning to cooperate, understanding how to share, completing tasks, showing compassion, and reflecting on the world around. If a preschool teacher hasn’t already mastered those skills herself, it will be nearly impossible for her to set that example for the children. A life of personal integrity, and a classroom of modeled integrity will prove to be valuable assets for a preschool teacher.
