The aim of this paper was to contribute to knowledge about how preschool-teachers work with the development of children’s spoken language in preschool.The study was conducted through interviews with four preschool-teachers working at the same preschool with one to five year old children. Through the interviews I came to learn about the preschool teachers experience concerning their work with development of children’s spoken language.The results show that the preschool teachers used pedagogical tools like songs, movements, rimes, jungles and stories in their work to develop the children’s spoken language. They said that conflicts and exclusion among children in a group could be a result of differences in language skills. These results point to the importance of being aware of language skills as an eventual cause of conflicts among preschool children. The study also points at larger groups of children and fewer preschool teachers as a problem in preschools today. The preschool teachers in the study pointed this out and emphasized the importance of having enough time and resources for each child in order to work with their language development. It was emphasized by the preschool teachers that if they themselves show their joy and engagement in their work with the children then the children will acquire language skills with laughter and joy. It is in the fun the moments together with friends and adults that the children learn the most. Learning is important, but most important is to have fun while learning. / Syftet med detta examensarbete var att bidra med kunskap om hur förskollärarna arbetar med utvecklingen av barns talade språk i förskolan.Undersökningen har gjorts genom intervjuer med fyra förskollärare på en förskola med barn i åldrarna ett till fem år. Genom en intervjustudie fick jag möjligheten att få veta hur förskollärarnas erfarenheter kring arbetet med barns språkutveckling såg ut.Resultatet av intervjuundersökningen visar att användning av pedagogiska verktyg, så som sånger, rörelser, rim och ramsor samt sagor och berättelser utvecklar barns språk på ett lustfyllt sätt. Om barnen i gruppen på förskolan har ett språk som inte har utvecklats i samma nivå, kan konflikter och utanförskap uppstå. Det kan därmed vara viktigt att ha en medvetenhet om att konflikter mellan barn kan bero på olikheter i förmåga att uttrycka sig. Resultatet av undersökningen visar också att barngrupperna med åren blir större och större och förskollärarna färre och färre. Det är viktigt att få mer tid till det enskilda barnet och tillgång till resurser, för att på så sätt arbeta ytterligare med deras språk. Om förskollärare visar sitt engagemang och sin glädje kring sitt arbete med barnen, lyser detta igenom och barnen lär sig i samband med skratt och glädje. Det är de stunder då barnen tillsammans med kamrater på förskolan samt de vuxna har roligt tillsammans som de lär sig som mest. Lärandet är viktigt, men det viktigaste är att ha roligt när lärandet sker.

Abstract In this essay, I have chosen to examine how four teachers in a work unit think and work with linguistic development and strategies, particularly in grade 4-6. The teaching profession has gradually become more like a cooperative profession. Therefore it is in a general pedagogic interest, to know, how each one of the teachers in the work unit, are thinking about linguistic development, teaching profiles and the significances of a work unit to achieve their aims to provide for all the individuals in their classrooms. My intention was to find out if a homogeneous work unit or a heterogeneous work unit is to prefer in work with linguistic development, which initially made me focus and realise the importance of each one of my informants’ answers. My chosen framing of questions are:  What do the teachers think about linguistic development and strategies, ways of working and classroom environment?  How do the teachers think about their own teaching profiles to stimulate linguistic development?  How do the teachers define their aims with their teaching?  How do the teachers think about the significance of the work unit, to achieve their aims with linguistic development? Through qualitative, semi-structured to un-structured interviews, which were taped, I got a rich material to work with and bring together. The result of my examination has shown that all my informants realized that linguistic development takes place in different kinds of subjects and in many different correlations, but they work differently in terms of interaction, they have different kinds of perspective and views of how pupils learn and gain knowledge. Joyfulness, conversation, reflection and a good classroom environment are all needed to motivate the pupils to continue their linguistic development, but there are also a need of grammar- and spelling practice. My informants are aware of their various views of teaching, but they all think that a possible way to continue their own personal development is to make use of their varying competences. The conclusion of my examination is that there has to be a well-functioning, reflecting, open minding and a heterogeneous work unit, to accomplish linguistic development for all different individuals in a classroom.

