• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.1-19
• /
• 2019

Objective: This study examined the mediating effects of child care teachers' self-esteem in the relationship between teachers' difficulties communicating with parents and teacher-child interactions. Methods: A total of 450 child care teachers answered questionnaires based on three research variables. Data were analyzed using SEM. Results: First, child care teachers' difficulties communicating with parents had a direct effect on teacher-child interactions. That is, child care teachers who experienced more difficulties communicating with parents showed more negative teacher-child interactions. Second, child care teachers' difficulties communicating with parents had an indirect effect on teacher-child interactions through teachers' self-esteem. In other words, when child care teachers experienced more difficulties communicating with parents, their self-esteem was lower, which led to increased negative teacher-child interactions. Conclusion/Implications: This study highlights the importance of effective communication between child care teachers and parents. In addition, these findings contribute to a better understanding of the mechanism by which child care teachers' difficulties communicating with parents influence teacher-child interactions.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.656-666
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study is to investigate early childhood teachers' difficulties in creativity education. The subjects of this study were 10 early childhood teachers. Data were collected from reflective journals and in depth interviews. The results were as follows: First, the difficulties fall into two categories; inter and outer difficulties. Second, inter difficulties were teachers' misunderstanding of creativity. Third, outer difficulties were parent's demand for prerequisite learning, kindergarten director's goals of education, insufficient pre-service teacher education, and a lack of support to teachers.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.31-41
• /
• 2010

This study analyzes the difficulties that student teachers, beginning teachers and experienced teachers face in the field of kindergarten, and urgent support requests. The total of participants was 372 of this number, 122 were student teachers, 118 were beginning teachers and 132 were experienced teachers. The results showed the difference in difficulties and the needed support requests among student teachers, beginning teachers and experienced teachers. Student teachers had the difficulty of time management, but beginning teachers and experienced teachers had trouble due to the nonexistence of assistant teachers. Student teachers required teaching strategies for starting relationships with children within responsibility. Beginning teachers and experienced teachers regarded the plan, practice, and evaluation of a program as the most needed support request. Collectively, the results revealed that expansion of the practice period is necessary for student teachers so that they can gain experience with children, parents, and the children's education institution with various opportunities as a learning course.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.252-260
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this study was to examine the difficulties experienced by teachers in science gifted education. To fulfill the purpose of this study, 80 science teachers that taught gifted students were requested to write an anecdotal report regarding gifted education and presented 215 difficulties. By means of inductive categorical analysis, these difficulties were grouped into several categories. The results were as follows: The difficulties experienced by teachers in science gifted education fell into three categories: 'difficulties relating to environment (23.7%)', 'difficulties relating to students(16.7%)', 'difficulties relating to teachers(59.5%)'. Most serious difficulty was 'insufficient educational program'. and many teachers felt difficulty in developing the educational materials. Additionally, we discussed some features of each categories of difficulties.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.97-107
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study is to discover and develop any implications which may arise in relation to science teachers' professional growth and development by investigating the difficulties experienced by elementary school teachers in science classes. 196 elementary school teachers were requested to write an anecdotal report regarding their science lessons. 30 science teachers in middle school also answered the same questionnaire. By means of inductive categorical analyzing, the difficulties were grouped into several categories. The results were as follows: (1) The difficulties elementary teachers experience in their science lessons fall into three categories; 'professional science knowledge(9.8%)', 'science laboratory activities(78.3%)', 'teaching methodology(11.2%)'. (2) Science teachers in middle school experienced similar difficulties. However, distribution differed from that of elementary school teachers; 'professional science knowledge(39.0%)', 'science laboratory activities(35.6%)', 'teaching methodology(27.1%)'. (3) The causes of these difficulties were identified as follows; a lack of time to prepare for science classes, insufficient substantial pre-service teacher education, and a lack of adaptive support to elementary school teachers.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.588-596
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study is to provide basic data for improving the STEAM class by examining elementary school teachers' difficulties in the STEAM class and discussing solutions. For this research, 25 elementary school teachers in Seoul City and Gyeonggi-do were asked to write their difficulties in the STEAM class in the open-ended questionnaires. After classification of the collected data, an in-depth interview was conducted with one in-service elementary school teacher who is richly experienced in STEAM education to find solutions for each type of difficulties. The study result showed that most of elementary school teachers had difficulties in the STEAM class, due to selection of integrated subjects, production of teaching devices and materials, guidance of group activities, reorganization of the curriculum, assessment and uncooperative co-teachers. One teacher that participated in the interview to discuss solutions for teachers' difficulties was solving the problems in various ways. She said that many of her solutions came from her experience and also, knowledge obtained through a participation in the STEAM training or opportunities to share information with other teachers who belong to the STEAM research institution, was highly helpful.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.74-84
• /
• 2004

