scholarly journals Privileging Power: Early Childhood Educators, Teachers, and Racial Socialization in Full-Day Kindergarten

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Zuhra Abawi
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Critical Race Theory ◽  
Racial Socialization ◽  
Power Relations ◽  
Early Learning ◽  
Early Childhood Educators ◽  
Learning Spaces ◽  
Full Day Kindergarten ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Full Day

This paper critically unpacks the racialized and gendered hierarchies between the co-teaching model of early childhood educators (ECEs) and Ontario certified teachers (OCTs) in full-day kindergarten (FDK), and how such positionalities speak to racial socialization in early learning spaces. While young children and early learning spaces are often portrayed as raceless, ahistorical, and apolitical, extant literature suggests that children as young as two years of age are aware of visible and cultural differences between themselves and other groups. The paper employs a reconceptualist framework by drawing on critical race theory to explorehow racialized power relations between ECEs and teachers inform hierarchies of dominance and impact processes of racial socialization in FDK learning spaces. While both professions are predominantly feminized, the overwhelming majority of teachers in Ontario are white and middle class, whereas ECEs in FDK programs are more likely to be racialized and marginalized due to low wages and diminished professional status as care workers rather than educators. Although there has been great emphasis on the importance of diversifying the teacher workforce, there is minimal study on the impact of the hierarchies and racialized power relations between ECEs and OCTs and their impact on racial socialization in FDK programs. This conceptual paper seeks to address this gap.

scholarly journals Parents’ perception of raising healthy Black children

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Hall
Keyword(s):  
Racial Identity ◽  
Critical Race Theory ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Racial Socialization ◽  
Early Learning ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Healthy Development ◽  
Children's Home ◽  
Black Canadian ◽  
The Impact

The early learning environment is important in the development of racial identity for Black and bi-racial children as this may be the first environment outside of the children’s home environment where they learn about themselves and others. Through semi-structured interviews this qualitative research explores five Black Canadian mothers’ racial socialization practices and perceptions of how their children’s racial identity is being represented in the early learning environment. Employing a constructivist framework and Critical Race Theory (CRT) four overarching themes were identified: “racial socialization behaviours connected to Black identity”, “parents using racial socialization to combat racism”, “lack of resources supporting racial identity”, and “diversity of teachers, authority belongs to everybody”. The mothers in this study employed racial socialization behaviours to buffer against the impact of racism in order to support the healthy development of their children.

scholarly journals Early childhood educators’ perceptions of their roles and responsibilities in Ontario’s full day kindergarten program

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rabeya Hossain
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Educators ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities ◽  
Full Day Kindergarten ◽  
Professional Recognition ◽  
Colonial Theory ◽  
Teaching Team ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Full Day

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand early childhood educators’ perceptions of their roles and responsibilities based on their lived experiences in Ontario’s full day kindergarten (FDK) program. The theoretical framework that underpinned my study is post-colonial theory and Foucault’s post-structural concept of “power/knowledge” which offered different perspectives to understand how ECEs’ shaped their perceptions. Key messages from the findings suggest despite challenges within the FDK program, ECEs recognized and acknowledged their complementary roles within the teaching team, and identified the need for professional recognition of their work. The key messages further suggested that principals as the leaders of the school need to have a greater understanding about ECEs’ roles, and the relationship between the educators. The recognition of the role and knowledge that ECEs contribute to FDK programs is crucial in order to facilitate collaboration between the educators within the teaching team.

scholarly journals Parents’ perception of raising healthy Black children

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Hall
Keyword(s):  
Racial Identity ◽  
Critical Race Theory ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Racial Socialization ◽  
Early Learning ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Healthy Development ◽  
Children's Home ◽  
Black Canadian ◽  
The Impact

The early learning environment is important in the development of racial identity for Black and bi-racial children as this may be the first environment outside of the children’s home environment where they learn about themselves and others. Through semi-structured interviews this qualitative research explores five Black Canadian mothers’ racial socialization practices and perceptions of how their children’s racial identity is being represented in the early learning environment. Employing a constructivist framework and Critical Race Theory (CRT) four overarching themes were identified: “racial socialization behaviours connected to Black identity”, “parents using racial socialization to combat racism”, “lack of resources supporting racial identity”, and “diversity of teachers, authority belongs to everybody”. The mothers in this study employed racial socialization behaviours to buffer against the impact of racism in order to support the healthy development of their children.

