The European Early Childhood Education Research Association
(EECERA) is a voluntary association solely owned by its membership and directed
under the common protocols of a charity with a Board of Trustees elected by an
Electoral College. EECERA members who wish to participate in Special Interest
Groups (SIGs) can engage in cross-national collaborations around specific
topics.
The EECERJ, the Journal of EECERA is one of the most prestigious
early childhood journals in the world. The scholarly journal is peer reviewed
and interested in research that has application. The EECERJ is issued five
times a year and is in its 22nd year of publication.
The current issue of the EECERJ has an article titled “Feelings Towards Child-Teacher
Relationships, and Emotions About the Teacher in Kindergarten: Effects on
Learning Motivation, Competence Beliefs and Performance in Mathematics and Literacy,”
(Stephanoua, 2014). The study tested the role of kindergarten children’s
feelings about the supposed quality of their relationships with their teachers
and their emotions towards their teachers in their competence beliefs and
learning motivation (intrinsic interest, learning goals), in the effect of
competence beliefs on learning motivation, and in turn in school performance in
mathematics and literacy. Compared to the other variables, competence proved to
be the strongest contributor of school performance.
Another article, “Common
Sense or Professional Qualifications? Division of Labor in Kindergartens”,
(Steinnes, 2014) compares the division of labor between kindergarten
teachers and assistants in Norwegian kindergartens. The perceptions of two
groups were studied to find the kind of knowledge needed to perform their jobs.
Interestingly, the study found that there were fewer differences than expected,
both regarding the kind of responsibilities kindergarten teachers and
assistants implement, and the ways they see themselves as qualified for their
occupation. The article discusses the implications that imply kindergarten
culture is less controlled by kindergarten teachers’ formal qualification, and
characterized more by common sense and prevalent views on upbringing.
While reviewing these
articles and more, I found that the “hot” topics in Europe are very similar to
the issues and trends that are being researched in America as well. I believe building
relationships is the foundation in early childhood education and the
qualifications for ECE teachers continues to be an important topic of discussion
in our field.
References
European
Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA): Retrieved from:
http://www.eecera.org/
Steinnes, G. S., (2014), Common sense or professional qualifications? division of
Stephanoua, G. (2014) Feelings
towards child-teacher relationships, and emotions about
the teacher in kindergarten: effects on learning motivation,
competence beliefs and performance in mathematics and literacy, EECERJ, Retrieved from: http://www.eecera.org/
Thanks for sharing this information. It was interesting to hear how the interesting topics in Europe are so similar to the interesting topics here in America. I look forward to reading the article “Feelings Towards Child-Teacher Relationships, and Emotions About the Teacher in Kindergarten: Effects on Learning Motivation, Competence Beliefs and Performance in Mathematics and Literacy". It is definitely interesting to see how a child's view of their relationship with their teacher affects their learning.
ReplyDeleteCourtney Griswold
I looked at the same website and I feel that the topics are much the same there as they are here. The article about child-teacher relationship I feel is a big topic everywhere. As professional we always need to remember how we are talking to the children and the relationships we are making with them. This is the age where our relationship with them, mold how they think of school and the relationships they have later in life. I can still remember the teachers that I had the best relationships with, they will never be forgotten and they are the reason I teach today.
ReplyDeleteChristine,
ReplyDeleteAfter exploring this website myself, the article “Feelings Towards Child-Teacher Relationships, and Emotions About the Teacher in Kindergarten: Effects on Learning Motivation, Competence Beliefs and Performance in Mathematics and Literacy,” was an eye catcher for me. Since the article was interesting, I found myself printing the article for the support of my teaching staff. I want the teachers to more effective in the areas of mathematics and literacy. Furthermore, the article will motivate the teacher to help the children increase their school performance.