Early Childhood Education Teachers' Constructs of Teacher Quality in Belize

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session 35
  In Roundtable Session: Examining Teacher Efficacy and Politicized Curriculums in Belize, Africa, and the Caribbean

Abstract

Using the concept of teacher beliefs as a framework, the researchers analyze Belizean teachers’ perceptions of quality teaching. For this pilot study, data were collected from 22 teachers using open-ended and Likert- scale questions from a questionnaire (n = 13) or focus groups (n = 9). Research questions sought to identify behaviors teachers believed were important or next to be improved, and to determine teacher agreement with guiding standards for excellence in EC teacher preparation as identified by NAEYC. Open-coding and descriptives were used to interpret findings. Themes identified as important EC teacher behaviors and behaviours that needed improved are presented, as well as teachers’ agreement with standards of excellence in EC as identified by NAEYC.

Authors

• Erin Casey, University of Oklahoma

• Cynthia Fontcuberta DiCarlo, Louisiana State University