The dilemma of early childhood teachers required to carry out a curriculum implementation process: Case studies

Wai Yum Veronica YEUNG-WONG

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlespeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The present study adopted a qualitative approach through in-depth individual and focus group interviews to study the attitudes of the early childhood teachers in Hong Kong. The goal of the study is to reveal the lived experience of real people in real contexts. The first part of the study looks at how satisfaction/dissatisfaction of early childhood teachers was experienced by teachers and the principal, in the process of a top-down curriculum implementation at a local kindergarten in Hong Kong. Building on the findings of this case study, the need for pedagogical skill and knowledge to enhance the job satisfaction of early childhood teachers was addressed. By means of an action research, thirty student teachers at the In-serve Qualified Kindergarten Teacher Education Course were involved in learning ways of understanding and implementing an art project. The ability to help children learn was reported by the student-teachers as the main source of satisfaction when implementing a revitalized process for a more child-centred approach in art projects for children. However, the opinions towards the bottom-up scenario on innovative learning and teaching approach were diverse. The lack of positive supporting context at the organizational level was identified to be the main obstacle to teachers' improvement and satisfaction. Besides the professional/pedagogical development of the teachers, the attitude of the administrators/principals and parents were vital factors in promoting the satisfaction of early childhood teachers in Hong Kong. Copyright © 2003 Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)43-53
JournalEarly Child Development and Care
Volume173
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2003

Citation

Wong, W.-Y. (2003). The dilemma of early childhood teachers required to carry out a curriculum implementation process: Case studies. Early Child Development and Care, 173(1), 43-53.

Keywords

  • Job satisfaction
  • Teachers' pedagogical competencies
  • Early childhood teachers

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