Each child In Finland and in Estonia receives preschool training for a year before going to school, based on a new national framework curriculum of preschool education. The aim of the present study was to compare children's learning achievements in nine target areas, based on the teacher's evaluations at the end of the preschool year, in both Helsinki and Tallinn. The areas were Learning to learn skills, social skills, language and interaction, mathematics, ethics, science and environment, health, physical and motor development, and art and culture. In addition, the effects of gender and age on children's learning were analysed. The Finnish data were collected from 263 children in Helsinki, and corresponding Estonian data were collected from 198 children in Tallinn. The results showed significant differences between Finland and Estonia when the ratings were made of children's achievements in social skills, learning to learn skills, language and mathematics, and art and culture. Achievements in science and environment, as well as healthy sense of self-esteem, and physical-motor development, were higher in Tallinn, but in ethics children in Helsinki achieved higher scores than in Tallinn. Differences in achievements between boys' and girls' learning were stronger in Estonia than in Finland. There were specific age differences in children's achievement, both inside each country and across the two countries.
Teachers' Self-Assessment of Their Professional Skills According to the Teachers' Professional StandardThe expectations of teachers' role image have altered due to the quick changes in Estonian post-socialist society. Class teachers graduate from Tallinn University with a basic knowledge of teaching and readiness for continuous learning and self-development through daily work aimed at developing their professional competence. Teachers' 5th Professional Standard has been accepted to regulate teachers' work in Estonia. Participation in educational life fosters self-development and shapes professional and individual identity. Teachers' professional standard can guide teachers in assessing their own professional skills, including essential competence such as planning and guiding, creating the learning environment, motivating learning, co-operation, communication, and self-analysis. The research problem is: how do the teachers assess their professional skills? The data have been gathered using educational-ethnographic essay and a questionnaire clarifying the correspondence of teachers' professional skills to the standard of professional competence. The research is located within the qualitative paradigm. The highest value was attributed to the skill to consider the individual differences of each child and command of versatile teaching methods. The further development is needed in areas of sharing one's thoughts and experience with colleagues and parents' involvement in co-operation.
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