Looking for advice

[Trisha]

Hello,
I'm new to this forum and am very glad that i found it! I worked for 2 yrs at a homeless shelter daycare and then moved. I just recently have been hired as a preschool teacher for a new preschool/daycare in my community. I'm very exicted about working with children again but i'm not sure what to expect with this new job. At my previous daycare, being at a homeless shelter, we had every imaginable supply on hand. I never had to scrounge around for supplies. Everything was donated, from books to toys to crayons and egg cartons. The new setting I will be working at does not have anything of these sorts yet. My boss will be buying some things but i can imagine that it's not going to be the readily supply i'm use to. Can any one give me any words of encouragment or useful ideas? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks so much!
Trisha

[Linda/NE]

HI! Welcome!!

Shortage of supplies can be tough. The best advice I can give you is to think simple. I've taught preschool in different places and did the daycare thing in college. From my experience, in terms of art/craft projects anyway, is that the more impressive a project is to the parent/adult, the less appealing it is to the child.

As for other aspects of your day. follow the child's lead. You may be surprised at the imagination and creativity the children will show. Lots of toys can actually hinder those things from developing.

I'm about falling asleep here, so I maybe didn't even make any sense. I'll think on this some more and try to get back to you.

[Kab]

Check to see if there are things you need, you'd know from your prior experience, if it's possible to obtain them for your classroom. You can ask parents to send in items needed for art or manipulatives for children to use.
After teaching Elemantary for years, I am returning to preschool for the meantime in a new center, but we are fully loaded with supplies, blocks , manipulatives and all areas are full. Dramatic play, ask parents to send in old hats or clothes if the center allows that. See if the director would reimbursh you if you go to garage sales, flee markets, ect to find things for you room. I can't imagine the center not having the necessary things for a preschool program. Children are imaginative and can learn and discover from the simplest things. Good Luck.

[jkudzu]

I worked in a Pre-school for 10 years that had no money so I had to use whatever was available for crafts and teaching. I found recyclables to be a great source of ideas. For example: making a pumpkin out of an old tube sock, a plastic 2 liter bottle, some paint and material scraps. Decorating and paint stores give away their old wallpaper and upholstery sample books. I hope this helps. (By the way, I now work in a school that actually gives me everything I need!) Good luck and have fun!