Reconstructing Pre-Service Teacher Perceptions through a Service-Learning Project at a Homeless Shelter

Abstract

With a purpose of reconstructing pre-service teachers’ perceptions about homelessness, an elementary education professor implements a service-learning field experience at the city’s homeless shelter for families. For this qualitative study, I collected data for six semesters and measured the changes in pre-service teachers’ perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs about working with children and families experiencing homelessness. At the beginning of this study, the pre-service teachers expressed various concerns about tutoring children at a homeless shelter. Regardless of their initial concerns, however, the pre-service teachers reported this service-learning project was a valuable learning experience. Recommendations include implementing service-learning with all pre-service teachers early and often within teacher preparation programs. These experiences should focus on both formal and informal learning and should allow for pre-service teachers to work closely with struggling at-risk students.