Gina Par English 212 Technical Writing University of Alaska Final Exam Standard Edited American English
1. Careerreport i
Title Page
Feasibility Analysis
of a Career
in Preschool Teacher
for
2211 Arca Drive, Anchorage, Alaska 99508
by
Gina-Antonette B. Par
English A212 section: 008
May 2, 2013
2. Careerreport ii
Letter of Transmittal
331 West 33rd
ave
Anchorage, AK 99503
May 2, 2013
Devry Birdsell
Supported Employment Specialist
Intakes and Assessments
2211 Arca Drive, Anchorage, Alaska 99508
Dear Ms. Birdsell:
Here is my report, Feasibility Analysis of a Career in Preschool Teacher. In preparing my report,
I have learned a great deal about the requirements and modes of access to this career, and I
believe my information will help other students as well.
Although committed their specialties, I have the experience needed to fulfill the requirements. I
have provided service for a full-time working military couple’s child due to high cost of on-base
preschool; prepared healthy breakfast, snacks, and lunch for the child daily; created alphabet and
number tracers with the Microsoft Word; enhanced child’s computer literacy by teaching her
how to use the computer; implemented a weekly and daily schedule of fun educational activities;
eliminated television time for an educational show or DVD; and encouraged physical education
by the excellent interactive Nintendo Wii Nickelodeon Fit during winter months.
Preschool teacher is an enriching and fulfilling career, but highly rewarding. In fact, it is an
excellent route I am undertaking. Specifically, teaching work enables one to develop a sound
knowledge of a child’s lives.
I have enjoyed my work with teaching children and would be happy to answer any questions.
Please contact me on my cell phone at (907) 891-2201 or email at gbpar@alaska.edu. I am
available on Mondays – Fridays, but not on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:30 AM to 12:45 PM.
Sincerely,
Gina-Antonette B. Par
3. Careerreport iii
Table of Contents
Contents
Title Page............................................................................................................................................i
Letter of Transmittal...........................................................................................................................ii
Table of Contents .............................................................................................................................. iii
Executive Summary...........................................................................................................................iv
1.0 Introduction..................................................................................................................................1
2.0 Collected Data..............................................................................................................................1
2.1 Description of the Career...........................................................................................................1
2.2 Work Environment....................................................................................................................1
2.3 Advantages and Disadvantages of the Career ..............................................................................1
2.4 Entry Requirements ...................................................................................................................2
2.5 Earnings and Wages ..................................................................................................................2
2.6 States with the Highest Employment in this Occupation...............................................................2
2.7 States with the Highest Concentration of Jobs in this Occupation..................................................2
3.0 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................2
4.0 References....................................................................................................................................3
5.0 Appendices...................................................................................................................................4
4. Careerreport iv
Executive Summary
This feasibility of preschool teacher as a career is based on a college graduate’s interests,
abilities, and expectations.
College graduates interested in this field must obtain: the education and training necessary
requirements vary based on settings and state regulations. They range from a high school
diploma and certification to a college degree (BLS, 2012, p.1).
Anyone considering a career as a preschool teacher should grasp these qualities:
Teaching children skills that will prepare them for kindergarten.
Encouraging self-exploration through play.
Assisting children with everyday activities.
Coaching children to do the right thing.
Having patience, motivation, enthusiasm, drive, empathy, and responsibility to encourage
children to have fun.
Empowering imagination through play.
Researching varied ways that the student will learn the materials.
5. Careerreport 1
1.0 Introduction
Preschool teachers are very vital in shaping and enriching students’ lives. Preschool teachers
work in public and private schools, childcare centers, and charitable organizations. Preschool
teachers are the most influential and vital for a child’s success in school. Preschool teacher play
many roles enriching students’ lives by gearing the child up for kindergarten by teaching skills.
Preschool teachers use play to teach children about the world (Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS],
2012, p.3). The analysis of a preschool teacher examines the description of the career, work
environment, advantages and disadvantages of the career, entry requirements, earnings and
wages, states with highest employment in this occupation, and states with the highest
concentration of jobs in this occupation.
2.0 Collected Data
2.1 Descriptionof the Career
Preschool teachers educate and care for children, usually ages 3 to 5, who have not yet entered
kindergarten. They explain reading, writing, science, computer skills, and other subjects in a way
that young children can understand (BLS, 2012, p.1). Preschool teachers prepare children for
transitioning into kindergarten. Preschool teachers must be able to communicate with their
students and understand their educational and emotional needs. Teachers have to be organized,
patient, dependable, creative, and have the ability to reach students and educate them. Teachers
need excellent interpersonal skills and must work cooperatively with parents, other teachers and
administrative personnel.
