Teachers' multicultural sensitivity predicts developmentally appropriate beliefs and practices in the classroom
Asian Education and Development Studies
ISSN: 2046-3162
Article publication date: 16 November 2020
Issue publication date: 6 June 2022
Abstract
Purpose
In the current study, the author tests a conceptual model in which teachers' knowledge and skills of multiculturalism and teaching relationship (cultural harmony) are associated with developmentally appropriate practices (DAPs), developmentally appropriate (DABs), developmentally inappropriate beliefs and developmentally inappropriate practices (DIPs) in the classroom.
Design/methodology/approach
Participants were 347 preschool teachers from 12 preschools including 342 women ( 98.6%) and five men (1.4%) aged 24–45 years located across all five districts of Hong Kong. The hypothesized model of multicultural teaching competency as a predictor of DABs and DAPs is confirmed in the present study.
Findings
Multicultural teaching knowledge can enhance developmentally appropriate teaching beliefs and practices and reduce DIPs. It is highly recommended that multicultural education can be embedded in early childhood education (ECE) programs for both in-service and preservice teachers.
Originality/value
A new conceptual model of teachers' knowledge and skills of multiculturalism and teaching relationship (cultural harmony) associated with DABs, developmentally inappropriate beliefs and DAPs in the classroom was firstly examined.
Keywords
Citation
Leung, C.H. (2022), "Teachers' multicultural sensitivity predicts developmentally appropriate beliefs and practices in the classroom", Asian Education and Development Studies, Vol. 11 No. 3, pp. 475-487. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEDS-09-2020-0201
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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