Level of Teacher’s Profile and Practices on the Transition Period of Key Stage I Learners
Helen Umali | Larry Labay
Discipline: Education
Abstract:
The transition from kindergarten to elementary school is a pivotal stage in a child's learning journey, demanding
academic, social, and emotional adjustments. This descriptive research investigates the perspectives and practices of
teachers supporting Key Stage I learners' transitions in District II, Maramag, Division of Bukidnon, for the 2024-2025
school year. The study analyzes teacher demographics, perceptions of student challenges, and the strategies used to
facilitate this transition. Results indicate that teachers view academic preparedness as the main hurdle for young
students, with behavioral and social adaptation also posing significant challenges. Teachers highlighted the role of
parental involvement, open communication, and gradual orientation to the primary school environment while also
noting the need for stronger collaboration between preschool and primary educators. Demographic factors such as age
and gender influenced teaching approaches, whereas teaching experience did not significantly impact the application
of transition strategies. The findings emphasize the necessity of robust early childhood education, enhanced teacher
cooperation, and increased parental participation to ensure a successful transition. Recommendations include targeted
hiring to foster diversity, ongoing professional development for educators, and further studies comparing practices
across regions and over time to evaluate long-term effects.
References:
- Blair, C., & Razza, R. P. (2017). Relating effortful control, executive function, and false belief understanding to emerging math and literacy ability in kindergarten. Child Development, 78(2), 647-663.
- Borko, H. (2020). Professional development and teacher learning: Mapping the terrain. Educational researcher, 33(8), 3–15.
- Bredekamp, S., & Copple, C. (2017). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. National Association for the Education of Young Children.
- Darling-Hammond, L., Chung Wei, R., Andree, A., & Milligan, M. (2021). Professional learning in the learning profession: A status report on teacher development in the United States and abroad. National Staff Development Council & Center on Education Policy.
- Desimone, L. (2019). How can teacher evaluation best support continuous improvement in instruction? (NCREST Policy Brief). National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing.
- Domina, T., James, L., & Schumm, J. (2014). Tier 2 interventions for struggling readers in second and third grade: Considerations for effective practice. Reading Research Quarterly, 48(3), 320-349.
- Eccles, J. S., & Harold, R. D. (2015). Parent-school involvement during the early adolescent years. Teachers College Record, 94(3), 568–587.
- Eccles, J. S., & Midgley, C. (2014). “Stage-environment fit: developmentally appropriate classrooms for early adolescents,” in Research on Motivation in Education. Editors R. Ames, and C. Ames (New et al.: Academic Press), pp. 139–181
- Eliot, L., & Erwin, E. J. (2017). Early childhood education in the 21st century. Cengage Learning.
- Entwisle, D. R., & Alexander, K. L. (2018). Facilitating the transition to first grade: The nature of transition and research on factors affecting it. The Elementary School Journal, 98(4), 351-364.
- Epstein, J. L. (2014). School/family/community partnerships: Caring for the children we share. Phi Delta Kappan, 76(9), 701-712.
- Friend, M., & Cook, L. (2014). Co-teaching: The power of general and special education collaboration. Pearson.
- Garcia, M. A. U. (2014). Transition from Preschool to First Grade Primary School in Mexico: The Perceptions of Teachers, Headteachers and Parents (Doctoral dissertation, University of York).
- Garet, M. S., Porter, A. C., Desimone, L., Birman, B. F., & Yoon, K. S. (2018). What makes professional development effective? Results from a national sample of teachers. American Educational Research Journal, 45(1), 9-34.
- Goddard, Y., Hoyle, R., & Hare, S. (2020). Teacher expertise: A review of the literature. Review of Educational Research, 90(3), 822–849.
- Grimm, K. (2014). Early school transitions and children’s cognitive growth: Evidence from the USA and Germany. Longitudinal and Life Course Studies, 1(4), 335–353.
- Hargreaves, A., & Fullan, M. (2014). Professional capital: Towards a new architecture for school improvement. Teachers College Press.
- Henderson, A. T., & Gornall, D. M. (2018). Creating better schools: Parent involvement, teacher professionalism, and community partnerships. Corwin Press.
- Henderson, A. T., & Mapp, K. L. (2020). A new wave of evidence: The impact of school, family, and community connections on student achievement. Southwest Educational Development Laboratory.
