"The purpose of this paper is to show the importance of establishing routines in nursery schools and kindergartens. It will discuss the factors to be considered, procedures to be followed, and examples of establishing routines. This paper will not attempt to discuss in detail the establishing of routines in the home, but will show the relationship of the home and the school"--Introduction. / "August, 1951." / "Submitted to the Graduate Council of Florida State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts." / Advisor: Sarah Lou Hammond, Professor Directing Paper. / Typescript. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-59).

Using one-on-one interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis, this basic qualitative study (see Merriam 1998) examined preservice teachers' beliefs about play and the influences on those beliefs. Research for this study focused on seven preservice teachers enrolled in an early childhood through grade four practicum course at a small private university in south central Texas. Using Nespor (1987) and Vygotsky (1986) as frameworks for transforming the collected data (see Wolcott, 1994), the findings of this study indicated that multiple influences--such as experiences before and during teacher education, feelings, ideals, and universal assumptions--worked in concert to shape the preservice teachers' beliefs about play. And, these influences set the foundation for the content of the preservice teachers' beliefs. Specifically, for the preservice teachers, play seemed to have multiple meanings that fluctuated and were at times contradictory. These defining qualities suggested that the preservice teachers had not fully synthesized their beliefs about play. This study's findings came about because two frameworks instead of one were used to describe, to analyze, and to interpret the preservice teachers' beliefs about play. Together these frameworks provided insights into the preservice teachers' beliefs about play and the influences on those beliefs that neither framework could have provided alone. Specifically, the findings of this study reveal challenges and opportunities for early childhood teacher educators. On the one hand, the multiple meanings, fluctuations, and contradictions present within the preservice teachers' beliefs about play highlight the challenge of defining and conceptualizing play within teacher education. On the other hand, the broad set of influences that shaped the preservice teachers' beliefs about play and their complex interrelationship suggest that by using multiple frameworks to explore preservice teachers' beliefs about play, by viewing preservice teachers' beliefs as an asset to their learning about it, by identifying the sources of preservice teachers' beliefs about play, and by engaging in one-on-one discussions with preservice teachers about their beliefs, teacher educators have the opportunity to address this complex element of early childhood education in their programs with the hopes of ultimately influencing their preservice teachers' practice. / text

Since 2002, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) has included mathematical literacy as a compulsory fundamental component for the Further Education and Training Certificate (FETC). This constituted a radical development in education and is intended to empower individuals so that they can function effectively in, and contribute to the democratization of the country. This exploratory study examined the mathematical literacy experiences of 12 Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioners training toward the National Certificate in ECD at NQF L4. The study was conducted at a non-government, nonformal ECD training organization based in Durban. The practitioners were undertaking their training as part of a Learnership programme. A qualitative research methodology was employed. The data was gathered through focus group interviews, semi-structured interviews, and documentary analysis. The study revealed that the practitioners held a positive view of mathematical literacy training. In addition, it was found that such training should remain as part of the ECD qualification owing to the fact that it added value at both a personal and professional level. In interrogating the curriculum, practitioners recommended the inclusion of ECD examples, and engagement with how mathematical literacy is used in the different contexts. In terms of relevancy of content, practitioners recommended content areas that could be applied in their personal and professional lives. Mathematical literacy that related to national issues was seen as abstract, for example balance of payment in terms of the national budget. The study revealed that the background of the ECD practitioners need to be taken into account as some practitioners may not have studied mathematics before. This implies that providers will need to take into account the NQF Level 3 entry requirements and the expected embedded knowledge that practitioners are supposed to have prior to the registration of practitioners for the NQF L 4 certificate. In this regard, policy makers may also need to re-examine the issue of whether mathematical literacy is needed at the level of the qualification. Dialogue on these issues between SAQA and the different stakeholders may be necessary. Not surprisingly, the study revealed the need for suitably trained mathematical literacy facilitators given that this is a new programme. This study is by no means exhaustive, and is but a small sample of views that could be further explored in a more comprehensive study. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2005.

