Between Teaching and Caring in the Preschool

This workexamines how preschool teachers construct the preschool teacher identity through everyday practices of teaching and caring. Pruit’s analysis of preschool teachers’ talk and interaction addresses pertinent sociological and early childhood education themes, including classroom management, social control, emotions, and identity construction.

John C. Pruit is assistant professor of sociology in the Department of Anthropology, Geography, and Sociology at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Introduction Chapter 1: The Organization of Ellis Montessori Preschool Chapter 2: Transforming Structural Problems into Everyday Challenges Chapter 3: Everyday Imagination, Producing Belonging, and Producing Autonomy Chapter 4: Classroom Management: Social Control by Another Name Chapter 5: Empathy, Affection, and Deeper Bonds Chapter 6: Emotion Management in the Preschool Chapter 7: Montessori, Child-Centeredness, and Authenticity Chapter 8: Assembling Preschool Teachers Conclusion: Between Teaching and Caring at Ellis Montessori Preschool References