An Early Childhood Education Program in Rural Guatemala Prepares Students for 1st Grade

In order to determine if a model classroom program (MCP) in the rural highlands of Guatemala better prepared young children socially and emotionally for primary school, we interviewed parents and their children enrolled in an MCP classroom (n = 42) and a business as usual (BAU) classroom (n = 42). The interview data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach in order to reveal common themes and experiences in the participants' responses. Such themes included, among others, learning, kindness of children, and fighting among students. Themes are defined and described, with examples from each significant theme provided. We discuss the differences between responses from parents and students enrolled in the MCP and BAU classroom - most importantly, the higher rates of learning, kindness, and parental involvement, as well as the lower rates of fighting - in the interviews of participants in the MCP. These findings indicate the importance of developing early childhood education programs in rural Guatemala and similar areas, focused on improving the socioemotional development and preparedness of young students.