As part of a drive to improve the quality of teachers, Zimbabwe introduced a school-based mentoring model in 1995, a move which regrettably seems not have borne fruit. Therefore, this study sought to propose an improved mentoring model for initial teacher training for primary school teachers. Efforts to improve the current mentoring could, however, be facilitated if they were informed by an empirically-based understanding of the shortcomings of the existing mentoring system for student teachers and teachers. In order to attain the above objective, this study adopted a multisite case study design, guided by the interpretive paradigm. A core of nine primary schools, drawn from the rural, urban and peri-urban areas of the Masvingo Province in Zimbabwe, was purposively selected to participate in the study. In the participating schools, key participants were student teachers and mentors, while school principals participated when they had time. A secondary group of primary schools were also identified to be used as validation of findings in a wider setting. An in-depth literature study on teacher education and mentoring was also carried out and this, combined with empirical data, illuminated the issues being investigated. The empirical data were primarily gathered through focus group and face-to-face individual semi-structured interviews, while participant observation (used in conjunction with informal unstructured interviews) and questionnaires were used to verify and triangulate data collected through the interviews. To safeguard the ethical integrity of the study, ethical approval from the relevant university committee, as well as the official consent of educational authorities, was obtained beforehand, as was the informed consent of individual participants. The research established that the support rendered to student teachers in the participating primary schools was largely inadequate and of a shallow mode, focusing primarily on facilitating the mastery of technical skills and the provision of psycho-social support, while being sorely deficient in empowering the student teachers with the skills and attitudes to reflectively and critically engage with their own and others‟ teaching practices. The mentoring was taking place in the context of field experience, organised along the apprenticeship model, hence located in an outmoded traditional paradigm of field experience, something which is regrettable at a time when international best practices seek to move towards a reflective-inquiry-oriented paradigm. Secondly, the research found that the participating schools were not structurally or culturally ready to take significant teacher training responsibility; hence the schools, in their present state, could be seen as constraining the smooth functioning of the mentoring model. Thirdly, some mentor-based factors also seemed to inhibit the functioning of the mentoring model. These included teachers who were attitudinally indisposed to accept student teachers as their professional colleagues, preferring to relate to them hierarchically and vertically, thereby limiting the emergence of a culture of professional collaboration and reciprocal learning relationships. In similar vein, the mentors‟ lack of training limited their capacity of mentors to perform the extended range of mentoring functions necessary for supporting student teachers trained in 21st century schools. The above conclusions and implications point towards the following recommendations: Mentor support for student teachers should be extended from the present superficial level to include functions that are oriented towards reflective practice. However, for this to happen, some adjustments will need to be made in the schools. These include, most importantly, making time available for mentoring activities. In order for the mentors to be able to perform their mentoring functions knowledgeably, they must be made fully aware of what they are supposed to do by providing them with the official documents spelling out mentoring expectations in schools. Additionally, the commitment of mentors to their duties could be made more sustainable by putting in place a clearly defined reward structure that is fully recognized officially and integrated into the employee grading system. To make school environments more propitious towards mentoring, schools must be structurally modified and re-cultured to create slots for mentoring activities, provide opportunities for informal professional interaction among teachers, as well as establish professional engagement forums, such as school-based learning circles. The research also suggests that student teachers should be allowed to choose their mentors through providing them with opportunities for early contact with their prospective mentoring partners. In an attempt to close the gap between college-based modules and field-based school experiences, the research further recommends that college-based modules be delivered in a way that ensures that they are fully integrated with student teachers‟ field experiences. Finally, mentoring could be better facilitated if schools and colleges adopted a partnership arrangement that is more aligned to mentoring. This implies provisionally shifting from the present separatist to the HEI-led partnership model, while preparing for the adoption of a fully-fledged collaborative partnership in the long term. The research was, however, by no means carried out perfectly. It was somewhat limited by its failure to take into account the view of officials from the Department of Education, as well as the input of colleagues in teacher education. In similar vein, the researcher felt that a more nuanced and fine-grained picture of the participants‟ mentoring experiences could have emerged if he had spent more time in the field, something which limited resources and work commitments did not allow him to do. Some significant issues arose from this study, but which it could not pursue. These include exploring the possibility of coming up with a model of teacher education that integrates ITE and CTPD in the context of mentoring, as well as conducting a similarly designed research into the mentoring that is taking place in secondary schools.