scholarly journals Early childhood educators’ perceptions of their roles and responsibilities in Ontario’s full day kindergarten program

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rabeya Hossain
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Educators ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities ◽  
Full Day Kindergarten ◽  
Professional Recognition ◽  
Colonial Theory ◽  
Teaching Team ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Full Day

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand early childhood educators’ perceptions of their roles and responsibilities based on their lived experiences in Ontario’s full day kindergarten (FDK) program. The theoretical framework that underpinned my study is post-colonial theory and Foucault’s post-structural concept of “power/knowledge” which offered different perspectives to understand how ECEs’ shaped their perceptions. Key messages from the findings suggest despite challenges within the FDK program, ECEs recognized and acknowledged their complementary roles within the teaching team, and identified the need for professional recognition of their work. The key messages further suggested that principals as the leaders of the school need to have a greater understanding about ECEs’ roles, and the relationship between the educators. The recognition of the role and knowledge that ECEs contribute to FDK programs is crucial in order to facilitate collaboration between the educators within the teaching team.

scholarly journals Well-being in the Kindergarten Eating Environment and the Role of Early Childhood Educators

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 37-52
Author(s):  
Japji Anna Bas
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Kindergarten Children ◽  
Full Day Kindergarten ◽  
Phase Study ◽  
Three Phase ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Full Day

In Ontario, kindergarten children haverecently begun to eat lunch at school with theimplementation of the full-day kindergartenprogram. To date, there are no regulations toaddress the particular needs of young childrenin the school eating environment. Drawing ona year-long three-phase study that followed acohort of 21 children as they transitioned fromfull-day childcare to full-day kindergarten,this study explores the impact of staff trainingand staff relationships on the well-being ofkindergarten students. Findings suggest that thepresence of an early childhood educator (ECE),a minimum staffing of two adults per room, anda collaborative approach between teacher andECE have a positive impact on child well-being.

scholarly journals British Columbia's Full Day Kindergarten Program Guide: A Critical Race Analysis

2012 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-20
Author(s):  
Jennifer Moule
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Elementary Schools ◽  
Critical Race Theory ◽  
Critical Race ◽  
Race Theory ◽  
Full Day Kindergarten ◽  
School Day ◽  
Full Day ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Race Analysis

In September 2011, all elementary schools in British Columbia, Canada began providing a full school day of kindergarten to its children. Prior to this, the majority of children experi-enced kindergarten in a half day for-mat, while the province provided a full day to children from “certain pop-ulations” of ethnicity, language, and ability. Supporters of the change pro-fess that a full day of kindergarten can be beneficial for all children, which will subsequently benefit the province in general. This paper aims to gain insight into how the contemporary discourses in early childhood educa-tion in relation to full day kinder-garten influence the racialized experi-ences of British Columbia's young children of colour. A textual analysis was conducted on the Full Day Kindergarten Program Guide (2010) from the lens of Critical Race Theory. The guide's ambiguous use of the con-cept of “culture” is highlighted.

scholarly journals Partnerships in Full-Day Kindergarten Classrooms: Early Childhood Educators and Kindergarten Teachers Working Together

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Underwood ◽  
Aurelia Di Santo ◽  
Angela Valeo ◽  
Rachel Langford
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Social Policy ◽  
Early Childhood Educators ◽  
Teaching Approaches ◽  
Teaching Models ◽  
Full Day Kindergarten ◽  
Working Together ◽  
Policy Direction ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Full Day

<p>This study examines the relationship between teachers and early childhood educators in full-day kindergarten classrooms in one school board in Ontario. The study uses the theoretical framework of co-teaching models developed in special education to analyze the range of approaches used by the educator teams. Findings indicate that the teams primarily engage in a one teach/one assist approach, but they also describe some examples of other co-teaching approaches that are possible in these classrooms. The study concludes that support for the expansion of the co-teaching repertoire could provide a mechanism for integrating the expertise of both educators in full-day kindergarten classes and maximizing the efficacy of this social policy direction. Implications for educators and administrators are addressed.</p>

scholarly journals Training may enhance early childhood educators’ self-efficacy to lead physical activity in childcare

