By Leslie Doyle | 05/15/2025
Working in early childhood development can be fun and rewarding. You get to experience life through the eyes of little ones every day.
Also, it’s exciting to see each child's progress and watch them play and learn. But what does it take to be a good preschool teacher assistant?
At a high level, preschool teacher assistants support the lead teacher in helping students learn to read, understand their numbers, recognize shapes, and prepare to enter kindergarten. This role also involves teaching kids age-appropriate ways to become more independent.
Understanding the Preschool Teacher Assistant Role
Being a new teacher assistant is learning what responsibilities lie with you on the job and which are under the purview of the teacher. It’s prudent to talk with the teacher early on about his or her expectations so you know what's involved in the job and what isn't. For example, some teachers like to involve the teacher assistant in interacting with parents and others prefer to handle it themselves.
Although each day will be different, there are some daily responsibilities that a preschool teacher assistant has, including:
- Assisting with planning activities and lesson planning
- Preparing materials for each activity and keeping the classroom neat and organized
- Ensuring the care and safety of young students, particularly as they move from one place to another (from nap time to outdoor time, for example)
- Demonstrating skills to small groups of kids or offering individual support to a child who is struggling
- Observing each student's development and sharing feedback with the lead teacher and parents
“The primary role of the preschool teacher’s assistant is to support the teacher in meeting each child’s individual learning needs as well as their social and emotional needs at school,” says Kathy Mangeri, M.A., Human Development and Family Studies Department Chair at American Military University. “You may be asked to work one-on-one with a child learning a new concept or you may work with a small group of kids helping them engage in cooperative play. In some cases, you may be asked to simply stick close to a child who is having a difficult day at school.”
Creating Strong Relationships
Forming bonds with the kids and adults around you is an important aspect of being a teacher assistant. You’re one of the main people in charge of the students. The teacher and the students’ parents also want to hear from you regularly, so building early relationships helps to create a positive, nurturing classroom environment.
Connecting with Students
It may feel overwhelming to try to foster connections when you have 25 or more students in your class, but there are lots of little ways to develop a bond. For example, you can:
- Talk to students, not at them.
- Ask your students questions and really listen to their answers.
- Provide encouragement.
- Greet each child by name.
- Get down on their level. Sit on the floor together during story time, or sit down and do artwork with your preschool class.
- Read and sing together to encourage a sense of community.
- Laugh. Laughing and learning go hand in hand.
Collaborating with a Lead Teacher
When you’re both busy in the classroom, it can be tough to get to know one another, especially in the beginning. Take the time to meet and have conversations with the lead teacher outside of classroom time.
A meeting might be a weekly coffee get-together or a regular hike. Getting to know your teacher on a personal level helps form bonds as you work together.
A lead teacher may also serve as your mentor. Ask lead teachers open-ended questions about their experience and talk with them openly as you encounter hurdles in the classroom. They can share many lessons about their teaching experiences.
Communicating with Parents
Sharing progress updates with students’ parents is a necessary part of early childhood education. It’s vital for educators to become partners with parents to help children to be as academically successful as possible.
Many lead teachers start the school year by providing parents with their expectations and should provide regular updates. Participate actively and regularly in these conversations.
As a teacher assistant, you can provide valuable insights about the day-to-day progress of preschoolers as well as any hurdles they’re facing. Be sure to approach challenges delicately and with patience.
Also, actively listen to issues that parents have and use verbal and physical cues (such as maintaining eye contact) that you care about their concerns. Approach the conversation in the spirit of joint problem-solving.
Some interactions like open houses may also serve to further interest parents in their child’s development. You could share an anecdote about an activity their child found especially fun or let the parent know about an area where their kid could use additional work. Overall, approach these conversations with care and kindness.
“One very effective communication skill that is helpful when resolving any teaching conflict is active listening,” says Mangeri. “Active listening involves objectively listening to the other party in a manner that strives to understand the deeper meaning of the person’s message and to reiterate feedback as to what you heard.
“Active listening often involves using phrases such as ‘I hear you saying…’ or ‘It sounds like…’ Using active listening prevents the conversation from going awry, as you are less likely to be defensive or reactionary to what the other person is saying.”
Bringing Creativity to the Classroom
Before entering elementary school, students are expected to have certain knowledge, such as:
- Understanding the alphabet
- Performing basic counting
- Recognizing colors and shapes
- Using basic motor skills
Children also need to develop social skills like following directions, playing nicely with others, and listening.
As a teacher assistant, you can find inventive ways of teaching students these skills. An unwritten part of your job is to instill a joy of learning in young learners.
It’s a chance to flex your creative muscles and think about how you can get kids excited about learning activities. You might teach students a song to remember their numbers or have a “Letter of the Day” where students call out words that start with a particular letter of the alphabet.
Setting a Good Example
So much of what little kids learn is by watching and copying the people around them. Ideally, a teacher assistant should set a good example on the job. You should be kind, respectful, and patient, and you should really listen when a child comes to you for help. Also, you should follow classroom rules to set a good example.
Modeling good behavior extends to how you treat colleagues and parents. Although it’s understandable for new teacher assistants to find parent questions (and sometimes demands) overwhelming, it’s in the best interest of your students to approach these interactions with empathy.
Maybe parents are overwhelmed or worried, or they are having other issues that upset them. Try to hear what parents say and rephrase it back to them so they know you heard their concerns.
Creating a Routine
Although the primary teacher is generally in charge of creating lesson plans, you may have a lot of say in how plans are executed. Providing lessons in a way that offers consistency is important to give young students a sense of comfort.
School is new to many little kids, so knowing what to expect helps them prepare for each day. Additionally, studies have shown that consistency improves school readiness, helping students to transition from preschool to elementary school.
Having a predictable routine doesn’t mean the tasks become rote. As any teacher assistant will share, you need to allow room for adaptability, but it’s a good idea to have some structure to each day.
Also, consider how different students learn. Some learners thrive in a group setting while others need quiet time to learn new skills.
Working in a classroom can be incredibly joyful as well as filled with unexpected obstacles. One day you’re dealing with an unruly student, and the next you’re watching a child light up as they discover something new. Each day is a new lesson for your students and for you.
Providing a Safe Space
Teacher assistants are responsible for the physical and emotional safety of students. They must keep a close eye on a large group of kids on the playground or around classrooms. It’s also necessary to keep a classroom free of clutter and be proactive about preventing altercations.
Teach students the Golden Rule and gently remind them of what this rule means (for example, no pushing one another). You'll likely need to tell them multiple times, as kids at this age are often just learning how to manage their emotions and how to interact with one another.
It’s equally important to let students know the classroom is a safe space where they can express their emotions. For example, you might create a quiet area for a child to cool down if they’re feeling emotional or encourage a child who’s acting out to tell you how they’re feeling.
Overall, approach your role with kindness, creativity, and empathy. This tactic will serve you well throughout each day in the classroom.
The Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education at AMU
To aid students who want to learn how to become a teacher assistant, AMU provides an online Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education. This degree program provides courses in infant-toddler development, parenting and observation techniques, and childhood educational development. Other courses include an introduction to the American family, students with special needs, and infant and toddler programs.
For more details about this associate degree and other education programs offered by AMU, visit AMU’s education degrees and certificates program page.
Note: This program does not award professional licensure and does not qualify you to apply for teaching licensure or teacher certification. This program may be helpful in preparing to earn certain professional certifications.