The Issue of Age Homogeneity in Groups from the Kindergarten Teacher’s Perspective

Abstract

Th e aim of our study was to fi nd out how kindergarten teachers perceive the issue of age-homogeneous and heterogeneous classes at kindergartens. A self-designed questionnaire and interview were used for measuring, which was part of the research methods used (interview, observation, questionnaire). Th e questionnaire included items aimed at fi nding out respondents' opinions on the age composition of children in kindergarten classes. Th e research sample consisted of 234 female teachers. On the basis of results it can be stated that respondents preferred age-homogeneous groups in classes. However, those teaching age-heterogeneous classes saw more advantages of such division. Research results also showed that younger respondents preferred dividing children into age-homogeneous groups more than older respondents.

The Opinions of Pre-Primary Education Teachers on the Advantages and Disadvantages of Heterogeneous Age Groups

“…Those respondents favouring either a HeG or a HoG in nursery schools both agreed with this opinion. Similarly, in the research study on age homogeneity in groups of nursery school classes (Huľová, Rochovská, & Klein, 2018), the group of respondents teaching a HeG found the best benefit to be the better social and emotional development of the children. These opinions were in line with the opinions of the experts quoted in the theoretical starting point of the issue, who emphasised the development of the personality of the child in the nursery school (not just the preference of the cognitive side) and the promotion of prosocial and collaborative behaviour.…”

“…The researched issue started out from verified hypotheses that the respondents -nursery school teachers who taught in homogeneous age groups -would still choose to teach a homogeneous age group. Likewise, teachers who taught in heterogeneous age groups, would rather choose to teach in a homogeneous age group (Huľová, Rochovská, & Klein, 2018). The respondents' opinions are, therefore, very different from those of most experts, so the topic of age homogeneity groups in nursery schools can be considered current.…”

“…The age of the teachers is generally related to the number of years of their teaching experience. Older teachers with more years of experience have more work experience and can more appreciate the benefits of bringing children into heterogeneous age groups (Huľová, Rochovská, & Klein, 2018).…”

“…Compare HeG preferences among the teachers, according to their years of work experience. Based on the research aim and on the basis of a research with similar problematics (Huľová, Rochovská, & Klein, 2018), the hypotheses were formulated:…”

“…It was part of the larger project entitled "Advantages and disadvantages of heterogeneous age groups from the perspective of nursery school teachers". Some findings from this project, regarding teachers' preference of age-homogeneous or heterogeneous classes have already been published (Huľová, Rochovská, & Klein, 2018). In this larger research project, a questionnaire, a semistructured interview and a direct unstructured observation were used as research methods to find out the opinions of the respondents about the issue.…”