Teachers’ Practices in kindergarten classrooms within the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana
Presentation by: Thompson Mumuni
Session F | 12:10 – 12:30 | Room 204
Abstract:
The study explores teachers’ practices in kindergarten classrooms within the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana. This study is ongoing. It is purposely meant for my PhD dissertation. I am currently at the data analysis stage. The research questions which guided the study were are as follows:
1. How do teachers interpret and apply DAP in kindergarten classroom?
2. What sort of learning activities does teachers engage kindergarten children?
3. What instructional strategies do teachers use in kindergarten classroom?
4. What beliefs and factors influence teachers’ instructional decision making in kindergarten classroom?
In this study, I employed qualitative case study research approach to explore teachers’ practices in two primary schools in Cape Coast. In all, four teachers were studied comprising two teachers in the first case school and two other teachers in the second case school.The data collection was done using interview and observation. Data collection and analysis in qualitative research is a simultaneous process .In light of this ,at the end of each interview session comments were made on the margins of the transcript with respect to the tentative themes that emerged from the data and the relationship between the themes,issues to probe further and leads to pursue in subsequent interviews. In a similar vein, comments were also made on the margins of the field notes with respect to the tentative themes that emerged from the data, the relationship between the themes, issues to probe further and leads to pursue in subsequent observations. The data collected were coded into themes and sub themes to answer the research questions. The study revealed that the sociology-cultural context of children is a key determinant of what is appropriate for kindergarten children to learn..The significance of the study is that it has provided insights into how kindergarten teachers interpret and apply DAP in kindergarten classroom.