Denna studie grundas i ett intresse för hur pedagoger inom förskolan arbetar med barn med annan kulturell bakgrund än infödda svenskar. Detta för att få en god utveckling av det svenska språket, hos de barn som behöver extra stöd. Det ges även en inblick av hur förskollärare uppfattar föräldrarnas delaktighet i barnens språkliga utveckling, då det är ett faktum att föräldrarnas engagemang ses mycket betydande i hur positivt barn uppfattar sin kultur, sitt modersmål och sitt identitetsskapande. Vidare utgår det pedagogiska perspektivet från Vygotskij's utvecklingsteori tillsammans med de tankar som Maria Montessori hade kring barns utveckling och den förskole – samt skolverksamhet hon bedrev. Huvudfrågan som ställs är hur pedagoger hjälper barnen till det svenska språket samt hur de ser på samarbetet med föräldrarna, hemifrån. Undersökningen är baserad på kvalitativa intervjuer med fyra utbildade förskollärare, som arbetar på mångkulturella förskolor inom Gävle kommun. Övergripande slutsats som kan tas utifrån denna studie är att alla de tillfrågade förskolärarna anser att de mycket aktivt arbetar med barns svenskspråkliga utveckling, då det gäller barn med annan etnisk tillhörighet än den svenska, som uppvisar svårigheter inom detta. Detta synliggörs bland annat igenom bokläsning, nyttjandet av rim och ramsor, intresseväckande nyanserade samtal med barnen samt den fria leken i relation till socialt samspel. Förskollärarna bekräftar att en god svenskspråklig framgång gynnas av redan goda språkkunskaper i det besittande modersmålet, något som de uttrycker att de uppmuntrar både barnen och dess föräldrar att hålla kvar vid. De berättar om den idag avsaknade modersmålsundervisningens positiva respektive negativa aspekter samt hur de tycker att barnen gynnats av modersmålslärarnas arbete. Bland annat tycker förskollärarna att modersmålslärarens skulle ha haft en roll som tolk i den dagliga verksamheten, då de menar att barnen i stort sätt lär sig sitt modersmål i hemmet. Detta kan vidare synliggöras som ett omedvetet samarbete mellan pedagoger och föräldrar. Förskollärarna konstaterar dock att de inte ser ett så stort medvetet sammarbete med föräldrarna hemifrån, i ett syfte att främja barnens språkliga utveckling, som komplement till den dagliga verksamheten på förskolan, som de kanske skulle vilja. Förskollärarna uppfattar i viss mån att föräldrarna läser böcker för sina barn i hemmet, men har ingen egentlig uppfattning huruvida de sjunger tillsammans med sina barn. Dock påvisar förskollärarna att de ideligen uppmuntrar föräldrarna till detta. Resultatet av denna studie fastställer pedagogernas engagemang i barnens utvecklande av det svenska språket, såväl som modersmålet. / This study is based on an interest in how teachers within pre-schools work with children of other ethnical nationalities than Swedish. This to obtain a good development for the Swedish language, for the children how requires extra help. There is also given an insight on how the preschool-teachers perceive the parent’s participation in the children’s language development, for it is a reality that parents involvement sees very significant in how positive the children look upon their culture, their native language and their sense of forming an identity. Furthermore, the pedagogical perspective lapse from Vygotskij’s theory of development alongside with the thoughts of Maria Montessori about children’s early development and the work she constructed and led within pre-schools and schools. The main question asked is how the pre-school teachers help the children with their development of the Swedish language, and also how the view the collaboration with the parents, out of the homes. The analysis is based on qualitative interviews with four qualified pre-school teachers, who work in multicultural preschools within the county of Gävle. The overall conclusion which can be withdrawn from this study is that all of the asked pre-school teachers believe that they are very actively working with the children when it comes to learning the Swedish language, regarding those children who prove to have difficulty within this area. This is made visible, amongst other things, trough book reading, the different uses of rhymes, interest-awakening and nuanced conversations with the children and also independent playtime related to social interaction. The pre-school teachers confirm that good achievements in the Swedish language benefits by an already good language-knowledge for the native language, something they express that they encourage both the children as well as their parents to hold on to. They talk about the today absent home language instructions positive and negative aspects, and also their views on whether the children had benefit from the work of the home language teachers. Amongst other things, the pre-school teachers feel that the home language teacher should have had more of a translator’s role in the daily activities, since their believes are that the children pretty much learn their whole native language out of the homes. This can furthermore be made seen as an unconsciously collaboration between the preschool teachers and parents. The pre-school teachers however mean that they do not see much of a deliberate collaboration with the parents within the home, to serve as a purpose to help the child in its language development, as a complement to the daily activities in the pre-school, as much as they would like. The pre-school teachers apprehend to some extent that the parents read books with their children within the home, but have no real perception on whether they sing together with their children. However, he pre-school teachers highlight how they time and time again encourage the parents to do so. The result of this study states the pre-school teachers’ dedication in the children’s development of the Swedish language, as well as their native language.

