Preparing Early Childhood Teacher Candidates and Teachers Toward Diversity: A Comparative Perspective

• In Event: 68.060 - Roundtable Session 29
  In Roundtable Session: 68.060-19 - Preparing Culturally Relevant Early Childhood Teachers: Considerations and Challenges

Abstract

This paper examines transforming perspectives of early childhood teacher candidates and teachers toward diversity in the United States and South Korea. It draws upon empirical data from studies—a critical inquiry about children experiencing homelessness with the Midwest U.S. pre-service teachers and critical inquiry about multicultural children and families with South Korea preschool teachers. In both studies, the perspectives toward children from diverse backgrounds held by the teacher candidates and teachers were stigmatized. Through engaging a critical inquiry project, they were able to start to problematize their own perspectives and were transformed over time.

Authors

• Jinhee Kim, Kennesaw State University

• Minjung Lim, Kyungpook National University