A subject didactic analysis of the development of the spatial knowledge of young children through a problem-centred approach to mathematics teaching and learning Researchers and educators are in agreement that it is very important that the spatial knowledge of the young child should be developed from the first years of school. In order to develop these skills the appropriate materials and activities need to be designed. This can only be realised through proper research methods that not only acknowledge the cognitive abilities of the young child, but also the social and cultural backgrounds of the children. This implies that due attention should be given to language, beliefs, cognitive skills, socio-economic background, schooling and teaching systems. The immediate worlds of the children should be used in developing the spatial skills of these children. The work that is described in this document is an effort to describe the complexity of such a research endeavour. The development of the spatial skills of young children were investigated through three different instructional/executional media namely language, drawing/writing and physical constructions. The three major variables that were described as influencing the spatial development in the different media were the task that was given to the children, the objects that the children worked with and the dimension and viewpoints of the objects and situations. It was clear from the research that in the development of the spatial skills of children, attention should. be given to: the real-world of the children, hands-on-experiences of the children, the cultural background, the language of instruction, the socio-economic background the classroom culture, the media of instruction and the cognitive skills of the children. / Proefskrif (PhD (Didaktiese Opvoedkunde))--PU vir CHO, 1997

L'approche démocratique des CPE est reconnue pour favoriser les compétences sociales des enfants. Or, bien que les hommes ne représentent que 4 % du personnel éducateur, des études relatent que leurs approches diffèrent de celles des femmes, et que cette complémentarité peut contribuer au développement positif des enfants. La présente étude a pour objectifs: 1) d'évaluer le lien entre trois aspects des conduites éducatives démocratiques des éducateurs et des éducatrices (la qualité des consignes, le partage du contrôle et les échanges affectifs) et les compétences sociales des enfants; 2) vérifier s'il existe des différences entre les éducatrices et les éducateurs sur ces trois aspects des conduites éducatives. Les données ont été recueillies à partir de l'observation directe de 17 éducateurs et de 19 éducatrices en situation de jeu dyadique avec un garçon et une fille (62 observations au total). Les conduites éducatives sont évaluées à partir d'une grille de fréquence et les compétences sociales par le Profil Socio-Affectif (Dumas et coll., 1995).

Thesis (MEdPsych)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Historical disadvantaged learners do not necessarily acquire the necessary skills that are essential for successful enrolling in a school in the primary educational environment. Certain factors in the problematic situation of the historical disadvantaged play an important role in the readiness of the child to learn. Due to the vicious circle of poverty, young children are caught in a web of insufficient education, lack of involvement and illiteracy of parents and are often left emotionally, socially and intellectually deprived. A case study was used in a qualitative research design, which involved a focused study of the Grade 1 class at Vlottenburg Primary, outside Stellenbosch. It was found that factors within the learner's immediate environment frequently inhibit his or her development, but that it can not be separated from the effect of socio-economic factors which filter through to the wider community, family, the school and everyday existence of the learner. Teachers are often not capable to educate and take care of overcrowded classes with learners that are on different levels of readiness and development and to handle the class situation in historical disadvantaged areas. Learning support guidelines, which are based on the research findings, were drawn up to empower teachers from historical disadvantaged communities to work with learners from disadvantaged environments and to give them the opportunity to development to their full potential. In future, there should be a focus on the empowerment of parents to break free from poverty and illiteracy. This will have a positive effect on the education of the child. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Historiesbenadeelde leerders leer nie noodwendig die nodige vaardighede, wat noodsaaklik is vir suksesvolle skooltoetrede in die primere opvoedingsituasie, aan nie. Bepaalde faktore in die problematiese situasie van die historiesbenadeelde speel 'n groot rol in die leergereedheid van die kind: Weens die bose kringloop van armoede is kleuters vasgevang in ontoereikende opvoeding, onbetrokkenheid en ongeletterdheid van ouers en word dikwels emosioneel, sosiaal en intellektueel gedepriveerd gelaat. In 'n kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerp is gebruik gemaak van 'n gevallestudie wat 'n gefokusde studie van die Graad l-klas by Vlottenburg Primer, in die Stellenboschomgewing, behels het. Daar is gevind dat faktore binne die leerder se onmiddellike omgewing dikwels sy of haar ontwikkeling inhibeer, maar nie losgemaak kan word van die effek van sosio-ekonomiese faktore wat deursyfer na die wye samelewing, gemeenskap, gesin, die skool en alledaagse bestaan van die leerder nie. Die leerkrag se bevoegdheid verleen hom of haar dikwels nie daartoe om 'n groot aantal leerders met verskillende vlakke van gereedheid te onderrig en die klassituasie uit 'n historiesbenadeelde omgewing te kan hanteer nie. Leerondersteuningsriglyne, wat gebaseer is op die navorsingsbevindings, is opgestel om die leerkragte uit historiesbenadeelde omgewings te bemagtig om leerders uit hierdie benadeelde omstandighede te hanteer en aan hulle die geleentheid te gee om optimaal te ontwikkel. Daar behoort in die toekoms gefokus te word op die bemagtiging van die ouers om te breek van armoede en ongeletterdheid, wat weer 'n positiewe effek op die opvoeding van die kind sal he.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Science in Information Technology in Education