2.2 Work Environment
Preschool teachers held about 456,800 jobs in 2010. Many work the traditional 10-month school
year, but some work the full year (BLS, 2012, p. 4). Head Start programs receive federal funding
for disadvantaged children between the ages of 3 and 5.Preschool teachers work environment is
very challenging. Teachers have daily and weekly routines to follow for the students. The work
environment is noisy and messy. As noted in the heavily cited article by Felder and Silverman
(1988): "Students learn in many ways . . . Teaching methods also vary . . . Mismatches exist
between common learning styles of engineering students and traditional teaching styles of
engineering professors." Felder and Silverman (1988) classify preferred learning styles into four
dimensions: (1) sensory/intuitive, (2) visual/verbal, (3) active/reflective, and (4)
sequential/global (Lockwood, Ng, & Pinto, 2007). Depending on the teacher’s teaching style
and values, the work environment will be set up differently than the other teachers. For instance,
classroom layouts are different for teachers. No two classrooms are the same in preschools.
2.3 Advantages and Disadvantagesofthe Career
Three advantages of the career are scheduling, rewarding, and helping. The first advantage is
scheduling. Since most schools are only opened on weekdays, teachers have the weekend off to
do whatever they need to do. The second advantage is rewarding. If a teacher has the passion,
motivation, drive, patience, and understanding to educate preschool children, he or she will find
this is a rewarding career. The third advantage is helping children to transition into kindergarten.
Preschool requires structure and fun educational activities.
Three disadvantages of the career are the earnings and wages, costs of preschool, and quality of
the preschool program. The first disadvantage is salary; earnings and wages of teachers are not
6. Careerreport 2
the highest paying. Most teachers have other jobs besides teaching. The second disadvantage is
costs of preschool program for children, so most children are homeschooled or stay with
extended family. The third disadvantage is quality of preschool program. In some military base
preschools, preschool teacher have lack of training and resources to run a good preschool
program. Most children do not obtain skills necessary to be successful in kindergarten. Whether
at home or in a preschool classroom, the students need to have qualified teachers that will make
learning fun by thinking outside of the box. For example, an unqualified teacher might put the
student on Nickelodeon Junior, Public Broadcast Service, or Disney Junior all day long. The
disadvantage is neglecting the fundamentals for preschoolers to learn using the television as a
babysitter.
2.4 Entry Requirements
Education and training requirements vary based on settings and state regulations. They range
from a high school diploma and certification to a college degree (BLS, 2012, p.1). If a college
graduate is interested in obtaining a college degree as a preschool teacher in the University of
Alaska, the student is required to complete a total of 61 credits for an Associate of Applied
Science in Early Childhood Education. For a Bachelor of Arts, the student is required to
complete a total of 121-122 credits. For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
reports that preschool teachers employed by Head Start, a Federal Program for preschool
children, must hold at least associate's degrees (BLS, 2012, p.1).
2.5 Earnings and Wages
The states with highest wages for preschool teachers are New York with hourly wages of $19.24
and annual salary of $40,010; New Jersey with hourly wages of $17.70 and annual salary of
$37,000; and Alaska with hourly wages of $16.53 annual salary of $34,400. The median annual
wage of preschool teachers was $25,700 in May 2010 (BLS, 2012, p.1). Preschool teachers
generally work during school hours, typically 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Many work the traditional 10-
month school year, which includes a 2-month break during the summer. Some preschool teachers
may teach in summer programs. Teachers in districts with a year-round schedule typically work
8 weeks in a row, are on break for 1 week, and have a 5-week midwinter break. Those working
in day care settings often work the whole year (BLS, 2012, p.3).
2.6 States with the Highest Employment in this Occupation
According to the BLS website, the states with the highest employment in preschool teachers are
California, New York, Texas, Florida, and Illinois (BLS, 2012).
2.7 States with the Highest Concentrationof Jobs in this Occupation
According to the BLS website, the states with the highest concentration of jobs in this occupation
are Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Oklahoma (BLS, 2012).
3.0 Conclusion
Summary of Findings
Preschool teachers are required to have a solid background, motivation, communication skills,
and children skills. This career offers excitement and the opportunity to make a difference in
students’ lives.
7. Careerreport 3
College graduates interested in this field must obtain: the education and training necessary
requirements vary based on settings and state regulations. They range from a high school
diploma and certification to a college degree (BLS, 2012, p.1).
Recommendations
Anyone considering a career as a preschool teacher should have these qualities:
Teaching children skills that will prepare them for kindergarten.
Encouraging self-exploration through play.
Assisting children with everyday activities.
Coaching children to do the right thing.
Having patience, motivation, enthusiasm, drive, empathy, and responsibility to encourage
children to have fun.
Empowering imagination through play.
Researching varied ways that the student will learn the materials.
4.0 References
Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. (2012-
13 Edition). Preschool teachers. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-
library/preschool-teachers.htm (visited April 24, 2013).
Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Employment Statistics.
(2012). Occupational employment and wages. (Preschool teachers, except special
education). [US demographic map]. Retrieved from
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes252011.htm (visited April 25, 2013).
Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Employment Statistics.
(2012). Annual mean wage. [US demographic map]. Retrieved from
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes252011.htm (visited April 25, 2013).
Lockwood, C. A., Ng, P., & Pinto, J. (2007). An interpretive business statistics course
encompassing diverse teaching and learning styles. Academy of Educational Leadership
Journal, 11(1), 11-23. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com.proxy.consortiumlibrary.org/docview/214229622?accountid=
14473 (visited April 29, 2013).