- Jindal-Snape, D., Hannah, E., Cantali, D., Barlow, W., & MacGillivray, S. (2020). Systematic literature review of primary‒secondary transitions: international research. Rev. Educ. 8, 526–566. doi:10.1002/rev3.3197
- Jindal-Snape, D., and Cantali, D. (2019). A four-stage longitudinal study exploring pupils’ experiences, preparation, and support systems during primary-secondary school transitions. Br. Educ. Res. J. 45 (6), 1255–1278. doi:10.1002/berj.3561
- Ladd, G. W., & Price, J. M. (2017). Predicting children’s social and school adjustment following the transition from preschool to Kindergarten. Child Development, 58(5), 1168–1189.
- Mashburn, A. J., Pianta, R. C., & Humphries, H.(2014). Social-emotional learning and school readiness. School Psychology Quarterly, 25(1), 3–18.
- OECD. (2018). Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators. https://www.oecd.org/education/education-at-a-glance/
- Pang, I. W., & Sabelli, N. (2020). Teacher professional development in a culture of inquiry. Educational Policy, 14(3), 405–427.
- Peisach, J., Schweinhart, L., Weikart, D., Pianta, R., & Nores, A. (2017). Cost analysis of the HighScope Perry Preschool Program. Educational Researcher, 46(1), 3-20.
- Pendergast, C., Bies, D., & Daly, A. (2020). The effects of a collaborative transition program on student anxiety during the transition to middle school. Journal of School Psychology, 51(6), 647-660.
- Pianta, R. C., La Paro, K. M., & Hamre, B. K. (2020). Classroom assessment scoring system: Manual Pre-K. Paul H. Brookes Publishing.
- Pianta, R. C., & Kraft-Sayre, M. (2022). Successful kindergarten transition: Your guide to connecting children, families, and schools. Paul H. Brookes Publishing.
- Pianta, R. C. (2014). Patterns of relationships between children and kindergarten teachers. Journal of School Psychology, 39(4), 221-238.
- Pianta, R. C. (2019). Enhancing relationships between children and teachers. American Psychological Society, 10(6), 194-198.
- Ramey, S. L., & Ramey, C. T. (2019). Early learning and school readiness: Can early intervention make a difference? Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 45(3), 471-491.
- Riley, C., & Weininger, O. (2015). Teachers’ perspectives on Kindergarten–Grade 1 curricular continuity. Early Childhood Education Journal, 43(6), 523-532.
- Rimm-Kaufman, S. E., & Pianta, R. C. (2014). An ecological perspective on the transition to Kindergarten: A theoretical framework to guide empirical research. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 21(5), 491–511.
- Rogoff, B. (2020). The cultural nature of human development. Oxford University Press.
- Shepard, L. A., & Smith, M. L. (2014). Synthesis of research on assessment programs in early childhood education. Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice, 8(4), 17–18.
- Sink, C. A., Edwards, C., & Weir, S. (2017). Helping Children Transition from Kindergarten to First Grade. Professional School Counseling, 10(3), 233-237. DOI: 10.5330/prsc.10.3.9l11g7633859n2w1.
- Smith, T. M., & Ingersoll, R. M. (2014). What are the effects of teacher turnover on student achievement? National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education.
- Suárez-Orozco, C., Todorova, I. L. G., & Louie, J. (2015). Making up for lost time: The experience of separation and reunification among immigrant families. Family Process, 54(2), 205-224.
- Symonds, J., and Galton, M. (2014). Moving to the next school at age 10–14: An international review of psychological development at school transition. Rev. Educ. 2 (1), 1–27. doi:10.3389/fps.2018.0148
- Tomlinson, C. A. (2019). The differentiated classroom: Responding to the needs of all learners. ASCD.
- Tomlinson, C. A. (2014). Differentiation of instruction in the elementary grades. ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education.
- Watts, T. W., Justice, L. M., & McGlothlin, G. W. (2018). Kindergarteners’ social-emotional skills and academic engagement in first grade. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, pp. 46, 19–30.
- Webster, N. J. (2015). Planning for effective transitions
- Weiner, H. J. (2019). The effects of school climate on student and teacher outcomes: A literature review. Review of Educational Research, 79(3), 891-929.