COGNITIVE MAPS PRE-SCHOOL TEACHERS ABOUT DIFFERENT APPROACHES APPLIED IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

The purpose of the study is to reveal the opinions of preschool teachers about the thinkers who shape preschool education and the approaches they represent. A phenomenologic method of qualitative research is used in this study. Cognitive maps have been used to better reflect preschool teachers' opinions. The participants of the study are 20 pre-school teachers who were working in Edirne province in kindergartens bound to the Ministry of National Education. As a means of collecting data in the survey, a semi-structured interview form was developed by the researchers. The data from the Interview Form was analyzed to generate cognitive maps of participants' pre-school education approaches applied around the world. According to the results of the research, it was found out that pre-school teachers know Froebel and Montessori as thinkers who shaped pre-school education and the Montessori approach better. Thus the study reveals that teachers use Montessori, Reggio Emillia and High Scope Approaches more in class activities