Thesis (Phd. (Education?)) - Central University of Technology, Free State, 2014 / In this research, the researcher focused on the level of knowledge and skills of foundation phase teachers on curriculum adaptations for learners with learning impairments. The sample consisted of 20 foundation phase teachers and 22 learners. Interviews were conducted with 20 teachers and the researcher observed the interaction between teachers and learners as well as the interaction between the learners themselves. Field notes were also taken during fieldwork. The findings indicated that most teachers understood what the adaptations were; although only few aspects of the curriculum were understood to be adapted to the needs of learners with learning impairments. Some teachers gave learners varying activities whilst other teachers gave all their learners the same activities. The teachers mentioned that they gave different activities to individual learners during expanded opportunity time, which was, according to the researcher, time consuming. The study recommends that the Learning Support Advisors (LSAs) and Subject Advisors (SAs) should conduct in-services training in which foundation phase teachers are trained in curriculum adaptations. Teachersshould be asked how they explore the meaning of curriculum adaptations. This strategy will help the facilitators to identify what teachers already know, and build on that knowledge. The question and answer technique will serve as an introduction to the training. The LSAs and the SAs should conduct the training using different teaching strategies. Thereafter, they should highlight strategies such as: Multilevel instruction; cognitive training which entails self - instruction, self - monitoring, scaffolded instruction and reciprocal teaching; content enhancement which entails graphic organizers; mnemonics and peer assisted learning strategy; direct instruction, peer tutoring and cooperative learning. The researcher designed the following models to improve the knowledge and skills of foundation phase teachers on the implementation of curriculum adaptations for learners with learning impairments: - In-service training model; - Curriculum adaptations model; - Model of an application for adaptation(s), and - A model of a record sheet for adaptation(s).

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2018-09-28T12:24:08Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Fabiana Borelli Gomes do Nascimento.pdf: 4903072 bytes, checksum: eca69dd5edaa8d087b2feb5a4ab2dd0d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-28T12:24:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fabiana Borelli Gomes do Nascimento.pdf: 4903072 bytes, checksum: eca69dd5edaa8d087b2feb5a4ab2dd0d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-08-31 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This dissertation aims to analyze the principles and conceptions of the Integrative Curriculum from the perspective of a group of educators, focusing on the subsidies of the document "Curriculum Integrator of Childhood Paulistana", promoted by the Municipal Education Department of São Paulo. The study delimited the research scenario in an Educational Unit of Early Childhood Education in the District of Cidade Tiradentes and used the qualitative methodology (ANDRÉ, 2000; GAMBOA, 2000; CHIZZOTTI, 2003) to support the research. We constructed an open questionnaire (GIL, 2008), as an instrument for data collection, with the intention of revealing how the teachers understand the Integrative Curriculum and how these conceptions are embedded in their actions. The most problematized themes were highlighted and analyzed in consonance with specific theoretical literature. We found in the teachers' statements, elements indispensable to integrative pedagogical practices, such as the organization of times, spaces and materials, play, the integration of knowledge of different curricular components, children's cultures and protagonism. We perceive from the reflections carried out, an involvement of the educators, in approaching the foundations of the "Integrative Curriculum" the educational practices, for that, we emphasize the formative process, the discussions of the educational routines, as a field of strengthening and deepening to the integrative conceptions, in respect to childhood / Esta dissertação tem como objetivo analisar os princípios e as concepções do Currículo Integrador sob a ótica de um grupo de educadoras, tendo como foco os subsídios do documento “Currículo Integrador da Infância Paulistana”, elaborado pela Secretaria Municipal de Educação de São Paulo. O estudo delimitou como cenário da pesquisa uma Unidade Educacional de Educação Infantil do distrito de Cidade Tiradentes e utilizou a metodologia qualitativa (ANDRÉ, 2000; GAMBOA, 2000; CHIZZOTTI, 2003) para embasamento da investigação. Para a coleta de dados, foi construído um questionário aberto (GIL, 2008), que buscou desvelar como as professoras compreendiam o Currículo Integrador e como tais concepções encontravam-se imbricadas em suas ações. Os temas mais problematizados foram destacados e analisados em consonância com literatura teórica específica. Nos depoimentos das professoras foram constatados elementos indispensáveis às práticas pedagógicas integradoras, como a organização dos tempos, dos espaços e dos materiais, o brincar, a integração de saberes de diferentes componentes curriculares, as culturas infantis e o protagonismo. Percebeu-se, a partir das reflexões realizadas, uma disposição das educadoras para a aproximação entre os fundamentos do “Currículo Integrador” e as práticas educativas. Para tanto, o processo formativo e as discussões das rotinas educativas são enfatizados como campo de fortalecimento e aprofundamento das concepções integradoras, em respeito à infância

