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Developing Competent Teachers

by Roger Neugebauer
May/June 2013
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Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/developing-competent-teachers/5021128/

I dare suggest that there is 90% agreement among early childhood professionals in the United States that the skills and attitudes of teachers are critical to the quality of care that children receive. Yet, as you survey the landscape of the ­delivery of professional development, it appears that there is 0% agreement on what are the most appropriate skills and attitudes, and what are the most effective approaches to instill these skills and ­attitudes.

In this two-part series, I will share the investigations of Exchange on the status
of teacher training in the United States. I analyzed existing professional development initiatives from three perspectives:

• What training is mandated by ­governing bodies?

• What training is preferred by early childhood professionals?

• What training does research indicate is the most effective?

(Note: Throughout this discussion, a key point to keep in mind is “what level of excellence can we expect from ­teachers paid at or near the minimum wage?” But this is the subject of an ­entirely different article/book/campaign.)

In this article I will provide an overview of the forms of training and the content of training. In Part 2 (appearing in the September/October 2013 issue) I will give an in-depth analysis of how training is currently ...

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