• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.1-17
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• 2016

This study aimed to investigate the effects of shyness of 3 to 5-year-olds and the teacher-child relationship on peer play behaviors. For this purpose, a survey was conducted targeting 33 teachers working with 277 three to five-year-olds at child care centers located in Chungbuk, Korea. SPSS 19.0 was used to implement exploratory analyses and hierarchical regression analysis. It was found that children with low sociability and thoes with close relationships with teachers indicated the least play disruption. Children whose assertiveness and sociability were low and whose relationships with teachers were close were likely to do the most play interaction. However, regardless of the level of the lack of assertiveness and of the lack of sociability, children with close relationships with teachers had a higher level of play interaction. Children with a higher level of lack of sociability and in conflict relationships with teachers had a higher level of play disconnection. Findings of this study highlight the importance of considering the interplay of children's shyness and teacher-child relationships in the development of peer play behaviors.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.257-269
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• 2001

This study identified and explained the prototypes of teacher's belief about children's play with the use of Stephenson's Q-methodology. The sample consisted of 35 kindergarten teachers. A Q-deck composed of 48 cards, derived in part from a review of related literature and was developed by the researchers and sorted by the subjects. The obtained Q-sort scores were analyzed by factor analysis. The findings revealed that the subjects were divided into 3 belief types : "life-experienced", "developmental-disciplinary", "cultural-environmental". Likely explanations for these results are considered, and implications are discussed.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.143-162
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• 1997

This qualitative study explores the development of young Korean children's reading stances and responses to children's books and discusses their literacy development in relation to school reading experiences. Rosenblatt's theory (1978) of aesthetic and efferent stances is used to characterize the relationship between the reader and the text. A teacher's reading stances in the official school world are analyzed and their relationships to children's stances and responses are discussed. The teacher's efferent stance encouraged her children's responses to he efferent as well. It also influenced children's assumptions and expectations about the teacher's reading activities, so that the children came to view these activities only as ways of obtaining factual knowledge and practicing literacy skills. The children's own interests and intentions during free play time are described in order to understand children's reading stances in the unofficial school world. The children showed various types of stances during free play time even though they were encouraged to take only one type of stance, i.e., an efferent stance, in the official school world. The findings are discussed In terms of their implications for classroom practice and literacy research.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.149-175
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• 2012

This study is designed to positively transform a teacher's emotional state whilst teaching their classes and be able to create happier lessons for preschool children. To do this, a teacher needs to reflect upon current problems and take steps to deal with them. The data for this study was collected from participatory observation and in-depth interviews, making use of photos, a reflective teacher's journal and interview records from Mar. 28, 2011 through Oct. 7, 2011. The problems identified were, (1) teacher centered classes, (2) a daily routine filled with large group activities, (3) disruptive students, and (4) repetitiveness. The routes to greater classroom "happiness" are (1) rearranging seats, (2) "story sharing activities" in small groups, (3) making a separate "story sharing activity" area, (4) using small groups instead of large groups, (5) changing the daily routine. The role of the teacher in finding greater "happiness" are (1) meaningful, 'real observation', (2) discovering genuine change from small points, (3) power sharing, and (4) growing and developing with children.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.413-423
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to consider the evaluations of curriculum and young children by kindergarten teachers. The investigation subjects for questionnaire were 637 (the directors, vice-directors, the head teachers, and teachers) who were selected by proportional stratified sampling method for population and the subjects for interview were 11 teachers out of previous subjects who have worked at Jeolla-Do. The questionnaire was based on preceding studies and the propriety of contents was validated. The followings are results of this study. First, according to the purpose of curriculum, more than half of kindergarten teachers answered that they do perform evaluation to validate the young children's developmental process and there were statistically no significant differences by variables of kindergarten teachers. This study was to see whether they perform the evaluation results of curriculum or not, they relatively perform and there were statistically differences by kindergarten teacher's working location, establishment type, level of education and age. This study was to see whether they reflect the evaluation results of curriculum, and it was revealed as they relatively reflect. Also, there were statistically significant differences by kindergarten teacher's working location. And, kindergarten teachers requested the appropriate evaluation curriculum that also requires the adequate education for teachers and organized supporting system as a implication plan. Second, as of material types for children's portfolio evaluation, teachers collect activity products at most, then activity picture, observation, standardized test, teacher's journal, recording or tape-recording, post-interview and data that were collected at home. And, kindergarten teachers requested the appropriate evaluation method and the supply of human resources as a implication plan for young children's evaluation.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.311-329
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• 2015