This quantitative and qualitative case study examined the educators' perceptions of both the goals and unique aspects of the foundations for success (FFS) curriculum model. Specifically, this study was designed to explain the experiences of 55 early childhood educators and administrators who all had similar exposure to the FFS curriculum model. This study sought to understand the educators' perceptions of the specific goals of using pertinent curriculum and instruction terminology and the parallel process of content language, connecting the importance of developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) and learning standards and readiness for kindergarten. In the same way, the perceptions of the unique aspects of the value based curriculum, the use of reflective supervision and the use of design thinking were gathered and interpreted. This study looked closely into program successes, challenges and future implications of the FFS curriculum model. This study also considered the extent to which future implementations of the model could change the current interdependent relationship between early childhood education and the primary grades. The researcher analyzed the perceptions, utilizing the Likert-value survey instrument responses, the open-ended survey responses, along with the focus group responses to triangulate the findings. Common themes shared across all data collection were evaluated and described. The most apparent themes derived from the findings included the following: the importance of relationships; the importance of accountability and the role language plays; the necessity of the consideration of children's interest for optimal development; and the recognition of intentional planning, revisiting and reflection to the process of the FFS curriculum model. Overall, the FFS curriculum model was determined to be a curriculum model that takes educators on a continuous journey of thinking and learning. Evidence was gathered for the FFS curriculum model that implicated the possibility for replication of the model in other schools, as well as further research using the model to measure student success.

The 2012 Integrated Early Childhood Development (IECD) curriculum recently introduced in all Botswana government preschools was examined by this study. To guide the findings of this study the literature addressing the effective preschool curriculum implementation strategies was reviewed. Furthermore, structured interviews, non-participant observations and documents review were conducted in line with the qualitative phenomenological research approach. Specifically, teachers from three preschools implementing the 2012 IECD curriculum framework were interviewed to obtain their views with regard to its implementation. The data collected from the interviews was thematically analysed and triangulated with that from the observations and documents. The findings of this study showed that even though the teachers were generally satisfied with their different levels of training, they were concerned about the limited duration of in-service training as well as the course content that did not address their unique needs and those of their supervisors. Consequently, effective IECD curriculum implementation was negatively affected by lack of effective supervision as well as lack of teaching resources and other forms of support. Drawing from the findings of this study, recommendations were made and teacher training guidelines were developed. The guidelines were informed by the SCLT (teacher training) and CoP (formation of partnerships) theories. The implications of this study are that the suggested training guidelines would promote teacher efficacy facilitated by proper teacher training strategies and they will hopefully motivate the formation of working partnerships. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / M. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)