Early childhood science education in Bedouin communities

An exploratory collaborative intervention in the Negev

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/9yz0gs63

Keywords:

Bedouin education, culturally responsive pedagogy, early childhood science, interdisciplinary teacher education, professional learning community, teacher self-efficacy

Abstract

This qualitative pilot examined the feasibility and professional value of an interdisciplinary science-education intervention in three Bedouin kindergartens in Rahat, Israel. Eight preservice early-childhood teachers and eight preservice elementary-science teachers worked in interdisciplinary pairs during eight inquiry-oriented sessions and a 30-hour professional learning community. The study asked how participants described confidence, collaboration, and culturally contextualized science teaching. Reflexive thematic analysis of open-ended responses, discussions, field notes, and final reflections identified perceived growth in confidence, reciprocal disciplinary learning, and value in connecting inquiry to children’s environment. Children’s outcomes were not measured, and no causal or population-level claims are made. The study offers a contextually grounded model for teacher preparation and identifies requirements for larger prospective research in comparable underserved educational contexts.

 

 

Author Biography

  • Saleem Abu Jaber, Achva Academic College; Kaye Academic College of Education

    SALEEM ABU JABER, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Arabic Language and Literature at Achva Academic College, Israel, and a lecturer at Kaye Academic College of Education. His research focuses on modern and classical Arabic literature, Palestinian literature, cultural memory, Ottoman intellectual history, Qur’anic exegesis, Arabic manuscript studies, and teacher education. He received his PhD from Tel Aviv University and completed postdoctoral research at SOAS University of London and the University of Westminster. He has published widely on Palestinian literary identity, Arabic-Islamic intellectual history, and teacher education, and has held academic leadership positions advancing Arabic-language education and access to higher education for Arabic-speaking students. Email: saleemabujaber@gmail.com

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Additional Files

Published

2026-10-09

Issue

Vol. 23 (2026): American Journal of STEM Education

Section

STEM Education (regular)

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Saleem Abu Jaber

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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How to Cite

Abu Jaber, S. (2026). Early childhood science education in Bedouin communities: An exploratory collaborative intervention in the Negev. American Journal of STEM Education, 23, 188-204. https://doi.org/10.32674/9yz0gs63