This study focused on understanding French language learning from a perspective that began from the participating children’s interests, experiences, and abilities. The study was significant in its use of a Reggio-inspired teaching philosophy and pedagogy in a French Immersion classroom (offering an alternative pedagogy to the more common transmission-oriented and skills-based models of language teaching). The research methodology embedded pedagogical documentation and classroom observation in an ethnographic research tradition. In the study, the teacher-researcher was positioned alongside children, as she learned about the ways in which they learn language through collaborative and authentic experiences, in a transactional setting. With an emphasis on the importance of meaningful learning, the study opens up new possibilities for French Immersion teachers and learners by examining the ways in which English scaffolds French learning, collaboration generates new understanding, and authentic experiences support engaged learning.

Samtliga respondenter beskriver pedagogisk dokumentation som en möjlighet att få syn på barnens intressen och för att förbättra och vidareutveckla verksamheten. Pedagogisk dokumentation ses som en process som både vuxna och barn kan delta i. I denna process an-vänds dokumentationsmaterialet för reflektion och analys. Arbetssättet beskrivs även som en hjälp för pedagogerna att se sin egen roll i de pedagogiska processerna. Utvecklingssamtal, föräldramöten och var-dagliga samtal, exempelvis vid lämning och hämtning av barnen, upp-levs som bra tillfällen för att använda pedagogisk dokumentation. Det största hindret som förskollärarna beskriver är tidsbrist. Det kan ex-empelvis vara svårt att hinna ta hand om dokumentationsmaterialet och att avsätta tid för reflektion. En annan aspekt som framkommer är att det kan upplevas som svårt att arbeta med pedagogisk dokumenta-tion som en process där barnen är i centrum, samtidigt som det finns tydliga mål att följa, uppsatta med utgångspunkt från förskolans läro-plan. Förskollärarna är positiva till pedagogisk dokumentation som arbets-sätt. Erfarenhet av yrket poängteras som en fördel för att hinna med att dokumentera och se varje barns utveckling och lärande.

This study's main purpose is to examine the space children's spontaneous imaging gets in a preschool. I have chosen to focus on two preschool teachers views on their own approach to children's spontaneous imaging and what space they find that it gets in preschool. I have also investigated how this is documented in preschool. As a theoretical approach I adopt Lev S Vygotsky's socio-cultural theories of learning and development. In my essay, I also describe previous studies on children's imaging. I have collected the material through qualitative methods such as interviews of two preschool teachers and through six days of observation divided on two of the preschool departments. The result shows that preschool teachers adult-driven approach characterizes the creative climate of the nursery, which is not particularly allowing in practice, but allowing in theory and preschool teachers thoughts. The preschool teachers approach is significant for how well the child's spontaneous creation capability will be developed or inhibited. Children can come to have a view of his own creation as something insignificant and without meaning if it never followed up in the form of pedagogical documentation or attention. The results also show that children's spontaneous imaging don´t get space in the form of schedule, this is because preschool teachers have a view on the activity as a pastime rather than an educational activity with a clear goal or purpose.

Studiens syfte är att bidra med kunskap om barns inflytande i förskolan utifrån förskollärarens perspektiv. Jag strävar efter att göra detta genom två frågeställningar: Vad innebär inflytande för förskollärare? Och, hur anser förskollärare att de skapar möjligheter för barns inflytande? För att besvara frågeställningarna skickades fyra frågeformulär ut och fyra telefonintervjuer genomfördes, samtliga riktade mot förskollärare. Materialet transkriberades sedan för att sammanställas. Studiens resultat visar att barn får inflytande i olika utsträckning beroende på situation och förutsättningar. Samtliga förskollärare strävar efter att barn ska få inflytande men det framgår även att verksamhetens rutiner, förskollärares förhållningssätt och barns åldrar kan vara hinder för detta. Den slutsats jag dragit av min studie är att samtliga förskollärare arbetar för att ge barn inflytande utifrån de förutsättningar som finns i verksamheten. Förskollärarna är medvetna om de hinder som finns och det framgår genom min studie att de använder olika arbetssätt för att försöka kringgå dessa. / The study aims to contribute knowledge about children's influence in preschool from preschool teacher’s perspective. I aim to do this through two issues: What does influence mean to preschool teachers? And, how do preschool teachers consider themselves creating opportunities for children's influence? In order to examine the issues, four questionnaires were sent out and four telephone interviews were conducted, all directed to preschool teachers. The material was then transcribed to be summarized. The results show that children receive influence in varying degrees depending on the situation and circumstances. All preschool teachers strive for children to have influence, but it is apparent that the preschool practices, preschool teachers' attitudes and children's ages may be obstacles. The conclusion I drew from my study is that all preschool teachers work to give children influence on the conditions that exist in the preschool. The preschool teachers are aware of the obstacles and I reveal through my study that they use different approaches to try to circumvent them.

