Teaching as a new mission: Swedish preschool teachers' collegial discussions.

The study investigates how Swedish kindergarten teachers collectively adapt to teaching as a new part of their role. While previous research has focused on teachers' understanding of teaching, this study focuses on how teachers' views change through collegial discussions. The research questions are: 1) What previous experiences do kindergarten teachers emphasise when they talk about teaching? 2) What do kindergarten teachers want to achieve with teaching?

Through collegial discussions, the kindergarten teachers and assistants became more aware and confident in how to integrate teaching in kindergartens. They drew on familiar kindergarten values, such as children's interests and needs, to shape this new teaching role. The results show that kindergarten employees are actively shaping their own practice in the face of new challenges.

The data material consists of two sets of collegial discussions among Swedish kindergarten teachers. In the first phase, seven kindergarten teachers and three assistants participated in discussions related to a development process. Six months later, in the second phase, group interviews were conducted with five kindergarten teachers and two assistants. The discussions were about teaching as a new task for kindergarten teachers.

Hildén, E., Löfdahl Hultman, A., & Ribaeus, K. (2021). "Teaching as a new mission: Swedish preschool teachers' collegial discussions". Early years. DOI: 10.1080/09575146.2021.1880374