Preschool environments offer an abundance of opportunities for exploring the physical world where children can learn "engineering concepts" and "principles" (theories or laws). Yet how teachers design motivating conditions for engineering thinking has not been fully investigated. The study reported in this paper examined how…

The reading ability of learners in the Foundation Phase through the development of reading proficiency at an early age could determine learning. With the study reported on here I intended to explore the challenges faced by Foundation Phase teachers in teaching reading. I used a qualitative approach and employed an explanatory case study design.…

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of instructional methods based on Constructivist theory and cooperative learning on first-grade students' mathematical learning achievement and social awareness. Method: A natural sample of 30 children aged 6-7 years old was cluster-randomized into an experimental group. Mathematical…

Teaching children with individualized education programs (IEPs) can pose challenges such as determining materials to use, managing the materials, and keeping data organized. This paper reviews those challenges that teachers (e.g., general and special education) encounter and describes the necessity for systematic data collection. Guidelines are…

This article describes the challenges and triumphs in introducing music in the primary division of a private elementary school in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data sources included classroom observations, field notes, lesson plans, professional development materials, photographs, audio-recordings, videos, surveys, and interviews. Data were analyzed using…

Team teaching as a form of collaborative teaching practice is increasingly employed in teacher education. Positive and trusting relationships with the team partner and the mentor teacher are at the core of such internships and form the basis for optimal learning experiences and successful cooperation in the practicum. However, trust has been…

There is growing global recognition of the contribution that leadership development can make to improving quality and outcomes in the Early Years (EY) education sector. UK governments are responding to such evidence through the creation of new national qualifications for EY professionals across the sector and the expansion of publicly funded…

This paper analyses a research developed at the University of Cantabria (Spain) committed to inclusive education, as it proposes a process of collaborative enquiry into relevant educational concepts related to attention to diversity. The work carried out by the university students (preservice teachers) resulted in the production of a dictionary…

Collective leadership is increasingly important because collective teacher efficacy, a subset of this type of leadership, is a significant factor in student learning. The purpose of this study is to provide evidence for the structural validity of a collective leadership instrument across public and private school settings using the multigroup…

Context: European policies describe the key role of teachers' Vocational Education and Training (VET) in improving students' learning outcomes. In order to improve teacher education, Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) policies identify competency models as the main framework for understanding teacher professionalism and…

This article investigates alternative ways doing of mathematics in an Early Childhood Education Teacher Programme using aesthetic forms of expression, the body and reflections on ethics, gender and responsibilities in the transition from student teacher at university to a qualified preschool teacher of children aged 4-5 years. The purpose of the…

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) staff are central to promoting young children's development, learning and well-being. ECEC staff work in teams and the staff roles included these teams vary both across countries and within countries, for instance related to the size and location of ECEC centres. Initial education and ongoing professional…

Music undoubtedly affects the visual and emotional sensitivity of a person. It stimulates various sensations, thoughts, images and sensations that cause a desire for free expression of the personality. Through the conscious perception of music, knowledge, skills and relationships are created that develop imagination, fantasy and creativity,…

Conflicts are inevitable, often hard to navigate, and can quickly multiply and become unmanageable. And resolving conflict requires self-reflection, understanding, and vulnerability. But knowing how to tackle difficult conversations will strengthen relationships, create a more equitable community, and improve the impact educators have on the young…

Drawing on discourse analysis and interview data, this case study uncovers how a lesson study team, supported by a curriculum specialist and an experienced teacher, anchored anticipating of student learning in sound curriculum deliberation, which enabled novice teachers to teach effectively inferencing skills, a highly demanding domain, through an…