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IJEC (2016) 48:161177
DOI 10.1007/s13158-016-0161-5
Published online: 27 April 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2016
Abstract Values education is embedded in the curricula of all the Nordic countries. However, values education remains a neglected area for research and practice in early childhood education and care. This article reports on the aspects of an action research project conducted in a preschool in Iceland, across a period of 18 months. The study focused on the nature of the values that the preschool teachers deemed as important to communicate to children and how they saw their own role in values education. Habermas theory of communicative action is the theoretical framework of the study. Data for this study were gathered in collaboration with the seven preschool teachers who participated in the study. The preschool teachers chose three values to focus on during the action research project: care, respect, and discipline. The data consisted of audio recordings from meetings, interviews, and journal writings. Thematic analysis was used to nd themes and patterns in the data. Five themes were identied concerning the preschool teachers role in values education: being a good role model, use of language, discussion, guidance, and direction. The ndings showed that the participating preschool teachers emphasized childrens participation and development of social skills. While these data were collected in just one Icelandic preschool, it appeared that the preschool teachers strongly valued mutual understanding and meaningful interactions with the children.
Keywords Values education Values Preschool Action research Case study
Communicative action
& Ingibjorg Sigurdardottir [email protected]
Johanna Einarsdottir [email protected]
1 School of Education, University of Iceland, Stakkahl, 105 Reykjavk, Iceland
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Web End = An Action Research Study in an Icelandic Preschool: Developing Consensus About Values and Values Education
Ingibjorg Sigurdardottir1 Johanna Einarsdottir1
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162 I. Sigurdardottir, J. Einarsdottir
Rsum Lducation aux valeurs est incluse dans les programmes de tous les pays nordiques. Cependant, lducation aux valeurs reste un domaine nglig dans la recherche et la pratique en ducation et garde des jeunes enfants. Cet article prsente des aspects dun projet de recherche action ralis dans un centre prscolaire en Islande, pendant une priode de 18 mois. Ltude se concentre sur la nature des valeurs que les ducateurs prscolaires estiment importantes communiquer aux enfants et comment...