College IN Communities: An Analysis of a Community-Based Service-Learning Experience for Pre-Service Teachers and Early Head Start Teachers and Mothers

• In Event: Roundtable Session 10
  In Roundtable Session: Relationships for Service-Learning in Teacher Education

Abstract

This narrative chronicles the experiences of 23 early childhood (EC) pre-service teachers (PSTs), five Early Head Start (EHS) teachers, and five EHS mothers who engaged in a community learning setting that emphasized public scholarship as a means of (1) transferring early literacy and language development theory to best practices, (2) highlighting community "funds of knowledge," and (3) connecting a college to a community. The study uses pre- and post-written content knowledge quizzes, written reflections, a post-course survey, and 2 post-experience focus groups to examine (1) participants' knowledge about emergent literacy and (2) attitudes towards community learning experiences and community partners. This study is an example of alternative teacher education methods that include community members as part of PSTs' educational preparation.

Author

• Lauren E Burrow, Stephen F. Austin State University