Early Childhood Teacher Education Research Articles

Does Support for Professional Development in Early Childhood and Care Settings Matter? A Study in Four Countries

AbstractProfessional Development (PD) can be a powerful lever for improving the quality of teacher-child interactions in early childhood education and care (ECEC) and teachers’ feelings of support and competence. However, there is a dearth of studies examining different formats of PD and their links with workplace features. The present study aims to understand (a) different types of PD participation (structured and center-embedded) and their levels of interest of preschool teachers in four European countries (Cyprus, Greece, Portugal, and Romania), and (b) the extent to which they are associated with PD incentives and perceived support. Participants were preschool teachers from Cyprus (N = 93; Mage = 41; SD = 7.47), Greece (N = 92; Mage = 40; SD = 9.81), Portugal (N = 92; Mage = 45; SD = 9.65), and Romania (N = 97; Mage = 40; SD = 10.40). The vast majority of participants were women (95-99%). Participants reported on PD attendance – structured (courses/seminars, conferences) and center-embedded (e.g., observation visits, peer and/or self-observation) –, levels of interest in PD; PD incentives (e.g., release from working with children; reimbursement/payment of costs); and perceived workplace support. Results from the Multi-Group Path Models showed that, in all countries, the provision of incentives was associated with increased participation in center-embedded PD, but not in structured PD. Additionally, the perceived support from their setting was positively associated with greater interest in PD. Understanding what best supports different types of PD can be critical to inform policy efforts aiming to increase PD attendance.

From Pre-Service Preparation to Professional Development: Early Childhood Teachers’ Learning Experiences, ECE Quality, and Child Development in China

ABSTRACT Research Findings: This study examined the associations between early childhood education (ECE) teachers’ pre-service education (PE), professional development (PD) experiences, ECE quality, and child development. The participants included 52 teachers and 706 children from 52 preschool classes in Shanghai and Guizhou. Teacher educational level was associated with classroom interaction quality. The frequency and diversity of PD activities that ECE teachers experienced in the past year were also related to overall ECE quality. Mediational analyses indicated that the diversity and frequency of PD were indirectly associated with child development through ECE quality. Region of residence moderated the associations between PE and child development and between ECE quality and child development. Practice or Policy: Together, the findings highlight the need for policy to support ECE teachers’ professional learning from pre-service education to ongoing professional development.

A comparative analysis of movement and physical activity in early childhood teacher education policy in five Nordic countries.

The aim of this study is to investigate the integration of movement and physical activity (MoPA) within Early Childhood Teacher Education (ECTE) policies across Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. This knowledge can inform the development of ECTE policies and practices that promote MoPA in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) in Nordic countries and other countries worldwide. In this study, a Nordic cross-national network of researchers collaborated in investigating policy documents at the national and university levels, which govern the education of ECEC teachers. This study was inspired by the Non-affirmative Theory of Education, which provides a framework for understanding the various influences on curricular development in higher education. Based on this, a four-step comparative analytical process of national and university documents across the Nordic countries was conducted. It included keyword search for MoPA related courses and a qualitative description of MoPA in ECTE. Thus, a combination of investigations of policy documents at the national and university level and expert knowledge set a solid foundation for international comparison. The comparative analysis of MoPA in ECTE reveals diverse approaches influenced by national and university policies. A central theme is the variability in MoPA integration across these nations. Finland and Norway prioritize MoPA with independent mandatory courses. In Iceland, compulsory MoPA courses exist at one of two universities, and in Sweden at three out of 19. All university colleges in Denmark offer an elective course. Furthermore, learning objectives related to MoPA are, to varying degrees, part of the internships in the countries, with Sweden being an exception. In the participating countries, the teachers decide the content of the MoPA courses with little guidance, support, and agreement on essential MoPA content within and across the ECTE's. Norway has established guidelines, and in Finland, there is a network of ECTE Physical Education (PE) educators, which, to some degree, increases the consistency and quality of MoPA in education. The Nordic countries present diverse MoPA integration approaches rooted in national policies and educational traditions. The findings emphasize the necessity of independent and mandatory MoPA courses, integration of MoPA into internships and promoting networks across the educational and academic sectors to equip future early childhood educators with competencies for fostering physical activity, motor development and children's well-being.

