| Early childhood education, whether in a daycare or | | | | on sale because you must learn to use your smile |
| nursery school setting, should be easy, right? How | | | | in all sorts of situations. Even when the most |
| difficult should it be taking care of a couple of | | | | difficult of students, parents, or administrators |
| kids? Here are 5 important things to know before | | | | come your way you must project an image of |
| you take that leap into the world of children. | | | | tranquility and maintain the illusion that you are in |
| 1. You must never go anywhere without an extra | | | | control. |
| bag. To be a teacher you must be equipped with | | | | 4. Buy a gross of No. 2 pencils with your name |
| extra arms and legs, which of course is not | | | | imprinted on them. You'll find that classroom |
| possible. You must have a clear understanding | | | | pencils have the ability to grow legs and leave |
| that you will be carrying and toting things for your | | | | your non-existent desk You'll be needing them to |
| classroom back and forth from your car, a bus, | | | | write progress reports, conference reports, and |
| or heaven forbid, the subway. Since you weren't | | | | incidental parent meetings. There will be |
| born an octopus you'll compensate by practicing | | | | attendance reports and accident reports, all of |
| carefully folding these bags in your purse or | | | | which must be done in a timely manner. There will |
| backpack. Then, when required, you can whip one | | | | also be daily activity sheets for parents and of |
| out at the drop of a hat. Soon, because your | | | | course your lesson plans. In fact, your writing |
| bag-folding expertise is recognized by peers, you | | | | opportunities will be many so perhaps consider an |
| will be considered the go-to Bag Lady. | | | | inexpensive pencil sharpener and eraser. |
| 2. Learn how to shop at thrift stores. Don't be | | | | 5. Real teachers know how to wait. A teacher |
| creeped out. Real teachers get elbow deep into | | | | knows the seeds of knowledge she sows |
| art and science projects. These marvelously | | | | sometimes take root long after her students |
| messy and educational projects, with the | | | | have left the classroom. She can explain this to |
| assistance of small children, will colorfully ooze all | | | | anxious parents and she can help her students |
| over tables and chairs until they finally hit their | | | | learn to be kind to themselves as they mature. |
| true target: your designer jeans. There's also a | | | | She knows that education is the beginning to |
| constant need to find appropriate dress-up clothes | | | | solving almost every problem. |
| for the classroom Housekeeping Corner. There's | | | | So while being an early childhood teacher is |
| no one in today's world that will be able to supply | | | | difficult, there are long-reaching, non-monetary |
| you with an assortment of hats, gloves, small | | | | benefits. Real teachers draw their strength from |
| purses, and interesting items like a thrift store | | | | knowing they are equipping the next generation |
| can. | | | | with the tools to become good citizens. |
| 3. Stock up on whitening toothpaste when it goes | | | | |