Professionals in early intervention have little information about the levels of sibling involvement in intervention, factors that contribute to sibling involvement, or how sibling involvement is related to families’ perceptions of self-efficacy. Few studies have investigated siblings in early intervention, and none have focused on relationships between sibling involvement in early intervention and parent self-efficacy. Using quantitative survey research this study investigated factors related to sibling involvement in early intervention strategies. Respondents completing the survey consisted of 129 parents who had a child enrolled in Michigan’s early intervention program, and at least one sibling in the home. Results indicated a significant relationship between sibling use of early intervention strategies and 1) the region in which the family lives, and 2) the age difference between the siblings in each sibling dyad. Practical implications of the findings are discussed.

The purpose of this study is to answer the research question: What are the elements of the writing process and written texts of kindergarten/first grade students in a whole language classroom that constitute authenticity? The written texts of twenty-one children from a variety of ethnic, socioeconomic and linguistic backgrounds were collected over the course of the school year. The tests were categorized according to penpal letters, signs/labels/captions and dialogue journal entries. Each category was analyzed to describe the writer's place in the context of situation, the function that each text served and the interaction of the linguistic cueing systems. The data indicate that the physical elements in the Context of Situation as described by Michael Halliday that proved most important to authenticity are: (1) Availability (proximity) and accessibility of a wide variety of resources. (2) Experience of students in creating and identifying resources in the environment. (3) Many opportunities to interact with audiences. (4) Student ownership of the process. The social relationships within the classroom that proved most important to authenticity are: (1) having a "real" audience for writing. (2) The relationship between the writer and the audience. (3) The degree of invitation with choice of when and where to write. The features of written texts which proved most important to authenticity are: (1) The students' familiarity with the genre of text. (2) The function of the texts to fulfill the purposes of the students. Whole language classrooms such as the one in this study provide a rich source of data for the study of authenticity.

