Critical teaching competencies: Perceptions of home economics teachers and teacher educators

This descriptive survey research was designed to identify the competencies needed by beginning home economics teachers. The survey instrument included eleven different competency areas and 232 associated teaching tasks. Survey instruments were mailed to 800 home economics teachers and 420 home economics teacher educators throughout the United States.;Home economics teachers and teacher educators identified creating a positive learning environment to be the most important competency needed by beginning home economics teachers. Their perceptions differed in competency areas that related to assessment, life long learning, professional relationships, critical thinking, and being a reflective learner.;Home economics teachers with the most years of teaching experience identified competencies associated with assessment, diversity, communication, and being a reflective learner to be important. Teachers teaching in larger schools identified competencies associated with planning and being a reflective learner to be important.;Home economics teacher educators that had more years of public school teaching experience identified competencies associated with lesson planning, subject matter knowledge, professional relationships and management to be important.;The research questions guiding this study sought to identify the competencies needed by beginning home economics teachers; the differences in perceptions between home economics teachers and teacher educators in identifying these competencies; the identification of competencies by home economics teachers based on (1) number of years of teaching experience and (2) size of school; and the identification of competencies by home economics teacher educators based on (1) years of teaching in higher education, (2) number of home economics teacher education faculty, (3) public school teaching experience, (4) years of public school teaching experience, and (5) years since teaching in public schools.;This research study provided the opportunity for the voice of home economics teachers and teacher educators to be heard and considered in determining the competencies needed by beginning home economics teachers. The results of this study should be carefully considered in the design of national competencies for beginning home economics teachers. This data should also be considered by home economics teacher educators as they continue to prepare preservice home economics teachers for public schools.