This book provides new insights into how interactions in early childhood education are being studied, and into what these studies' findings mean for improving the quality of early childhood education. The editors examine the methods, ethics, practices, and questions arising from such close work with children, families and educators, and have brought together a collection that highlights interactions research and practical implications for early childhood education and research, with the ultimate aim of shaping quality practices. Starting with an overview of interaction research and its pedagogical value in early childhood education the book subsequently introduces new interaction studies in early childhood from Europe and Australasia. Drawing from a range of perspectives and using different conceptual and methodological tools the contributors use their interactions research to comment collectively on process quality in early childhood education, and its relationship to the phenomenon of pedagogical interactions. The work as a whole bridges the gap between practice and research by addressing quality interactions for early learning (for practitioners) and providing researchers valuable information on methods for studying interactions within the everyday contexts of early childhood education.

This book provides new insights into how interactions in early childhood education are being studied, and into what these studies' findings mean for improving the quality of early childhood education. The editors examine the methods, ethics, practices, and questions arising from such close work with children, families and educators, and have brought together a collection that highlights interactions research and practical implications for early childhood education and research, with the ultimate aim of shaping quality practices. Starting with an overview of interaction research and its pedagogical value in early childhood education the book subsequently introduces new interaction studies in early childhood from Europe and Australasia. Drawing from a range of perspectives and using different conceptual and methodological tools the contributors use their interactions research to comment collectively on process quality in early childhood education, and its relationship to the phenomenon of pedagogical interactions. The work as a whole bridges the gap between practice and research by addressing quality interactions for early learning (for practitioners) and providing researchers valuable information on methods for studying interactions within the everyday contexts of early childhood education.

Centering on the theme of university-based teacher education at a time of system change and its connections with broader global political issues, this book investigates the changing nature of initial teacher education (ITE) as it amalgamated into universities in the New Zealand context. The New Zealand government, like many across the world is seeking improvement in education system performance, with a particular interest in meeting the needs of those traditionally disadvantaged through education. As a result, over the last 20 years, most ITE has been relocated into universities and teacher qualifications have changed. Not immune to international discourses about the criticality of the teacher workforce to system performance, Aotearoa New Zealand provides a bounded yet connected case of ITE development and reform. The authors draw from a study of teacher education practice in Aotearoa New Zealand and also look at recent research carried out in other jurisdictions to consider how ITE and the academic category of teacher educator is constructed, maintained and practiced within the institution of the university. They highlight the promise of university-based ITE provision, noting areas for development and provide an opportunity to better understand how student teachers within ITE respond to and engage with teacher educators’ work in the service of their own learning.

How do early childhood education settings become places where everyone involved is able to say they feel they belong? What kinds of questions about inclusion, social justice and equity might it be pertinent and productive to ask of contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand early childhood teachers and their practice? When, how and why might teachers intervene to address issues of injustice and exclusion that arise in the context of early childhood work? These are the kinds of questions explored in this book. Addressing how teachers and policy makers can work for inclusion with diverse children and families, this book focuses on the development of positive attitudes to difference, diversity and inclusion. It suggests possible ways to reduce and eliminate barriers to learning and participation in early childhood communities. The authors interrogate notions of difference, inclusion and exclusion from the perspectives of M ori and cultural responsiveness, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and biculturalism, interculturalism, gender, sexualities, economic disadvantage, age, religion and disability.

Centering on the theme of university-based teacher education at a time of system change and its connections with broader global political issues, this book investigates the changing nature of initial teacher education (ITE) as it amalgamated into universities in the New Zealand context. The New Zealand government, like many across the world is seeking improvement in education system performance, with a particular interest in meeting the needs of those traditionally disadvantaged through education. As a result, over the last 20 years, most ITE has been relocated into universities and teacher qualifications have changed. Not immune to international discourses about the criticality of the teacher workforce to system performance, Aotearoa New Zealand provides a bounded yet connected case of ITE development and reform. The authors draw from a study of teacher education practice in Aotearoa New Zealand and also look at recent research carried out in other jurisdictions to consider how ITE and the academic category of teacher educator is constructed, maintained and practiced within the institution of the university. They highlight the promise of university-based ITE provision, noting areas for development and provide an opportunity to better understand how student teachers within ITE respond to and engage with teacher educators’ work in the service of their own learning.