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brianne A. Bruijns ◽  
Andrew M. Johnson ◽  
Jennifer D. Irwin ◽  
Shauna M. Burke ◽  
Molly Driediger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Early Childhood Educators ◽  
Outdoor Play ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Intervention Component ◽  
Space Extension ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Early childhood educators (ECEs) play a critical role in promoting physical activity (PA) among preschoolers in childcare; thus, PA-related training for ECEs is essential. The Supporting PA in the Childcare Environment (SPACE) intervention incorporated: 1. shorter, more frequent outdoor play sessions; 2. provision of portable play equipment; and, PA training for ECEs. An extension of the SPACE intervention (the SPACE-Extension) incorporated only the shorter, more frequent outdoor play periods component of the original SPACE intervention. The purpose of this study was to explore the individual impact of these interventions on ECEs’ PA-related self-efficacy and knowledge. Methods ECEs from the SPACE (n = 83) and SPACE-Extension (n = 31) were administered surveys at all intervention time-points to assess: self-efficacy to engage preschoolers in PA (n = 6 items; scale 0 to 100); self-efficacy to implement the intervention (n = 6 items); and, knowledge of preschooler-specific PA and screen-viewing guidelines (n = 2 items). A linear mixed effects model was used to analyze the impact of each intervention on ECEs’ self-efficacy and knowledge and controlled for multiple comparison bias. Results The SPACE intervention significantly impacted ECEs’ self-efficacy to engage preschoolers in PA for 180 min/day (main effect), and when outdoor playtime was not an option (interaction effect). Further, the interaction model for ECEs’ knowledge of the total PA guideline for preschoolers approached significance when compared to the main effects model. Participants within the SPACE-Extension did not demonstrate any significant changes in self-efficacy or knowledge variables. Conclusions Findings from this study highlight the benefit of ECE training in PA with regard to fostering their PA-related self-efficacy and knowledge. Future research should explore the impact of PA training for ECEs uniquely in order to determine if this intervention component, alone, can produce meaningful changes in children’s PA behaviours at childcare.

scholarly journals Early Childhood Transitions and Critical Praxis

2012 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 13-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Tilleczek
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Public Education ◽  
Prince Edward Island ◽  
Educational Practice ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Full Day Kindergarten ◽  
The Social ◽  
Core Elements ◽  
Full Day

This paper presents literature and findings on childhood transitions in public education. Set in the context of shifts in Canada to full day kindergarten, it makes visible the range of human relational and structural concerns that must be considered in the practice of researching and facilitating transitions for children. The paper draws upon a review of international literatures and a longitudinal, three-year qualitative study of 795 students, parents, and educators in 37 families of schools who conversed about the character and meaning of transitions. Such long-term enactments of transitions as they occur are scarce but important in making visible the complexity and nuance of childhood transitions. Findings include the importance of a critical praxis for transitions which gets at the roots of the social organization and inequality in research and educational practice. The paper addresses critical praxis as found in three early childhood education frameworks (Australia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, Canada). Attention to being, becoming, and belonging for all children and the fit between human and structural concerns at the levels of society, community, school, and family form core elements of critical praxis. Transitions are best understood and facilitated as over time, complex social ensembles.

Confronting the Contradictions: A Case Study of Early Childhood Teacher Development in Neoliberal Times

2009 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 240-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher P. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Teacher Development ◽  
Teacher Candidates ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Early Learning ◽  
Early Childhood Teacher ◽  
Reform Process ◽  
Instrumental Case Study ◽  
The Impact

As neoliberal polices that emphasize governing the modern state through market-based principles expand across the globe, they are altering the training of early childhood teacher candidates. This creates a range of challenges for those teacher educators who are critical of this reform process. This article presents an instrumental case study that examined the impact of neoliberal education reforms on the development of a sample of early education teacher candidates. Analyzing this case of teacher development offers teacher educators the opportunity to consider the practical and critical steps they might take to better prepare their candidates for these reforms. Doing so will help teacher candidates develop early learning experiences for their children that teach them to become engaged democratic citizens rather than compliant consumers within the neoliberal state.

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