Classroom Management Experiences of Preschool Teachers with Refugee Students

Abstract

Although refugee education is among the prominent research topics today, there is limited information in the literature about preschool, one of the important periods of education, and classroom management in this context. The purpose of this study is to explore the classroom management experiences of preschool teachers who have refugee students in their classrooms. In this way, this research examines the experiences of teachers about how they make sense of the difficulties they face in the classroom and the strategies they develop to combat them. Twenty-one preschool teachers with refugee students in their classrooms were included in this qualitative study through criterion purposive-measure sampling method. The data were collected using a semi-structured interview form and analyzed using content analysis. Research findings showed that the difficulties experienced by teachers in terms of classroom management with the presence of refugee students in their classrooms were listed under the categories of grouping tendency, difficulties in implementation, need for additional activities, lack of time, communication problems, exhibiting unwanted behaviors, adaptation problems, tendency to disobey rules and cultural differences. Furthermore, the study revealed what kind of solutions teachers applied in terms of classroom management for the difficulties arising from the presence of refugee students in the classroom. The teachers used some strategies such as using visual elements, mainstreaming, considering individual differences, increasing comprehensibility, peer support, social communication, language activities, using reinforcement, intensive communication, and family support. In line with the results of the research, suggestions for future research and practices are discussed.