International Visit Yields Ideas for Iceland’s Teacher Education

In early April, two faculty members from the University of Iceland, Dr. Karen Rut Gísladóttir and Dr. Ingibjörg Ósk Sigurðardóttir, made a two-week visit to Erikson Institute and the Chicago area at the invitation of President Mariana Souto-Manning, who has held academic appointments at the University of Iceland.

Erikson’s Dean of Faculty, Maxine McKinney de Royston, coordinated the visitors’ schedule. “Visits from international faculty are always beneficial,” she said. “We have so much to learn from each other to further our shared vision of helping all young children, everywhere, have the best start in life.”

The professors met with faculty and staff to learn more about Erikson, with the goal of gleaning ideas for further developing their teacher education programs, especially around multicultural teacher education, and language and literacy development.

Gísladóttir and Sigurðardóttir did a lot during their time at Erikson, meeting with several faculty members from teacher education, social work and early intervention and infant mental health to discuss curriculum and other program elements. They also got outside the institute, making site visits to George Leland elementary school in the Austin community and El Valor bilingual early childhood programming in the Pilsen community.

“I was happy to see the play-based and child-centered curriculum,” Sigurðardóttir said. She explained that in Iceland, the term “playschool” encompasses education for young children from the age of 1 through 6.

The professors had an insightful conversation with Erikson Research Professor Juliet Bromer who researches home-based child care—something that is not common in Iceland, where parents receive a total of 12 months of leave to care for their newborns.

Talking with Professor Sandra Osorio, who directs Erikson’s teacher education program, was also a highlight. Hearing about Erikson’s unique curriculum that weaves together early childhood, special education and bilingual education instead of having separate tracks for each subject was “something new” to Gísladóttir. “That is something we will take away with us,” she said. “We are always reevaluating our program.”

Teachers in Iceland must have a master’s degree to be certified. The University of Iceland has different options for teacher education, including a 5-year program where students earn their bachelor’s degree and master’s degree. Iceland’s population has grown more multicultural and multilingual over time, with people immigrating from all over the world, including Poland, the Philippines, Ukraine and Venezuela.

Outside of learning about Erikson, the two professors explored Chicago, riding bikes along the lakefront, walking around downtown, attending a concert and eating some iconic Chicago dishes like Lou Malnati’s pizza. The professors also left gifts for the Erikson community, including a children’s book, Vigdís, A Book About the World’s First Female President and some delicious chocolate and caramel Icelandic candy.

The international visit achieved its goal, according to Sigurðardóttir. “I think we have many ideas to bring home,” she said.