A Teacher's Decision Making and Practices to Increase Student Engagement

• In Event: 70.065 - Roundtable Session 27
  In Roundtable Session: 70.065-13 - Teacher–Student Influences on Classroom Management

Abstract

Teachers’ understanding and awareness of their emotions and their students’ emotions in the classroom can influence children’s engagement levels (Jennings & Greenberg, 2009). This qualitative case study conducted from a constructivist perspective, explores how young children’s engagement is enhanced when preschool teachers integrate emotions into their decision-making and practices. The primary data consist of participant observations and interviews. The findings highlight three major themes that contribute to the teachers' decision-making to integrate emotions: (1) teachers' belief about their perceived teaching identity, (2) teachers’ deep understanding of children, and (3) teachers’ assessment and reaction to the school climate.

Authors

• Ashwini Tiwari, University of Houston - Downtown

• Mi-Hwa Park, Murray State University

• Ajay K. Das, Murray State University