The Effect of Academic Supervision and the Quality of Early Childhood Education Teachers on the Quality of Education in South Papua Province

This study aims to analyze the effect of academic supervision and teacher quality on the quality of education in South Papua Province. The research approach uses quantitative, causal study type research (influence / cause and effect study) using survey methods. The population in this study was all teachers in ECCE schools in Merauke District. Sampling technique using porposive sampling. The number of teachers who met the criteria amounted to 77 teachers. The data collection instrument of this study used questionnaires. The variables in this study are academic supervision and teacher quality as independent variables, and education quality as a dependent variable. The data analysis technique uses multiple linear regression. The results showed that the significance value (Sig.) of academic supervision of 0.048 was smaller than the probability < of 0.05, and the significance value (Sig.) of teacher quality so that it can be concluded that there is a significant influence of academic supervision and teacher quality on the quality of education.

Male Teachers’ Narratives: Experiences of Teaching in Early Childhood Education

Globally, women are over-represented in teaching in the early years of primary school, or the Foundation Phase, as it is known in South Africa (SA). We explore how male teachers in SA may experience challenges in teaching in primary schools that are complicit in reproducing men as managers. Men tend to be positioned within dominant notions of masculinity, which produce masculine power in school management, while primary teaching is characterised as ‘women’s work’. Teachers of both genders are complicit in safeguarding the primary school as a nurturing, female domain while reproducing gendered binaries and unequal power relations. Through semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion, we explore the experiences of five male early childhood development (ECD) teachers from five rural primary schools in diverse settings in Free State, SA. Males have challenges in ECD as they are not allowed to teach but are encouraged to be involved in management, where they may sit on different school committees such as those related to sport and discipline, and also take care of the school premises. There is a need to create alternate masculinities beyond rigid notions of appropriate gender performances and address social challenges such as the paucity of male teachers, children being exposed to only one gender, and gender transformation in SA. In this way, the challenges facing male ECD teachers, who are not being entirely accepted in this field, will be eliminated.

Interpersonal Relationship and Job Satisfaction among Early Childhood Education Teachers in Edo State, Nigeria

The study examined interpersonal relationship and job satisfaction among early childhood education teachers in Edo State. Three research questions were raised for the study and one of the research questions was formulated into hypothesis. The study is descriptive research and adopted a descriptive survey design. The population of this study comprises all the one thousand and twenty-one (1021) public early childhood education schools and one thousand two hundred and sixty-three (1263) early childhood education teachers in Edo State. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a sample of one hundred and two early childhood schools and one hundred and twenty-six early childhood teachers in the three senatorial districts of Edo State. A questionnaire (IRJSAECETQ) which was validated with a reliability coefficient of 0.88 was used to elicit data from the respondents. The research questions were analyzed using mean and standard deviation while hypothesis was tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. The findings from the analysis of the study revealed that the level of interpersonal relationship among early childhood teachers is low; the level of job satisfaction among early childhood education teachers in Edo State is also low. The findings also revealed that there is a positive and significant relationship between interpersonal relationship and job satisfaction among early childhood education teachers in Edo State. Based on the findings, the study recommended that the level of interpersonal relationship among early childhood teachers, pupils and the school authorities should be improved upon by establishing and maintaining effective and frequent communication among the early childhood education teachers, head teacher, and pupils as it has been proven in this study that there is a significant relationship between interpersonal relationship and job satisfaction among early childhood teachers Keywords: Interpersonal relationship, Job satisfaction, early childhood education, early childhood education teachers.

Enhancing Teachers’ Pedagogical Awareness of Teaching Early Mathematical Skills – A Mixed Methods Study of Tailored Professional Development Program

ABSTRACT The purpose of this mixed methods study was to explore changes in pedagogical awareness of teaching early mathematical skills among teachers in early childhood education (N =7) when participating in a tailored professional development (PD) program in mathematics. The program, which was designed around principles of transformative learning, was aimed at strengthening the conscious and holistic teaching of early mathematical skills to 3- to 7-year-old children. Research Findings: Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews revealed that teachers enhanced their pedagogical awareness of teaching early mathematical skills concerning developmentally appropriate mathematical content, child-initiated mathematical learning and holistic mathematical teaching in different daily situations and play. Data obtained from pre-PD and follow-up questionnaires completed by teachers confirmed a sustainable increase in their pedagogical awareness of numerical and spatial reasoning. Recognizing children’s interests, reflecting on and examining one’s own practices individually and collaboratively, and taking actions to develop teaching and learning practices aligned with those of the PD program comprised the foundation for the transformative process. Practice or Policy: It was concluded that PD programs in mathematics enhance teachers’ pedagogical awareness of teaching early mathematical skills holistically when they are tailored to the needs of teachers, include reflective elements, and follow principles of transformative learning.

