본 연구는 유아교사가 유아특수교사로의 전환을 통해 어떠한 경험을 하면서 유아특수교사가 되어가는지 그 과정을 심층적으로 알아보고자 하였다. 이를 위해 10년 이상의 유아교사 중 특수교육대학원에서 유아특수교사 자격을 취득하여 유아특수교사로 전환한 4인을 대상으로 개별 심층 면담을 통해 자료를 수집하였다. 수집된 자료는 내러티브 탐구 절차에 따라 분석하였다. 연구 결과, 유아교사에서 유아특수교사로 되어감의 과정에 관한 이야기는 ‘만남: 전환은 생각지도 못한 만남에서 시작되었다.’, ‘혼란: 전환 첫해는 고군분투의 시간이었다.’, ‘변화: 전문성을 내면화하며 유아특수교사가 되어가다’, ‘바람: 교사다움으로 살아가기를 바라다’로 나타났다. 본 연구는 유아교사에서 유아특수교사로 전환한 교사들의 이야기로 전환을 고민하는 유아교사가 모두를 위한 통합교육을 위해 준비해야 할 것에 대한 안내가 될 것이며, 교사 양성과정에서 유아교사로 유아특수교육을 선택한 개인들을 이해하고 도울 방안을 모색하는 데 도움이 될 것이다.
The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the process of what early childhood education teachers experience through their transition to becoming early childhood special education teachers. For this purpose, data were collected through individual in-depth interviews with four early childhood teachers with more than 10 years of experience who had acquired qualifications as early childhood special education teachers from a graduate school of special education and converted to early childhood special education teachers. The collected data were analyzed according to narrative inquiry procedures. As a result of the study, the story plot about the process of becoming an early childhood special education teacher from an early childhood education teacher was derived as follows. ‘Meeting: The transformation began with an unexpected meeting.’, ‘Chaos: The first year of transition was a struggle.’, ‘Change: Internalizing expertise and becoming an early childhood special education teacher.’, ‘Wish: I hope to live a teacher-like life.’ This study tells the stories of teachers who converted from early childhood education teachers to early childhood special education teachers, and will provide guidance on what early childhood education teachers who are considering a career change should prepare for inclusive education for all. In addition, it will be helpful in understanding and finding ways to help individuals who choose early childhood special education as early childhood teachers during the teacher training process.
