“It Felt Good to Be Included”: A Mixed-Methods Study of Pre-Kindergarten Teachers’ Experiences with Professional Learning

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Abstract

This article reports findings from a study to investigate the efficacy beliefs, experiences, and instructional practices of pre-kindergarten (pre-k) teachers from a high-need district who engaged in collaborative professional learning experiences provided by a partner university. The study also examined language and literacy instruction for children in their pre-k classrooms. The professional learning occurred as part of a project to support pre-k teachers within the district and to boost teaching effectiveness. Researchers employed a mixed methods approach to investigate how pre-k teacher participants (a) perceived their efficacy as teachers; (b) experienced early literacy-focused professional learning; and (c) approached literacy teaching within their classrooms. Analysis of three years of data reveal alignment between participants’ sense of efficacy and instructional strengths and areas for growth both self-reported and observed. Additionally, participants echoed feelings of exclusion from most professional learning experiences and offered insight into considerations for designing and delivering professional learning opportunities to effectively support pre-k teachers’ literacy instructional practices.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)593-604
Number of pages12
JournalEarly Childhood Education Journal
Volume50
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2022

Keywords

  • Early literacy
  • Pre-kindergarten
  • Professional learning
  • School-university partnerships
  • Teacher efficacy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology

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