Against the Unchallenged Discourse of Homelessness: Examining the Views of Early Childhood Preservice Teachers |
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| Authors: | Debra J Ackerman |
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| Institution: | National Institute for Early Education Research , 120 Albany Street, Tower 1, Suite 500, New Brunswick , NJ , 08901 , USA Phone: +1732 932 4350x233 E-mail: dackerman@nieer.rutgers.edu. |
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| Abstract: | Abstract Because of the link between teacher training and higher‐quality classroom practice, early childhood researchers and professional organizations have placed an increasing emphasis on all early childhood teachers—including those in early care and education (ECE) settings—obtaining a minimum of a Bachelor's degree as part of their professional development. Given the differing licensure requirements for ECE teachers, the variety of settings early childhood teachers work in, and the creativity needed to respond to the changing roles teachers play in those settings, however, this paper offers an additional perspective that is sometimes left out of the discussion regarding what teachers need: that of the early childhood practitioner. Using conversations with both a certified, public school teacher and a non‐certified teacher in a private ECE setting in New Jersey, this article reports on these teachers’ professional development experiences, as well as the implications of their experiences for future considerations of what teachers need in order to enhance their growth as educators. |
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| Keywords: | Early childhood professional development Early childhood teacher preparation |
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