本研究旨在探討幼稚園教師對美術活動之教學態度，主要目的有三：一、編制「幼稚園教師美術活動教學態度問卷」；二、瞭解幼稚園教師對美術活動教學態度之實際情況；三、探討不同背景變項下幼稚園教師對美術活動教學態度之差異情形；四、根據研究結果提出具體建議，做為改善學前階段美術教育之參考。 本研究以調查研究法，調查與分析幼稚園教師對美術活動之教學態度，依據文獻探討的結果編製「幼稚園教師美術活動教學態度問卷」，並經專家效度檢驗以及問卷預試成立正式問卷及建立問卷的效度與信度(Cronbach’s α係數為 .886)。 本研究以台北縣公、私立幼稚園之教師為研究對象，並以「幼稚園教師美術活動教學態度問卷」為研究工具，共發放340份問卷，回收208份問卷，回收率為61%。調查所得資料以描述統計、卡方考驗、單因子變異數分析方法進行分析。 本研究之研究結果為：一、幼稚園教師對美術活動的教學態度分為四個主要取向，分別為「幼兒本位取向」、「美術本位取向」、「教師本位取向」，以及「較少干涉取向」。二、不同教學年資、年齡、專業領域、公私立園所之幼稚園教師在美術活動教學態度上有所差異。 最後，本研究依據研究結果，分別對幼稚園教師、相關教育單位，以及後續美術活動相關研究提出具體建議，以供參考。 / The purpose of research is to investigate the kindergarten teachers’ attitude of teaching art. Four aims of this research are: 1. To compile the “Kindergarten Teachers’ Attitude of Art Activity Questionnaire” as the research tool. 2. To inquire current kindergarten teachers’ attitude of teaching art. 3. To analysis differences among teachers’ attitudes of teaching art on four distinct dimensions: years of teaching, age, professional knowledge of individual teachers, and the types of kindergarten (public and private). 4. To make suggestions for a teacher teaching art in kindergarten, related associations or departments, and someone interesting this topic. Researcher designed the contents of “Kindergarten Teachers’ Attitude of Teaching Art Questionnaire” by following phrases: compile items of questionnaire from literature, evaluate items by five experts to build validity, and using statistical analysis to establish reliability (Cronbach’s α .886). Researcher randomly sampled 340 subjects from kindergartens in Taipei county and delivered the questionnaire and 208 samples were valid (61%). The data were analyzed using: descriptive statistics, χ2 test, one-way ANOVA, and LSD posterior comparisons. The result was: 1. The mainly approaches of teachers’ attitude of teaching art are children-oriented approach, art-oriented approach, teacher-oriented approach, and little-intervention-oriented approach. 2. Significant differences of teachers’ attitude were found between teachers in different years of teaching, age, professional knowledge of individual teachers, and the type of kindergarten. The researcher made recommendations to kindergarten teachers, education administrations, and further related research based on the conclusions.

Children have the intrinsic drive to play and be outdoors, as well as the curiosity to explore the world around them (Louv, 2008). Connections and interactions with nature tend to be beneficial for children’s cognitive development, with outcomes ranging from improved cognitive functioning (Wells, 2000) to the development of important academic skills (Miller, 2007). Perhaps more significant though are the positive outcomes among nature, health, and wellbeing (e.g., Taylor & Kuo, 2009), along with the cultivation of environmental appreciation, empathy, and stewardship (e.g., Ewert et al., 2005). Many nature-based early years programs have been developed and adopted around the world, placing emphasis on fostering children’s experiences, interactions, and connections with the natural world. As this global early years phenomenon continues to build momentum, the need to investigate how children are experiencing these nature-based early years programs becomes more pertinent. The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of four children’s experiences at a nature-based early years program located in a small town on the outskirts of an Eastern Ontario urban centre. Data were collected using qualitative methodology (observations, photographs, semi-structured interviews, and photo elicitation) and took place over a five-week period in the winter term. Data were analyzed using conventional qualitative means, through open coding and identifying categories and overarching themes (McMillan & Schumacher, 2010). Using Place-Based Education as the theoretical guide, data were explored using three main themes: lived experience; connections to place and to community; and learning, growth, and development. The findings from this research not only illuminate the children’s experiences at a nature-based early years program, but also provide the fertile ground upon which further examination and discussion can grow—an examination and discussion of the significance of nature-based learning as it relates to contemporary education. / Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2013-08-30 10:33:49.614

Mass media such as television, video players, video games, compact disks, and the computers are commonplace in current American culture. For English as a Second Language children, television may be the only source of English in the home serving as models of grammar, syntax, story structure. An investigation was made using English as a Second Language (ESL) kindergarteners, the classroom writing center, participant-observation, teacher as researcher, and case study methodology to investigate the following questions: Do ESL kindergarten children use media in their writing? If so, how do they use media in their writing? Upon examination of the data, it was found that all these ESL children did use media in the writing process. The function and form of the media references varied from child to child. Media was a cultural context for the childrenÕs social interactions. Oral language (with and without media references) not only informed the writing for some, but also served: to initiate, participate in, and sustain social relationships with peers. Findings indicated that two case study subjects used social dialogue as a separate operation from the production of a written story. Language informed the writing but it also had a socialization function in addition to what the writing needs were. The social aspects of literacy beyond language used to inform the writing is a topic suggested for further research.