How Should Multicultural Education Be According to Preschool Teachers

Abstract

The aim of this study is to reveal preschool teachers’ views on how multicultural education should be presented/implemented in preschool education The study was organized in a multiple case study design from qualitative research methods. Participants were selected through purposive sampling and four preschool teachers with at least one student from different cultures were included in the study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the descriptive analysis method. The findings are given under the themes of curriculum, teacher characteristics in multicultural environments, family involvement, learning environment and evaluation according to preschool teachers. The findings revealed that children from different cultures have deficiencies in language development and social-emotional development. In addition, it was emphasized that the personality traits of a preschool teacher in a multicultural education environment should be impartial, unprejudiced, and inquisitive. Finally, the study demostrated the significance of families’ active involvement in the process, the requirement for organizing learner centers according to the needs and the value of individualizing student evalutions.