The Circle Never Ends: Investigating the Impact of New Curriculum Instructional Practice in a Tribal Head Start

• In Event: Indigenous Peoples of the Americas SIG Business Meeting

Abstract

Research on early childhood education is particularly critical in Native communities, especially research that originates within Native communities. The College of Menominee Nation (CMN)has undertaken a new research initiative to improve Head Start teacher instructional practices. The focus of this study is to gather and analyze data to learn from the ways in which the implementation of these curricula impact the instructional practice of teachers, looking at various teacher characteristics: teaching experience, types of training, and degrees received. Lessons learned from this investigation will help inform generations of students and teachers, in terms of improvement of teacher practice, strengthening of professional development and training, and cogent use and delivery of curriculum.

Authors

• Lauren Candy Waukau-Villagomez, College of Menominee Nation

• Ruth Cyndi Pyatskowit, College of Menominee Nation