기후변화교육에 관한 유아교사의 인식과 유아교육기관에서의 실천과 노력

Early childhood teacheThe purpose of this study is to examine early childhood teachers' perceptions of climate change education and their practices and efforts in early childhood education institutions. To this end, in-depth interviews were held individually or collectively with six early childhood teachers.
 The interview was recorded and transcribed, and analyzed through a qualitative research analysis process. The results of the study are as follows. First, early childhood teachers felt that the climate crisis was approaching our lives through various channels and recognized that climate change education was a necessary education for the next generation, but thought that climate change education was somewhat ambiguous and vague. Second, early childhood teachers were providing climate change education so that basic habits could be formed in their daily lives at early childhood education institutions, communicating with nature in nature, and practicing climate change education in connection with families and communities. Third, it was raised that early childhood teachers are having difficulties due to differences in perception between parents and institutional heads and need various social, physical, and administrative support and efforts to support them. These results can be useful as basic data for implementing climate change education and improving the expertise of early childhood teachers in early childhood education sites.rs' perceptions of climate change education and practice and effort in early childhood education institution

유아교사에서 유아특수교사로 ‘되어감’의 과정에 관한 내러티브 탐구

유아교사에서 유아특수교사로 ‘되어감’의 과정에 관한 내러티브 탐구

Opening up and closing down teachers’ political dialogues: Dialectic and dialogic strategic orientations

This paper employs Mikhail Bakhtin for a dialogic reading of dialectics, conceptualising how early childhood education (ECE) teachers’ political dialogues are opened up and closed down. Explorations of ‘political dialogue’, or how teachers respond to issues they deem of political concern, is pertinent for teaching’s inherently political nature. How such encounters are opened and closed has special significance for ECE teachers, who have expressed feeling professionally and politically silenced. Guided by a philosophical framing of the contradictions and jostling interplays between dialogism’s in-betweenness and dialectic’s one-ness, excerpts are analysed from a doctoral study involving 10 Victorian, Australian ECE teachers. This framing and analysis signal the potential ramifications of a dialectical closing down of ECE teachers’ political dialogues in addition to how dialogism’s in-betweenness fosters openness. Contemplating these language strategies, the paper highlights how a silencing divisiveness may transpire, prompting a need for genuine listening in the threshold in-between the self and other.

Preschool Teachers' Emotional Competence and Teacher Self-Efficacy towards Preschool Performance in Zhejiang Province of China.

This study investigates the interplay between emotional competence, self-efficacy, and teaching experience in determining preschool teachers' performance. Drawing on Bandura's Theory of Self-Efficacy, Goleman's Emotional Intelligence Theory, and Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory, the research employs a quantitative approach, analyzing responses from preschool teachers in Zhejiang province, China. Key findings reveal that emotional competence significantly predicts teachers' performance and self-efficacy, with self-efficacy further mediating this relationship. Interestingly, while teaching experience moderates the impact of emotional competence on self-efficacy, it does not significantly influence the relationship between self-efficacy and teaching performance. The study underscores the critical role of emotional competence in teaching efficacy and highlights the complexity of how teaching experience interacts with these dynamics. These insights are crucial for developing targeted interventions in teacher training programs, emphasizing emotional skills and self-belief as key drivers of effective teaching in early-childhood education.

High-quality strategies for supporting children’s problem-solving skills: a study on coding toy activities in Norwegian ECECs

ABSTRACT Recent studies have shown that playing with coding toys enhances children’s skills in STEM- subjects, especially problem-solving abilities. However, there is limited knowledge of early childhood education and care (ECEC) teachers’ roles in facilitating children’s problem-solving through coding-toy play activities and the high-quality pedagogical strategies and approaches they utilize. This study explored how ECEC teachers formed and guided pedagogical practices and influenced learning quality through digital play. The data are based on video observations of five teachers and six groups of children aged 3–5 years (three to four children per group), who each played with a coding toy for 30–60 min. Drawing on the sustained shared thinking theory, this study analyzed how teachers supported children’s problem-solving processes. The results reveal that the teachers employed several pedagogical strategies and approaches, including those for nurturing children’s curiosity, encouraging questioning, fostering investigation, and promoting conceptual exploration.