Creating a preschool environment for learning and interaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate how preschool teachers describe the practical work that they do to design the preschool environments and how the children's learning and interaction come to be part of that process. The questions addressed in the study were: How do the preschool teachers describe their workplace learning environments? How do the preschool teachers reason about their way of developing their workplace learning environments? How does your preschool environment promote children's interests, learning, and interaction? The study is of qualitative nature and both interviews and observations have been carried out at two Reggio Emilia-inspired preschools in the southern part of Stockholm. The analysis has been examined from a design-oriented perspective. The results show that the preschool teacher's thoughts about children are important for how they shape the preschool learning environment. By continually observing how the children use the environment to interact and what they are interested in, they can, together with the children reflect and start up new projects and further develop the learning environment. The preschool teachers seek to create an inspiring, accessible and transparent environment but also one that can change long-term or short-term at any time. The preschool teachers' perceptions of children as competent and unique individuals who can be helped to reach their own special potential allows for the children to explore and become co-creators of their learning environment.

Sweden and Poland see preschool documentation as a very important practice in Early Childhood Education and Care. Each country, however, conceives of this documentation differently. Reggio Emilia-inspired pedagogical documentation is one of the documentation practices used in Swedish preschools. There is very little research on the approach of Polish educators to this form of pedagogical documentation. Furthermore, the Swedish preschool curriculum is based on Social Pedagogy in contrast to the Polish preschool curriculum, which is based on Readiness for School. These curricular perspectives are underpinned by different views on children’s abilities and on the goal of preschool as an institution. This, in turn, reflects the relative differences in how democracy is viewed, and documentation maintained in these two countries. In this study, semi-structured interviews with four Polish preschool educators were conducted in order to document their understandings of the mentioned terms, as well as their perspectives on the forms and practices of documentation that they use. The participants were also asked about the possibility of adapting pedagogical documentation, as seen in Sweden, to the Polish preschool model. The findings showed, that the participants did not recognize Polish preschool system as democratic. What is more, the interviewees are not satisfied with the form of their preschool documentation. However, the interviews showed, that even though the teachers see value in pedagogical documentation, they do not see this approach as the appropriate one to adapt to Poland, due to the system malfunctions and reluctant co-workers. Lastly, the study shows that more research is needed to examine the relationship between documentation practices and the promotion and maintenance of democratic practices in preschool internationally, as well as suggests some changes in order to improve Polish documentation practices.

