Re-envisioning the Role of Universities in Early Childhood Teacher Education: Community Partnerships for 21st-Century Learning

• Published in: Journal of early childhood teacher education 2014-01, Vol.35 (3), p.226-243
• Main Authors: Kennedy, Adam S., Heineke, Amy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: College Role; Early Childhood Education; Educational Change; Educational Cooperation; Educational Practices; Educational Strategies; Instructional Innovation; Learning Strategies; Partnerships in Education; School Community Programs; School Community Relationship; Teacher Education Programs; Teaching Methods; Universities
• ISSN: 1090-1027; 1745-5642
• DOI: 10.1080/10901027.2014.936072

Despite contrasting views on the overlap of early childhood education and teacher education, opportunities abound for expanding the role of early childhood educators in broader teacher education discourse. University-based early childhood education and kindergarten-through-grade-12 teacher education share purposes, philosophies, and resources that should be explored to more effectively address the needs of diverse young children and their families. Community partnerships and a shift toward community-based teacher preparation present a context and opportunity for exploring the overlap of these two historically separate fields. In this article, we present a framework for collaborative, field-based early childhood teacher preparation, situating birth-though-grade-12 teacher education in diverse community contexts and involving school and community personnel to achieve universal 21 st -century goals for the teaching and learning of young children.