Browsing by Author "Palokangas, Leena"

Objectives: The purpose of this master's thesis is to find out what kindergarten teachers think about the meaning of one's history in connection with education and adding consciousness about the significance of teaching history in a kindergarten. Research problems are: What new impressions do kindergarten teachers find in the significance of personal history? What kind of things are kindergarten teachers able to add to their work through reflecting personal history? How do different generations of kindergarten teachers address to personal history? How does kindergarten teachers' awareness of history appear in this study? This study is part of the Aikamatkalla-project. In this project educators have received education concerning personal history in the fall of 2015. The theory is based on references that cover teaching history in a kindergarten, personal history, professional progress of teachers and generations. Methods: Six kindergarten teachers were selected to take part in this study. They all worked in day care centres that took part in the Aikamatkalla-project during 2015 and 2016. This is a qualitative study and the information was gathered through personal interviews. I applied phenomenographical analysis as the research method. Results and conclusions: The interviewees told that during the project they received new insights of the significance of personal history in their work and personal lives. On the basis of this study it seems important to share historical facts of children and families. This helps educators to understand why children act in certain ways. Kindergarten teachers told that they also shared their own personal memories during the project and this only had a positive effect in their work. Knowledge and skills of different generations are very valuable. My conclusion is that we should increase the teaching of history to preschool children. In addition, educators should be aware of the diverse effects of personal history in their work.