Last Updated on August 3, 2024 by Sheryl Cooper
Inside: The preschool class helper is an important job that we rotate every day. It gives the children a chance to have some special job duties in the classroom, building confidence and social skills.
How to have a class helper in preschool…I’ll be honest here. This took me a very long time to figure out. I thought giving every child a job each day would rock!
Um, no.
It was just too much for this age group. I had this pocket chart where we would display on our classroom wall with each name and the jobs and …. no.
Now, I know other teachers of 3 year olds say this works. And if it’s working for you, keep on going! But it did not feel right for me.
Eventually I figured it out. What worked best for me and my 3 year olds was having one classroom helper a day. And they don’t have a big list of duties. Just a few.
Note: This post was created when I taught 3 and 4 year olds in addition to 2 year olds. I used this class helper method with my 3 and 4 year olds.
How to Have a Preschool Class Helper
We assign one child each day to be class helper.
When our preschoolers arrive, they look at our pocket chart that conveniently hangs right by the door. It’s easy for them to check as they enter the classroom each morning.
And if their name is on it (and yes, they do recognize their name during the year), they turn around and tell whomever is dropping them off. They BEAM.
I keep track of who will be class helper when with a simple chart. I keep it on a clipboard that hangs on the wall.
Ring the Clean Up Bell
As we finish our centers time, the class helper rings the clean up bell and we sing our clean up song.
Weather Person
The class helper reports the weather during circle time. I created a simple weather chart using wooden pieces I found at Michael’s Crafts. I made 3 bottles: one for sunny, one for cloudy, one for rainy. Because that’s our weather where we live. (If we have snow, we are not in school, because it only happens once, maybe twice a year.)
The class helper looks out the window.
Then chooses the bottle he or she feels reflects the weather and holds it while we sing our weather song.
Line Leader
The class helper gets to lead us to gym. He or she holds a stop/slow sign as the others line up behind.
And that’s it! It truly is that simple and our 3 year olds LOVE it!
Toddler and Preschool Activity Plans
Looking for an entire year’s worth of learning activities? We’ve done the work for you!
I have helped create each of these packets, along with a team of talented educators and homeschoolers.
Easy to follow activity plans include activity modifications and adaptations to meet the needs of all learners.
Every theme comes with recommended reading lists, songs, material lists, and more.
Click on the graphics below for more details.
Toddlers (18 – 36 months):
Preschool (3 – 5 Years):
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I also have a group helper where I have a special chair and the childs name and picture is on it for that day if fulltime , morning or afternoons only. They help me with handing out newsletters to parents, counting and writing the number of ticks in the register as well as counting the name badges on the board to see if they match to the correct total. Handing out artwork from the groups artbox, choosing the story book that day, going messages.
The helpers also draw the type of weather it is that day on a made-up weather A4 paper
chart and at the end of the week they add up how many days are sunny or rainy etc……They also write
the number of the group on a board for fire drill purposes. They can also help with the younger children
when starting nurseryby taking them to activities, toilet etc… and help them settle in….
I did like your idea with the weather in the bottles so I am going to try this out when I go back to work
after the six week summer vacation……I find this keeps the children feeling like they have ownership of
their group and seem to be keen to have leadership qualities. Keep up the good ideas as well….
regards………….
I love the idea of the chair! My preschoolers would LOVE that! Thank you for sharing your ideas.