Children’s lens in reflective teaching approach: a Pre-School Children’s intervention for social emotional competences in Molo Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

The paper is derived from a study that examined use of children’s lens in a reflective teaching approach to enhance their learning of social emotional competences (SECs) in Molo Sub-County. The sample comprised of 73 children and 4 teachers where, 37 children and 2 teachers were in the intervention class and 36 children and 2 teachers were in the control class. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with pretest posttest model with a training module for teachers, a semi-structured interview schedule and documentary analysis schedule for teachers and a Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA) for the children. The two preschool teachers in the intervention class were trained and later guided on how to use children’s lens in a reflective teaching approach. They provided explicit lessons that teach preschool children’s SECs at the same time finding opportunities for them to strengthen their use throughout the school day. Teachers administrated DESSA pretest and posttest to all the children in the sample between a time space of three months. The children’s SECs scores were converted to Standard T-scores and analysed. A statistically significant difference in children’s SECs scores was established using an ANCOVA test. Further, it was found that children’s social emotional cognitive schema grew and developed. At the same time, preschool teachers also’ grew and developed professionally. It is recommended that teachers in preschools in the Sub-County need training and guidance on the use of children’s lens in a reflective teaching approach on children’s SECs. This would happen through workshops on the use of children’s lens in reflective teaching approach, use of children’s lens in reflective teaching approach seminars and use of children’s lens in reflective teaching approach in-service training. In order to have a local resource for teachers in the Sub-County, use of children’s lens in reflective teaching approach and children’s SECs research findings and related scholarly literature should be availed in preschools libraries and resource centers.