ERIC Number: EJ1168102
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0300-4430
EISSN: N/A
Perceptions of Early Childhood Education Professionals on Teacher Leadership in Finland
Heikka, Johanna; Halttunen, Leena; Waniganayake, Manjula
Early Child Development and Care, v188 n2 p143-156 2018
This study investigated perceptions of early childhood education (ECE) professionals employed at three ECE centres on teacher leadership enactment in Finland. These professionals comprised childcare nurses, teachers and ECE centre directors. Theoretically, the study was anchored on an analysis of teacher leadership and distributed leadership literature comprising research based in early childhood and school education contexts. Findings based on focus groups and interviews with participants suggest that teacher leadership was perceived as a responsibility of ECE pedagogy in Finland. Centre directors were considered remote from daily practice and leadership for pedagogy within the centres was shared with teachers. Teacher leadership was enacted through assessment, planning and ensuring that pedagogy was connected with each centre's goals. Participants' perceptions also indicated that centres differed on how support was being provided to teacher leaders.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Early Childhood Education, Teacher Leadership, School Nurses, Administrators, Preschool Teachers, Focus Groups, Interviews, Teacher Responsibility, Teacher Attitudes, Administrator Attitudes, Content Analysis, Qualitative Research
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Finland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A