Experiences of newly appointed preschool teachers in learning centers

This research was conducted to determine the experiences of newly appointed preschool teachers in learning centers. A qualitative research approach was adopted in the study and the phenomenology pattern was used. The sample of the research consists of a total of 15 newly appointed pre-school teachers, 13 women and 2 men, working in kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools affiliated to the Ministry of National Education in the 2020-2021 academic year in Avcılar, Bayrampaşa, Güngören and Sultanbeyli districts of Istanbul. The data of the research were collected with the "Interview Form for Learning Centers" and the "Evaluation Form for Learning Centers". The interviews were held using Zoom, an online video conferencing software. The data was analyzed using descriptive and content analysis methods. According to the findings, it was determined that newly appointed teachers encountered more negative experiences as well as positive ones. Negative experiences were determined as problems caused by the learning environment, the child and the parent. The source of these problems emerged as administrative, class, familial and child factors. Methods of overcoming problems; self, management, communication, material provision, colleague-family, establishing a temporary care center and media support. During their first experiences, negative, positive and hopeful/perseverance expressions were detected as emotional states. It was determined that the event/situation that affected them the most during their experiences was caused by the child, the learning environment and the teacher. While sharing the problems encountered in the immediate environment and distant environment, the reasons for telling them were found to be relief-oriented and solution-oriented. As a result of the research, it was concluded that, in general, the problems that newly appointed preschool teachers encountered in their experiences in learning centers had a negative impact on their professional lives. Keywords: Experience, learning centers, new appointment to the profession, preschool teacher.