This study examines factors that influence the language use of preschool children in a child/parent education program. The Preschool for Child/Parent Education Project was initiated to address concerns for at risk children and their families in the community of Nipawin, Saskatchewan. The families invited to participate in the program were identified as having preschool children who were potentially at risk for school success.<p> The language experiences of four preschool children were observed as they participated in one nine-week child/parent education session. The parents, caregivers and preschool teacher were interviewed regarding their views about the language experiences of the children.<p> The factors that emerged as having an influence on the children's use of language in the preschool program were: play center activities, direct instruction, authentic experiences, parent/caregiver involvement and teacher efficacy. Results showed that the children in the Preschool for Child/Parent Education Project experienced a program that understood the language needs of young children and the powerful influence of a supportive family.<p> Implications are drawn concerning the benefits of providing opportunities for language development and use during the crucial preschool years in a child/parent education program. Recommendations for further research suggest recognition of the effects of early language intervention on young children with difficult life circumstances.

Purpose: Reading aloud to children and having a conversation about a book, which is read to them, has attracted much attention as important factors that influence children's language development. Language development for children is one of the most important tasks that the preschool- teachers have, and according to “Läroplanet”, all children must have the opportunity to develop their language. The aim of this study was to examine how reading aloud, and by letting them speak about a certain book, “boksamtal” impacts preschool-children`s ability to develop their language according to preschool- teachers. Method: I have used a qualitative method by interviewing four preschool- teachers. Moreover, I applied a literature review related to the topic. The information given in the interviews has been analyzed by the use of socio-cultural theories and previous researches. To get a better answer to the main question of the purpose, I have arranged four sub-queries. These are the following questions: How can reading aloud and book discussion influence language development according to preschool- teachers? How does the teachers describe how reading aloud and book discussion can match children`s interests? What prerequisites and obstacles were there when reading aloud and discussing books according to teachers? How the teachers describe the role of the environment, in which reading aloud and book discussion is taken place, for language development? Results: The study shows that reading aloud occurs as a daily activity in the general preschool. Those preschool teachers we spoke to have been reading aloud to children, but not all of them have actually discussed books with children at all. In order to stimulate children for reading books and let them have a conversation and expose them to books, texts and the literature environment, in which the reading takes place to adapt to their interests, age and level of language skills. Groups with many children are perceived by preschool teachers to have a negative impact on book discussion. Conclusion: My study shows that these preschool teachers are conscious about the positive impact, of reading aloud and letting them discuss their books, on children's language development,  but due to some negative factors , the time deficiency for instance,  they priority reading aloud in front of book discussion. The teachers consider that for development, they must stimulate children`s interest to reading and book discussion, which together with environment around the children must be adapted with children`s age, interest and language skill level.