An Analysis of Early Childhood Education Teachers' Competencies: A Qualitative Study

This article reviews research on Indonesian Early Childhood Education (ECE) teachers' pedagogical, personality, social, and professional competency. This study examines four factors of ECE teacher competence as perceived by 45 teachers. This qualitative study uses semi-structured interviews to collect data. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The study found that ECE teachers stimulated early childhood development appropriately. The study also revealed several findings, including teachers' limited awareness of early childhood development theories, a lack of understanding of their ethical responsibilities, and various barriers to ECE teacher competence. This qualitative study highlights Indonesian ECE teachers' expertise and pedagogy. These findings can help create more effective and sustainable ECE teacher training programs. This study also encourages reflection on teachers' role in early childhood development and identifies areas that need more attention in Indonesia's early childhood education system.

Preliminary identification of the potential of using MIEM in the context of stimulating the development of selected cognitive processes of students in early childhood education

The article presents the results of a quantitative-qualitative study that examined the experiences of children and early childhood education teachers with multi-layered interactive materials in which augmented reality technology was implemented. The article also addresses issues related to support (MIEM) for selected cognitive processes of early childhood education students. The research was conducted within the framework of the Ministry of Education and Science's program titled: Pupil circles create innovation. The study involved 1153 early childhood education students between the ages of 7 and 10, as well as their teachers, who constituted a group of 41 early childhood education teachers. A triangulation of research methods was used in the study. For the group of students, a diagnostic survey method was used, for which a survey questionnaire was developed on the Kahoot platform and an in-depth interview using an interview questionnaire. For the group of teachers, a diagnostic survey method was used, for which a survey questionnaire was developed. The survey was implemented using the Computer Assisted Personal Interview technique on the Google Forms platform. On the basis of the conducted research, conclusions were developed in terms of the main objective of the research, which was: preliminary identification of the potential for using MIEM in the context of cognitive processes in early childhood education. The results of the research indicate that early childhood education students received the introduced innovation into the teaching process to a very positive degree. First of all, MIEM resulted in high motivation for learning. The result of which was a significant number of memorized messages contained in MIEM. It should also be added that this fact can have an impact on students' memory and perceptiveness. It can also be tentatively concluded that MIEM can have an impact on cognitive processes in particular on thinking and imagination. This conclusion follows directly from the type of technology that allows generating things previously difficult to visualize. In addition, the experiences of teachers who participated in the study indicate that MIEMs provide new opportunities for experimentation and interactive learning. According to the teachers, MIEMs make it possible to support the teaching and learning of nature, mathematics, as well as other subjects. Early childhood education teachers enthusiastically welcomed the use of AR, as well as seeing this technology as a solution to the problems of implementing the principle of viewability in early childhood education.

The development of a smart teacher book for preventing stereotypical behavior and suspicion in early childhood education

This research develops and assesses the effectiveness of the Smart Teacher Book in preventing stereotypical behavior and suspicion in early childhood education. Employing a mixed-method approach, it combines qualitative descriptive analysis by experts, practitioners, and book users with a quantitative assessment through quasi-experimentation to evaluate the book's effectiveness while being integrated into children's learning activities. Twenty early childhood education teachers participated and were evenly divided into experimental and control groups. The instruments consist of three scales: appropriate, less appropriate, and not appropriate. The book comprises two main sections. The first section is tailored for teachers, covering stereotypical behavior and suspicion and their causes, dangers, and prevention strategies. The second section is designed for children, presenting illustrated material addressing various stereotypes and suspicions related to social categories such as race, gender, religion, and politics. Meanwhile, the test results indicate that the Smart Teacher Book is effective for early childhood education teachers in mitigating stereotypical behavior and suspicion, as evidenced by the readability and effectiveness of the test results. Therefore, the book holds promise as a tool for fostering inclusivity and reducing prejudice in early childhood education settings.

Impact Of Academic Supervision on Improving Performance of Early Childhood Education Teachers in Early Age Learning

