Schools in England have recently undergone a shift in their pupil demographic which in part reflects changing patterns of trans-European migration since the accession of new member states to the EU in 2004 and 2007 (DCSF, 2008b). There is evidence that this shift is one experienced not just in inner-city schools most commonly associated with ethnic minority populations, but in a wide range of schools in rural and smaller town settings in a number of counties across the country (Vertovec, 2007b). This research explored the responses of English primary school teachers, from a county in the south of England, to Polish children arriving after 2006. Interviews were conducted with a group of teachers with differing levels of confidence and experience in supporting the language acquisition of English language learners. Using Bourdieu’s logic of practice and constructivist grounded theory (Charmaz, 2006), interview data are analysed in order to explore how teachers define their practice for teaching English to both native speakers and to children who are English language learners. The nature of teachers’ subject knowledge is studied in terms of its influence on confidence, or otherwise, to adapt pedagogy in the face of changing pupil need. Teachers’ responses to difference are considered in relation to children and families of the ‘new migration’ (Favell, 2008). Findings highlight that teachers’ subject knowledge for the teaching of English is complex and related to a blend of experience, belief and understanding. Furthermore, that teachers are more influenced by a centrally controlled curriculum for English than they may realise. Implications for policy and practice relating to the teaching of children who are English language learners in an increasingly diverse Britain are discussed.

The concept of a text in English teaching has become greatly generalised; moving image 'texts' as resources which learners may interpret and produce, in similar ways to traditional print texts, find an increasingly emphasised place in the English curriculum. This thesis seeks to identify how computers currently fit into work which connects moving image media with English teaching, and how they may further contribute to educational practice. After the educational context is established and recent practice described, four stages of research are undertaken.

Over the last decade there has been an increased interest in investigation of assessment for learning. However, to date there are still very few studies that investigated assessment for language learning, or formative language assessment, focusing particularly on: (1) effects of formative assessment on learners' linguistic development and on teachers' teaching and lesson planning; (2) variables influencing the frequency and extent of effectiveness of formative assessment; (3) teachers' anc leamers' views on teacher feedback, learner peer- and self-assessment; and (4) and lulfilment of the requirements set in the official policy documents on effective teaching and assessment of leamers with EAL in real classrooms.

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This study investigates teachers' experience of using formative assessment to enhance pupil learning in writing. Teachers were presented with a cognitive resource comprising formative assessment principles, strategies and techniques. They were asked to integrate this with existing practice in teaching and assessing writing and to reflect on the process. A mentored action research approach was adopted in a project which involved ten class teachers and five promoted staff, working in upper primary classes in three Scottish schools. Teachers maintained reflective lesson logs and gathered examples of pupil texts over the course of one academic year. These were used to focus discussion in 45 semistructured interviews with the teachers. Pupil comments collected during lesson plenary sessions and interviews with promoted staff provided data triangulation. Qualitative data in the form of transcribed interviews and documents were managed and organised using NVivo software and subjected to interpretive, interactional analysis. The findings of the study indicated that the primary teachers were able to integrate a variety of formative assessment techniques and strategies with existing practice and thereby enhance pupil learning. This involved the teachers in calling upon their prior knowledge of individual pupils and experience of teaching and assessing writing. Pupil learning gains were evidenced by improved skills in text production, the development of writer's `voice', increased feelings of pupil self efficacy and enhanced metacognitive development. A model is proposed for sharing with pupils a hierarchy of learning goals in writing through `crafting', `coaching' and `open' writing contexts. Teacher salience skills were shown to be important for the realisation of pupil learning gains. The project findings also indicated that, as formative assessment principles became embedded into practice, a more permeable relationship developed between teachers' formative and summative assessment understandings and practices

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Die doel van hierdie studie was om te bepaat of 'n hulpverleningsprogram die laerskoolleerder wat taalhindemisse ervaar kan help om sy probleme op 'n kreatiewe wyse te benader. 'n Algemene oorsig van leerhindemisse wat laerskoolleerders ervaar, is gegee. lndien 'n leerder taalhindernisse ervaar, sal dit 'n direkte invloed op sy ander skoolvakke ook he omdat taal vir die leeraksie benodig word. Die kreatiwiteitsbegrip is ook van naderby beskou. Kreatiwiteit kan as die skep van iets wat oorspronklik, maar ook bruikbaar is, gedefinieer word. Dit sluit egter ook die Ie van ongewone verbande tussen twee of meer sake of voorwerpe in. Die program wat ontwikkel is, het as onderbou die teorie oor taalintelligensie van Howard Gardner, 'n opvoedkundige sielkundige aan Harvard Universiteit. Gardner meen dit is deur 'n kreatiewe ingesteldheid, multisensoriese tegnieke en gepaste leerstyle rnoontlik om taalintelligensie teverbeter. Hy is van mening dat taalintelligensie nie iets is wat op 'n bepaalde tydstip gemeet kan word en onveranderd bly nie. Soos met alle intellektuele vermoens, kan taalvaardighede ook uitgebrei en ontwikkel word. Beproefde remedierende tegnieke, wat reeds deur die navorser in die praktyk met welslae uitgetoets is, is op 'n vars, nuwe manier .in die hulpverleningsprogram gebruik. Die hulpverleningsprogram het op die verbetering van perseptuele, mondelinge stelwerk-,lees- en spellingvaardighede gefokus. Dit het gedurende die empiriese studie duidelik geword dat leerders wat op 'n bepaalde leergebied nie na wense presteer nie, dikwels 'n "sielkundige blokkasie" ten opsigte van daardie leerareas ontwikkel. Hulle assosieer Jaasgenoemde in die meeste gevalle met leeronvermoe en leermislukking. Die enigste manier om hierdie gevoel van leermagteloosheid aan te spreek, is om die problematiese leerareas met 'n minder ernstige akademiese aanslag, waarin die pret-element sterk aanwesig is, te benader. Wanneer die leeraksie as 'n aangename ondervindingervaar word, kan leerders hulle leervrese aanspreek en meer waagmoedig begin optree. / The purpose of this study was to investigate the success of an innovative support programme aimed at assisting primary school learners with language barriers to overcome these. An overview was given of learning barriers primary school learners may experience. A learner with a language barrier will find that the other learning areas are negatively influenced because language is essential for learning. The concept of creativity, defined as the creation of something original, yet useful, was adhered to. It included the idea that creativity allows for the connecting of unrelated issues or objects. The theories of Howard Gardner, an educational psychologist at Harvard University, concerning language intelligence, supported this study. According to Gardner it is possible to improve language intelligence through creative awareness, multi-sensory techniques and appropriate learning styles. Gardner postulates that language, as in the case of other intellectual abilities, can be developed and expanded. Remedial techniques successfully used by the researcher in practice, have been presented in this support programme in a novel and innovative form. The creative support programme compiled for this thesis focused on the 1 improvement of perceptual, oral, reading and spelling skills. The need for a more informal support approach was evident in the empirical research of this study. Learners sometimes develop a "psychological block" when experiencing repeated difficulties in a specific learning area. Such learners associate these difficulties with failures and the inability to learn. In order to overcome the experience of learning dispair, the feelings of anxiety associated with the problem learning area, have to be replaced with a less rigid approach in which play encourages feelings of enjoyment and ease. When learning becomes a pleasant experience, learners start overcoming their fears and become risk takers. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Sielkundige Opvoedkunde)

