Teacher-Articulated Perceptions & Practices with Families: Examining Effective Teaching in Diverse High Quality Child Care Settings

Abstract

In this research we examined associations among teacher-articulated beliefs and practices about families, teacher background characteristics, and observed teaching practices in programs that served low-income children and families of color. One hundred and fifty four children (50% girls) and their primary teachers from 12 programs in Los Angeles and rural North Carolina participated in this research. These teacher-articulated beliefs about families could be reduced through content coding of interview transcripts into two meaningful groups: (1) perceptions of families and (2) working with families. There were positive associations between teacher articulated practices and teachers' beginning guidance. There were ethnic differences in family practices articulated by the teachers suggesting that practices are rooted within ethnic communities. There were modest associations between articulated practices and perception of families, and when used together to represent teachers' articulated beliefs about families, all were significant contributors to our model predicting effective teaching in the classroom.