The purpose of this study was to get an implication on teacher education program, by exploring the difficulties pre-service elementary teachers have with their science lessons. 37 pre-service teachers were requested to write an anecdote about their science lessons during their 4 week practicum. By analyzing these anecdotes, the difficulties were grouped into several categories by the researcher, and then reconfirmed by the pre-service teachers themselves. The result showed that there were far more difficulties with practical work (cases: 48), than with content knowledge teaching (cases: 17). Among practical work related difficulties, the most frequent cases were: 1) when they have unexpected result different from scientific theory (cases: 10), 2) when they teach process skill and usage of lab equipments (cases: 8), and 3) when they do not have enough preparation for practical work (cases: 7). Unlike the result of preceding research on secondary pre-service teachers, there was no affective aspect problems. These difficulties also can be divided into 'problems' and 'dilemmas'. Whereas 'problems' can be settled by removing obstacles, 'dilemmas', a conflict-filled situation, require choices between competing values or aims. The use of scientific language, the decision on the level and amount of knowledge they teach, and disposal of unexpected experiment results caused such dilemmas in science lessons. The research results imply practical work should be more strengthened in the elementary teacher education program. And both teacher educators and pre-service teachers need to understand that practical teaching is a complex enterprise accompanying some 'dilemmas'. The role of science teachers as managers of dilemmas could be considered.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.262-276
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate and analyze the elementary teachers' views and students' views about the difficulties in teaching and learning on open inquiry activities of elementary school science. Semi-structured interviews were conducted individually with three elementary teachers who have serviced more than three years, and with twenty four elementary students attending schools located in Cheongju City. And their anecdotes were collected and analyzed. The interview questions were developed through Seidman's steps to acquire the reliability in the interview data. From the interviews and anecdotes, we found that elementary teachers' views about the difficulties of teaching open inquiry activities: the difficulties of teaching in finding inquiry problem and planning inquiry, the difficulties of managing group activities, the difficulties of managing class hours for inquiry, the lack of the students' inquiry abilities, and problems on students' affective characteristics. And the students have the views about the difficulties in doing open inquiry activities: the difficulties of finding inquiry problem and planning inquiry, being unaccustomed to write reports, the troubles with investigating, problems on affective characteristics, the difficulties of joining in a group, and the lack of inquiry abilities. The teachers give suggestions for effective application of the open inquiry activities: first, the teachers must encourage students' emotion and will in doing open inquiry activities, second, there must be the steady inquiry teaching and learning in ordinary elementary science classes. Based on the results, this study suggested that elementary teachers should concern specially about students' being unaccustomed to write reports and the troubles in doing scientific investigation.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.331-354
• /
• 2015

This study attempts to reveal the difficulties of teachers during the process of infant's early adaptation in the day care center and realize the thought and demand of teachers. And the purpose of this study is to make a desirable development in infant's early adaptation. The participants of the study were 9 infants all 1 year of age, their 7 parents, and 8 teachers of S public child day care center in P city. The 8 teachers were interviewed several times. The results of the study can be summarized as follows. First, the teachers' difficulties in their relationships with the parents are 1) egotism focusing on only their own child, 2) distrust between the teachers and parents, 3) a lack of understanding in the role as parents at early adaption programs, 4) and a lack of understanding in the management of the day care center. Second, in their relationships with the infants, the teachers'difficulties are 1) the uncontrollable behaviors of infants, 2) the arbitration of struggle between children, 3) and the inequality between enrolled and fresh infants. Third, in their relationships with the teachers, the difficulties are 1) co-work with other teachers 2) and conversation with the director of the day care center. This study is expected to give actual help to understand the difficulties of teachers who experience difficulties in the early infant adaptation process and to provide important preliminary data to plan specific management which assist with the difficulties of teachers.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.597-606
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study is to survey and analyze difficulties in teaching and learning elementary school science on the chapter titled 'electric circuit'. 28 elementary school teachers who teach 5th grade science and 73 5th grade students in elementary school were taken part in this survey. The pilot questionnaire was distributed to find out both the degree and the reason of difficulties in teaching and learning. The answers are analyzed with four areas to extract elements which make class difficult; Learner factors (L), Instruction factors (I), Curriculum & textbooks factors (C), and Environment factors (E). The results are as follows. (1) It can be seen that both students and teachers feel the highest difficulty in 7th lesson 'the direction of current', while they felt little difficulty in lesson 3 'conductor and nonconductor' and lesson 8 'the safety of electricity'. (2) The most mentioned reason of difficulties in teaching and learning was Learner factors (L). (3) Teachers felt many difficulties in experimental environment. On the other hands, students didn't think experimental failures as serious trouble. (4) Students felt many difficulties in new terms and hazy concepts or expressions. (5) Teachers felt a lot of difficulties in those from Curriculum & textbooks factors.