ERIC Number: EJ1454953
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0300-4279
EISSN: EISSN-1475-7575
Scaffolding Social and Emotional Learning in Preschool Children from Low-Income Backgrounds: A Study of Teacher Strategies during COVID-19
Jennifer J. Chen; Haily Badolato
Education 3-13, v53 n1 p85-98 2025
This study investigated the pedagogical strategies implemented by preschool teachers to scaffold social and emotional learning (SEL) in socioeconomically disadvantaged children (ages 3-4) during the 2020-2021 school year amidst COVID-19 in the United States. The participants consisted of eight teachers (representing four teaching teams of one lead teacher and one teacher assistant) from four classrooms in one preschool. The teachers (ages 26-49 years, M = 39 years) had 1-20 years (M = 10 years) of teaching experience. Each teacher was interviewed individually for an average of 40 min virtually via Zoom. A thematic analysis of the data revealed that the four most prevalent strategies applied by the teachers to scaffold the children's SEL were: (1) conducting daily feelings check-ins, (2) modeling social and emotional skills, (3) engaging children in book reading and discussion, and (4) involving children in developmentally appropriate physical activities. These teachers also reported that some children missed out on critical SEL due to their absenteeism.
Descriptors: Preschool Education, Preschool Teachers, Preschool Children, COVID-19, Pandemics, Social Emotional Learning, Scaffolding (Teaching Technique), Low Income Students, Minority Group Teachers, Educational Strategies, Teaching Methods, Socioeconomic Background, Distance Education, Blended Learning, Teacher Student Relationship, Child Welfare, Reading Instruction, Discussion (Teaching Technique), Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Physical Activities
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New Jersey
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A