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Saying and Doing
July 28, 2010
Shoshin wasuru bekarazu—Never forget the beginner’s spirit
-Japanese proverb
Teachers' descriptions of their teaching style often is at odds with their actual behavior in the classroom as the results of a study of 20 experienced and inexperienced teachers at the University of Michigan, reported in the classic Early Childhood Development Programs and Services: Planning for Action (Columbus: Battelle Memorial Institute, 1972), indicate:

"In spontaneous interviews before and after training, both experienced teachers and beginning students expressed a preference for teaching based on the discovery model.  And, they expressed attitudes favoring a non-authoritarian or non-directive approach by the teacher.  Yet, when these teachers were observed, their teaching behavior was very different from the behavior they said they favored....  Researchers characterized the classrooms in the study as predominantly teacher-controlled or teacher-centered.  In the interviews, the teachers also preferred showing verbal concern and approval nearly three times as often as disapproval.  However, when teachers were observed and their statements were recorded, the statements characterizing support, approval, or encouragement was fewer than 10% of the total statements."




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Comments (4)

Displaying All 4 Comments
Nirmal Kumar Ghosh · July 29, 2010
Shishu Vikash Kendra
Kolkata, West Bengal, India


Everything is changed in the world . Teaching is changed gradually . In India
we could not think the early childhood care and education in 1972 but now in a remote village the awareness on early childhood is reached there .

Mary Lockhart-Findling · July 28, 2010
Grove City, MN, United States


I noticed this study took place in 1972. Is there any current research on this issue? Has there been any noticable changes in the last 38 years?

chgillan · July 28, 2010
Seventh-day Adventist Church, ECEC Coordinator
CA, United States


Since the printing of this study in 1972, many steps have been taken to improve the quality of early childhood education and care. ECEC professionals have obtained more training and practices have improved; county, state and federal governing agencies have increased regulations; environmental rating scales and accreditation protocols have become more detailed and informative as well evaluative. Additional funding streams have also been afforded ECEC programs and professionals.

We've made a lot of improvements since 1972. We still have a long road ahead of us, but what a wonderful future to look forward to!

Barb · July 28, 2010
Camp Fire USA First Texas Council
Fort Worth, TX, United States


While the results of this study can be eye opening for practitioners I think it is hard to use a study from 1972 to convince a teacher who was born in 1988 that the results are still valid today. Are there any more current studies with comparable results?



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