ERIC Number: EJ1479598
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Aug
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1082-3301
EISSN: EISSN-1573-1707
Available Date: 2024-11-04
Scribbling and Early Literacy Connections: How Do Early Childhood Teachers Perceive Scribbles?
Early Childhood Education Journal, v53 n6 p2039-2052 2025
The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to understand early childhood teachers' perceptions surrounding the topic of childhood scribbles as they relate to emergent literacy. Sociocultural theory provided a foundation for this research because of its focus on relationships between children, other children, and teachers to foster learning experiences. Additionally, social semiotic theory also guided this research because childhood scribbles represent children's "signs" which can also influence communication and literacy skills. The participants were nine preschool, transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade teachers (N = 9) who volunteered to complete an open-ended survey, follow-up interviews, and a short survey before and after participating in a "Scribbles Workshop". This study was guided by a central research question: What are early childhood teachers' perceptions of children's scribbling in the classroom environment, with regard to emergent literacy? Findings highlight an overarching theme: Scribbling promotes student and teacher interaction, which is critical to increased emergent literacy. A "Scribbling Interaction Cycle" is interpreted from the data and instances where teachers mentioned the importance of the student and teacher interacting to obtain meaning. Fourteen additional themes are presented which correspond to each explored construct. Findings are discussed and implications are given which relate to improved teacher education at the university level, policy changes at the state and national level, and revising kindergarten and first grade English language arts standards to include developmentally appropriate guidelines.
Descriptors: Freehand Drawing, Early Childhood Teachers, Teacher Attitudes, Emergent Literacy, Teacher Student Relationship, Interaction, Correlation
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link-springer-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Anaheim, USA

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