This research aims to understand and describe the implementation of academic supervision by school principals; assess the performance of Early Childhood Education (PAUD) teachers; determine the influence of academic supervision on PAUD teacher performance; and identify the impact of academic supervision implementation on PAUD teacher performance. This study employed an ex-post facto correlational research design. The population consisted of 594 respondents from various PAUD institutions, with a sample size of 44 respondents selected using Stratified Random Sampling based on the accreditation status of the PAUD institutions. Data were collected through non-test methods, including questionnaires validated using Likert scales and Cronbach's Alpha reliability test, interviews, observations, and documentation. Instrument content validity was 0.89 < 0.75, and reliability was 0.815 < 0.6. Data analysis involved parametric statistical analysis and Spearman correlation tests.
 The findings revealed: 1) Academic supervision by school principals in Manggarai Raya was implemented with a percentage of 40% for accreditation A, indicating excellent performance. However, when viewed comprehensively, it was considered low or unsatisfactory due to being below 50%; 2) PAUD teacher performance in Manggarai Raya, assessed using all indicators, fell into the very good category with a percentage of 20%. Yet, when viewed holistically, it was deemed inadequate/poor as it was below 50%; 3) There was a positive influence of academic supervision by school principals on PAUD teacher performance in Manggarai Raya, with a Cohen's value of 0.99, indicating that 99% of the variance in teacher performance was influenced by academic supervision by school principals; 4) The contribution of academic supervision to PAUD teacher performance in Manggarai Raya, assessed using an R2 coefficient, was 0.27% or 27%; and 5) There was an impact of academic supervision on PAUD teacher performance.
 Keywords: academic supervision, PAUD teacher performance

How Can Generative Artificial Intelligence help Teachers in Early Childhood Education with their Teaching? Analyses from the Perspective of Teaching Methods

How Can Generative Artificial Intelligence help Teachers in Early Childhood Education with their Teaching? Analyses from the Perspective of Teaching Methods

Influence of Social Interaction Interventions Used by Teachers on School Readiness among Pre-Primary Learners in Konoin Sub-County, Bomet County. Kenya

Transitioning to school is a significant developmental milestone for young children, and it is seen as a crucial "sensitive period" for future academic success. Despite the potential for such programs to have broad effects, little is known about the effects of intervention tactics in early childhood education programs on school preparation. This paper aimed at finding out the influence of social interaction interventions used by teachers on school readiness among pre-primary learners in Konoin Sub-County, Kenya. The study used descriptive survey design and targeted 312 pre-primary school teachers and 5 Ward Education Coordinators. A sample size of 172 teachers and 5 Ward Education Coordinators was used. Questionnaires and interview guides were used to collect data. Expert judgement was used to ascertain the validity while reliability was ascertained through piloting and use of Cronbach Alpha Coefficient. Quantitative data was analysed using frequencies, percentages and Pearson Correlation analysis. Qualitative data were thematically analyzed. The analyzed information was presented in tables and Figures. The study found out that there was a significant correlation between social interaction interventions (r = .278; p = .000), and school readiness. The study concluded that social interaction interventions influenced learners’ school readiness. For effective pre-school readiness, instructional support needs to be tailored to the needs of each child by the teachers, considering their strengths, interests, and learning styles. The study findings would enable early childhood education teachers to learn how to introduce learners to the school learning process by assisting them to adjust to a different environment from home.

Early childhood education and care teachers’ narratives of their professional identity

The purpose of this narrative study was to examine early childhood education and care (ECEC) teachers' narratives of their professional identity. The aim was to use six narrative interviews to find out how ECEC teachers narrate their professional identity and which experiences are relevant in shaping their professional identity. In the study, identity is seen as a social construction and a narratively structured process that takes shape throughout life. As a result of the narrative analysis, three types of stories describing teachers' professional identity emerged: Biographical stories, Value stories and Interaction stories. Based on the findings, the core value of acting in the best interests of the child is an integral part of ECEC teachers' professional identity, while scarce organizational resources and interactional conflicts challenge ECEC teachers' professional identity. Professional agency, that is, the opportunity to act in accordance with professional ethics and one's values in collaboration with a multiprofessional team and colleagues, plays an important role.

“Creating security and a good relationship with the student” – Exploring ECEC teachers’ relational professionalism during mentor training

Previous research on mentor training in early childhood education and care (ECEC) teacher education has shown that relationships are at the core of mentoring (Kupila et al., 2017; Ukkonen-Mikkola et al., 2021). This article presents findings from a qualitative study that aims to explore ECEC teachers’ relational professionalism (Furu & Sandvik, 2019) during mentor training. Our research material consisted of essays (n = 77) from the final reflective essay of a mentor training course for ECEC teachers, which were analysed through narrative analysis (Clandinin et al., 2016). The results show that ECEC teachers’ relational professionalism is built in three types of entangled relationships: (1) relation to oneself, (2) relation to the student and (3) relation to colleagues. The results imply that relationally professional mentors are a key factor that contributes to students continuing in the profession after graduation. This requires that the university engages in cooperation and relationships with the ECEC centres that receive students in the practicum. The university needs to offer mentor training and develop rich opportunities for mentors, their colleagues, and leaders in ECEC to establish relationships with all parties involved on all levels.