From a Newcomer to a Welcomer: Exploring the Experiences of Immigrant Early Childhood Teachers

• In Event: 43.030 - Opening the Doors: Creating Welcoming Spaces for Immigrant and Refugee Youth

Abstract

The field of early childhood education is challenged by the growing number of immigrant children in their classrooms and their diverse needs. Juxtaposed with the concerns from the field, there is a great silence in the literature about teaching immigrants and their schooling experiences. This qualitative case study explores the experiences of immigrants in early schooling by examining the teaching practices of immigrant early childhood teachers who had early schooling experiences as immigrant students, and are now teaching young children of immigrants. Findings from this study demonstrate that looking in and listening closely to immigrant children and teachers offer important insight into the nuanced everyday practices of responsive teaching and caring for immigrant children, and provide implications for teacher education.

Author

• Seung Eun McDevitt, St. John's University