This study examined the influences of children's playfulness and teacher-child interactions on their peer interactions, and investigated whether teacher-child interactions had any moderating effects upon the relation between child playfulness and peer interactions. The participants of this study were 240 children in fourth year classes in child care centers in Seoul and Gyoung-gi province and 24 of their teachers. In order to measure the research variables, the Korean version of PIPPS(Pen Interaction Peer Play Scale) by Choi and Shin(2008), the Children's Playfulness Scale(Barnett, 1991), and the modified version of the Caregiver Interaction Scale(Arnett, 1989) were used. The data were analyzed by means of descriptive statics, Pearson's correlations, and hierarchical regression analysis. The results indicated that children's playfulness and teacher-child interactions had significant effects on their peer interactions. Especially, the teacher-child interactions were related to the play disruption and the play disconnection of peer interactions. In addition, teacher-child interactions moderated the effect of children's social spontaneity(children's playfulness) on their play disconnection(peer interactions). The results have some implications for the role of teacher-child interactions in peer play interactions and a range of prevention efforts.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.209-221
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• 2009

The early childhood education in Korea has made a great progress during the last thirty years. However, understanding the early childhood education is a challenging task because of the diversity of the fields. Currently 38% of 3-5 year old children are enrolled in kindergarten. And several efforts to develop and distribute the standard curricula on a national level were underwent successfully. Researches are rapidly expanding in volume and the topics are becoming diverse. Focuses of researches moved from the area of cognitive development, science and mathematics in 80s, social and emotional aspects in 90s to language, curriculum and teacher education in 2000s. One of the emerging issues is the inclusion of kindergarten to public education system and free kindergarten education for young children. The second issues is more interdisciplinary policies are in need related to the low-birth rate in nation. The third one is about teacher training policy. The fourth one is related to the health, nutrition and safety of young children. And the fifth issue is moving educational system and policies that provide better future of young children while focusing on the children in low income families and children with absolute poverty.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.119-141
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to investigate Pre-service early childhood teachers' perceptions and roles regarding young children's free play time. Methods: The study utilized the photovoice method and involved 21 pre-service early childhood teachers who expressed interest in participating. Participants were enrolled in an infants teaching methodology class in B city. The study involved four virtual meetings conducted via untact teams, and the automatic recordings of these meetings were transcribed for analysis. Results: The results revealed that pre-service early childhood teachers recognized young children's free play time as a period to enjoy full freedom, develop as the main agent of their lives, and express their imagination. Furthermore, pre-service early childhood teachers perceived their roles during young children's free play time as a specialist infant observer, a connector between play and learning, and a versatile supporter. Conclusion/Implications: The findings suggest the need for a systematic curriculum to provide pre-service early childhood teachers with a balanced perspective and awareness of the meaning of free play and teacher roles. The study highlights the importance of expanding pre-practice courses for observation of play and field-oriented curriculum for incumbent teachers.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.427-433
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• 2021

This study examined the influence of child care teachers' playfulness on teacher-child interactions. The mediating influence of the teacher's efficacy on these relationships was also examined. The study subjects were 293 child care teachers in Busan and Gyeongnam. The collected data were analyzed with a structural equation model to verify the structures and paths among the variables overall. The results were as follows. First, teachers' playfulness directly affected the teacher-child interactions. Second, the teacher's efficacy had a direct effect on the teacher-child interactions. Third, teachers' playfulness not only influenced the teacher-child interactions directly but also influenced teacher-child interactions through the teacher's efficacy. The study concludes with a discussion of the implications of the influence of child care teachers' playfulness on teacher-child interactions mediated by the teacher's efficacy.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.387-398
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• 2016

The purpose of this research is to examine childcare teacher's cognition of human right awareness for handicapped children and consciousness of social integration. The subjects were 209 kindergarten teachers in G city. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analysis with SPSS ver. 14.0. The results are as follows: Among the childcare teacher's awareness about children with disabilities human right, awareness of right to survive, right to be protected, right to participate, and right to development had direct effects on their consciousness of social integration. Among the social supports influenced by childcare teacher's awareness of human right, informational support and material support had both direct and indirect effects on their consciousness of social integration. Therefore, as childcare teachers' awareness of human right is an important factor for their consciousness of social integration, a systemic human right education for human right awareness should be provided, the necessity of establishing various social support system should be recognized to foster the social environment of respecting young children's human right, and human right awareness should be practiced into action in daily life, in order to help childcare teachers to develop as the main agents of children's human right.