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2018-12-13T11:45:04Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Rosimeire dos Santos Cardoso.pdf: 1387351 bytes, checksum: c7d9d1bb57d7bfd4fa8eec59bf41b902 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-13T11:45:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rosimeire dos Santos Cardoso.pdf: 1387351 bytes, checksum: c7d9d1bb57d7bfd4fa8eec59bf41b902 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-09-14 / This research aims to investigate how pedagogical documentation can be a valuable tool to subsidize the continuing education of early childhood teachers in a critical-reflective perspective. The theoretical reference concerning the formation of teachers is based on principles of Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy (2001, 2016, 2017). Regarding pedagogical documentation, the research is based on the conception and practice by teacher Reggio Emilia, expressed by Edwards, Gandini and Forman (1999, 2016). The analysis methodology has a qualitative approach and the instruments that helped to understand the context studied were: the analysis of the documents produced by the teachers of a Municipal Education Schools in São Paulo city and the semi structured interview, applied to the teachers, with the purpose to know the understanding and value attributed to the production of pedagogical records. The data produced were analyzed upon Paulo Freire's concepts theoretical framework, expressed in a conceptual structure that presents as the center of the discussions the practice and the teacher formation from the following concepts: critical reflection on the practice, reality’s reading, experience knowledge, dialogue and transformation of reality. The findings of this study allowed me to reflect on the improvement of my work as pedagogical coordinator of the CEI Jardim Miliunas, in order to integrate valuable results of this research into the ongoing formation of teachers, based on Freirean principles, in a critical-reflective perspective. This research may offer contributions to the understanding of registration as an important contribution to the critical reflection in early childhood teachers about their practice, especially in the process of continuing education, in the context of the school, a space in which one can collectively discuss the reasons for the choices based on experiences with children, creating conditions for the transformation of teaching practice / Esta pesquisa busca investigar de que modo a documentação pedagógica pode se constituir em um instrumental valioso para subsidiar a formação continuada de professoras da primeira infância, em uma perspectiva crítico-reflexiva. O referencial teórico a respeito da formação de professoras apoia-se em princípios da Pedagogia de Paulo Freire (2001, 2016, 2017). No tocante à documentação pedagógica, a pesquisa fundamenta-se na concepção e prática de Reggio Emilia, expressas por Edwards, Gandini e Forman (1999, 2016). A metodologia de análise tem abordagem qualitativa e os instrumentos que auxiliaram na compreensão do contexto estudado foram: a análise dos documentos produzidos pelas professoras de uma creche da Rede Municipal de Ensino de São Paulo e a entrevista semiestruturada, aplicada às professoras, com o propósito de conhecer a compreensão e o valor atribuídos à produção dos registros pedagógicos. Os dados produzidos foram analisados, a partir de conceitos do referencial teórico de Paulo Freire, expressos em uma trama conceitual que apresenta como o centro das discussões a prática e a formação docente a partir dos seguintes conceitos: reflexão crítica sobre a prática, leitura da realidade, saberes de experiência feito, diálogo e transformação da realidade. Os achados deste estudo permitiram-me refletir sobre o aperfeiçoamento de meu trabalho como coordenadora pedagógica do CEI Jardim Miliunas, de modo a integrar resultados valiosos dessa investigação na formação continuada de professoras, pautada nos princípios freireanos, numa perspectiva crítico-reflexiva. Esta pesquisa poderá oferecer contribuições para a compreensão do registro como importante subsídio para a reflexão crítica do professor da primeira infância sobre a sua prática, especialmente no processo de formação continuada, no contexto da escola, espaço em que se pode discutir coletivamente o porquê das escolhas realizadas a partir das experiências vividas com as crianças, criando condições para a transformação da prática docente

The aim of the study is to investigate how “listening” takes placein apreschool in Reggio Emilia, a city in northern Italy. This is a phenomenological study that investigates “listening” as a phenomenon based on children ́sand pedagogues ́ experiences. Three pedagogues and eleven children was interviewed in order to get knowledge about three main aspects: how “listening” is interpreted by pedagogues and children and put in practice in a Reggio Emilia pedagogy-also known as “the pedagogy of listening”; if children experience that they are being listened to and whether they have an influence in the preschool ́s activities; and whether the Reggio Emilia pedagogy affects the relationship between pedagogues and children. The findings show that “listening” is a complex concept that includes a variety of meanings that result in many different interpretations on how to put it in to practice. As described in other studies there is a risk of making children objects of adult research, thus affecting a genuine relationship between pedagogues and children. In these studies, the Reggio Emilia pedagogy is described as a method with fixed and rigid techniques of listening. According to the results in this study this seems to be avoidable by considering the Reggio Emilia pedagogy as an approach that is adaptable to different children groups, as well asactively involving children in their own documentation process. The results also demonstrate that children donot feel that they area part of the decision making when it comes to the preschool ́s activities. This is due to the fact that children’s interests are subject to interpretation by the pedagogues, who then often redirect them towards more desirable contents according to their own intentions. Also, the preschool environment is seen as a “third pedagogue” as it communicates to the children which activities and interactions are considered possible in a certain space.

