Prepandemic Teacher Perceptions of Their 2019-2020 K1 Class Readiness

Abstract

This study investigated Kindergarten and Grade One teachers’ (K1) perception of their students’ academic, motor, and social emotional behavior before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is the first part of a larger longitudinal study into teacher perceptions of the impact the pandemic has had on students. This report is intended to provide an overview of the problems faced by this unique cohort of students. The study provides survey and observational data regarding teacher academic, motor, social, emotional, and behavioral readiness of students in the K1 2019-2020 cohort before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study surveyed 85 (n=85) K1 teachers from across the United States (54 Kindergarten teachers and 35 Grade One teachers). The survey blended Likert survey questions with inputs for comments related to teachers’ perceptions of student functioning. The study found significantly high numbers of teachers were concerned about the safety and emotional well being of their students before the outbreak. Written responses indicated many K1 teachers faced significant problems managing the demands of the academic curriculum, written work, and social emotional development of the children in their care just as the world was being forced to lock down in response to the pandemic.