Developing professional identity: Narratives of preservice preschool teachers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the professional identity development of preservice preschool teachers. In this research, currere method, which is an educational autobiography creation technique, was used. A total of 20 Turkish female preservice preschool teachers participated in the study. The data of research was collected via autobiographies written by preservice preschool teachers. The results indicate that preservice preschool teachers were influenced by their families and by their passionate teachers in their past educational life. Also, the future expectations of preservice teachers have an effect on their present educational experiences. In addition, preservice teachers stated that the autobiographical writing process providing them with the opportunity to review their past, present and future expectations. They stated that this opportunity helped them get to know themselves better and structuring their ideas about their personal and professional lives.