Avsikten med min undersökning var att få mer kunskap om hur förskolepersonal arbetar med pedagogisk dokumentation som ett arbetsverktyg i deras dagliga verksamhet. Det är ett arbetsverktyg som ska tillämpas av all förskolepersonal ute i verksamheten. För att ta reda på vilka erfarenheter förskolepersonal har av pedagogisk dokumentation var en kvalitativ intervjumetod det bästa sättet eftersom informanterna genom en kvalitativ metod får svara på frågorna utifrån deras egna erfarenheter. Jag vill också ta reda på hur de gör för att synliggöra varje barns behov. Jag har hänvisat till och använt relevanta tidigare undersökningar för att analysera resultaten från min studie. Resultaten visar att pedagogisk dokumentation är ett arbetsverktyg som ska användas för att synliggöra verksamheten och barnens lärprocesser. Lärprocesser sker när barnen utmanas i deras lärande, där nya idéer och kunskaper växer fram. På så sätt finns det möjlighet att strukturera verksamheten utifrån barnens olika behov och intressen menar mina informanter. Samtliga informanter har en föreställning om hur dokumentationen ska gå till men hur det verkställs ser olika ut, beroende på erfarenheter. Det är enligt samtliga informanter en process som ständigt ska utvecklas där nya möjligheter och infallsvinklar ska hjälpa dem framåt. Genom mina resultat anser jag att pedagogisk dokumentation bidrar till att säkra aktiviteter i inlärningen som är baserade på barnens intressen och behov. / The purpose of my study was to gain further knowledge on how preschool staff works with pedagogical documentation as a tool in their daily activities. It is a tool that should be used by all preschool staff. To find out what experiences preschool staffs have about pedagogical documentation a qualitative interview method was used as the best way to get informative answers, as preschool staff could respond with their individual experience as base. I also wanted to know what they do in their documentation to make every single child’s needs visible. I have referred to findings from relevant previous research which I applied to analyze findings from my study. The finding indicates that preschool staff considers pedagogical documentation as a tool that should be used in order to visualize activities and children’s learning process. A learning process develops when children are challenged in their education, when new ideas and knowledge appear. By documenting practice and children’s learning process there is opportunity to structure activities based on children’s various needs and interest, according to the preschool staff. All preschool staff has a view on how documentation should be done but how it´s executed differs depending on each ones personal experience. All preschool staff considers it to be a process that constantly should evolve, where new possibilities and views can be made visible and contribute to exploration of new possibilities and views going forward. The findings in the study shows is that pedagogic documentation can contribute to secure activities in teaching that are based on children’s interests and needs.

Examensarbetet handlar om på vilka sätt sju förskollärare dokumenterar barns lärprocesser i den dagliga verksamheten, för att främja en fortsatt verksamhetsutveckling. Kvalitativa intervjuer har använts som metod för att undersöka på vilka sätt förskollärare säger att de dokumenterar i den dagliga verksamheten samt på vilka vis de anser att dokumentationsarbetet påverkar utvecklingen av verksamheten. Sedan 1930-talet har det i förskolan funnits ett starkt intresse att observera och dokumentera barns utveckling och lärande. Denna typ av dokumentation har sin grund i utvecklingspsykologin. Detta har medfört att förskollärare utifrån färdiga mallar främst observerat och dokumenterat för att undersöka och bedöma barns utveckling, i förhållande till vad som ses normalt för deras ålder. Dokumentationsformen skiljer sig från pedagogisk dokumentation som härstammar från en stad i norra Italien som heter Reggio Emilia. Inom Reggio Emilia betonas ett socialkonstruktionistiskt synsätt på kunskap och lärande. Det innebär att kunskap ses som föränderligt och att den föds ur samspel, via kommunikation mellan människor och mellan människor och den omgivande miljön. Förskollärare ska med olika resurser observera och dokumentera hur barns pågående lärprocesser fungerar, utan förutbestämda mallar och metoder. Vårt resultat visar att samtliga förskollärare arbetar med pedagogisk dokumentation och är överens om att den synliggör barns utveckling och lärande. Det finns en samstämmighet om att arbetet ska utgå från barns intresse och att förskollärares roll handlar om att utmana barnen i deras lärprocesser. Det dominerande tillvägagångssättet är att dokumentera med kamera och därefter reflektera kring det insamlade materialet tillsammans barn och andra förskollärare. Det finns en påfallande enighet om att pedagogisk dokumentation skapar en förändrad barnsyn. Informanterna uttrycker att de utvecklat sin lyhördhet inför barns frågor, funderingar och intressen. De får syn på det enskilda barnet och dess samspel tydligare, samt att de får redskap att lyfta fram barns styrkor. Framträdande i resultatet är att förskollärarna anser att den pedagogiska dokumentationen främjar utvecklingen av verksamheten, genom att de lär sig nya saker om barnen, sig själva och verksamheten. Andra argument som kommer fram är att den synliggör vilka brister som finns i förskolan, samt påvisar hur förskollärare kan gå vidare i arbetet. Läroplanen ses som en central utgångspunkt. En intressant aspekt som kommer fram i vårt resultat är att barns intresse och läroplanen lyfts fram som lika viktiga utgångslägen i dokumentationsarbetet. Det förefaller att det finns en tendens att barns intresse och utforskade får stå tillbaka för att läroplanens mål ska förverkligas i förskolan.