Changing times call for changes in practices: a mixed-methods study on early childhood teacher preparation program faculty’s cultural competence and efforts in preparing pre-service teachers to work with Latinx children and families

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Demi G. Siskind (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
La Paro Karen

Abstract: Over recent decades, the demographic composition of children in the United States has rapidly shifted, culturally and linguistically, with Latinx children largely contributing to these changes. Concomitantly, there has been an increased need for early childhood education (ECE) teacher preparation programs to develop a culturally competent ECE workforce who are equipped to provide equitable learning experiences for culturally and linguistically diverse children and families, in general, and Latinx children and families, in particular. Using a mixed-methods research design, the current study examined program faculty’s a) self-reported cultural competence and its association with feelings of work burnout and teaching efficacy, and b) efforts in preparing the ECE workforce to effectively serve Latinx children and families. A structural equation model was fit using 117 responses from program faculty and demonstrated that program faculty with higher levels of cultural competence reported minimal feelings of work burnout and higher teaching efficacy. Phone interviews conducted with 15 program faculty working in rapidly growing or high Latinx population states indicated that they and their teacher preparation program emphasize preparing the ECE workforce to effectively work with all children and families, not Latinx children and families, in particular. Findings from the current study provide important implications for teacher preparation programs, especially around professional development.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 2021
Keywords
Early childhood education, Teacher education, Teacher preparation
Subjects
Early childhood teachers $x Training of
Hispanic American children $x Education (Early childhood)
Culturally relevant pedagogy
Cultural competence

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