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Die doel van hierdie studie was om te bepaat of 'n hulpverleningsprogram die laerskoolleerder wat taalhindemisse ervaar kan help om sy probleme op 'n kreatiewe wyse te benader. 'n Algemene oorsig van leerhindemisse wat laerskoolleerders ervaar, is gegee. lndien 'n leerder taalhindernisse ervaar, sal dit 'n direkte invloed op sy ander skoolvakke ook he omdat taal vir die leeraksie benodig word. Die kreatiwiteitsbegrip is ook van naderby beskou. Kreatiwiteit kan as die skep van iets wat oorspronklik, maar ook bruikbaar is, gedefinieer word. Dit sluit egter ook die Ie van ongewone verbande tussen twee of meer sake of voorwerpe in. Die program wat ontwikkel is, het as onderbou die teorie oor taalintelligensie van Howard Gardner, 'n opvoedkundige sielkundige aan Harvard Universiteit. Gardner meen dit is deur 'n kreatiewe ingesteldheid, multisensoriese tegnieke en gepaste leerstyle rnoontlik om taalintelligensie teverbeter. Hy is van mening dat taalintelligensie nie iets is wat op 'n bepaalde tydstip gemeet kan word en onveranderd bly nie. Soos met alle intellektuele vermoens, kan taalvaardighede ook uitgebrei en ontwikkel word. Beproefde remedierende tegnieke, wat reeds deur die navorser in die praktyk met welslae uitgetoets is, is op 'n vars, nuwe manier .in die hulpverleningsprogram gebruik. Die hulpverleningsprogram het op die verbetering van perseptuele, mondelinge stelwerk-,lees- en spellingvaardighede gefokus. Dit het gedurende die empiriese studie duidelik geword dat leerders wat op 'n bepaalde leergebied nie na wense presteer nie, dikwels 'n "sielkundige blokkasie" ten opsigte van daardie leerareas ontwikkel. Hulle assosieer Jaasgenoemde in die meeste gevalle met leeronvermoe en leermislukking. Die enigste manier om hierdie gevoel van leermagteloosheid aan te spreek, is om die problematiese leerareas met 'n minder ernstige akademiese aanslag, waarin die pret-element sterk aanwesig is, te benader. Wanneer die leeraksie as 'n aangename ondervindingervaar word, kan leerders hulle leervrese aanspreek en meer waagmoedig begin optree. / The purpose of this study was to investigate the success of an innovative support programme aimed at assisting primary school learners with language barriers to overcome these. An overview was given of learning barriers primary school learners may experience. A learner with a language barrier will find that the other learning areas are negatively influenced because language is essential for learning. The concept of creativity, defined as the creation of something original, yet useful, was adhered to. It included the idea that creativity allows for the connecting of unrelated issues or objects. The theories of Howard Gardner, an educational psychologist at Harvard University, concerning language intelligence, supported this study. According to Gardner it is possible to improve language intelligence through creative awareness, multi-sensory techniques and appropriate learning styles. Gardner postulates that language, as in the case of other intellectual abilities, can be developed and expanded. Remedial techniques successfully used by the researcher in practice, have been presented in this support programme in a novel and innovative form. The creative support programme compiled for this thesis focused on the 1 improvement of perceptual, oral, reading and spelling skills. The need for a more informal support approach was evident in the empirical research of this study. Learners sometimes develop a "psychological block" when experiencing repeated difficulties in a specific learning area. Such learners associate these difficulties with failures and the inability to learn. In order to overcome the experience of learning dispair, the feelings of anxiety associated with the problem learning area, have to be replaced with a less rigid approach in which play encourages feelings of enjoyment and ease. When learning becomes a pleasant experience, learners start overcoming their fears and become risk takers. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Sielkundige Opvoedkunde)