The aim of this paper is to investigate how teachers in Swedish schools abroad reason about their work developing the Swedish language as the students live in a non-Swedish speaking country although going to a Swedish school. Furthermore the study intends to examine the teachers' attitudes towards the impact the Swedish language has upon the school. Research questions: What thoughts do the teachers signify in reference to the language development of the students? How do the teachers reason about the role of the Swedish language in the school? In order to answer these questions, qualitative measures has been used in terms of observations and interviews. The study is based upon a social constructivist perspective with the idea that reality is socially constructed. I am inspired by Vygotskijs theories regarding children's language development which presents a socio-cultural perspective.  The result shows that the Swedish language has a great influence in school and that the teachers' attitudes towards the Swedish language is of major importance in order to encourage the students' language development. Teachers and the principal highlight the emphasis of working with the Swedish language since the students live in a non-Swedish speaking country and therefore mainly come in contact with it in the school or at home. The teachers' work actively to develop the students language skills through reading Swedish literature, producing own texts and consistently speaking Swedish.

Objective: The aim of this work is to find out how a number of educators work when giving children support and opportunities for language development. Questions: What have preschool for policy to monitor/assess the children’s language development? What experiences do teachers have of children who need support in language development? How do educator’s regard support from specialised educator’s? Do these efforts support the children to enhance language development? Methods: Qualitative methodology, Interviews with six teachers and two specialised educators from three kindergartens in the municipality. Summary of conclusions: The municipality in which the survey was conducted has a document that provides guide lines on how to work with children’s language development in school and preschool. Pedagogical documentation is a tool that teachers use in nursery school which educators and parents can follow, which shows children’s learning processes and learn strategies. Research shows that through play, music, creative activities, photos, etc. and the educator’s ways of supporting and giving children context-rich words supported language development. This study shows that teachers use methods that research shows to be congenial to language development. Educators work in their own ways and use different methods to ultimately support the child in its language development. With various efforts from the preschool teacher, language teacher, parents, speech therapy and special education teachers, the educator seeks to support the child’s continued language development.

The aim and purpose of this essay is to investigate how literature can be used as an educational tool and as a source for learning acquisition. More specifically, this essay investigates whether literature can facilitate vocabulary acquisition by exploring different aspects of learning through literature and by implementing a study to see how literature contributes to the development of vocabulary. The results of the study show improvement on vocabulary breadth with the help of literature and consequently serve to reinforce the importance of literature and substantiate the reasons why literature is used in school. This essay can serve as supplementary evidence for the significance and relevance of literature as an educational tool.

Adults commonly use spatial motion to talk about time. These metaphors are of at least three different types: moving-time, moving-ego, and sequence-as-relative-position-on-a-path. But when children grasp the meaning of spatial metaphors for time and what cognitive factors account for this understanding? In this study, we aim to answer these questions by studying young children’s comprehension of three different spatial metaphors for time. Our findings show that children begin to understand metaphors for time by age five and to explain the meaning of these different metaphors by age 6. Additionally, children’s comprehension varied by metaphor type, with moving-time and moving-ego metaphors being mastered earlier than sequence-as-relative-position-on-a-path metaphors. Moreover, we found children’s comprehension ability to be associated with their understanding of the time concept. Overall, these results suggest that comprehension of time metaphors is an early emerging linguistic ability that has strong ties to children’s cognitive understanding of the time concept.

Abstract   The purpose of my study is to see how pedagogues describe their work with language stimulation in preschool. My study is a case study. Through qualitative interviews and observations with three pedagogues I want to se how it works in preschool.        My research question was: How do the pedagogues describe their work procedure with language stimulation?     My result of this study is that language stimulation always is included in all preschool activities. As a pedagogue you must take care of all opportunities, both spontaneous and arranged situations.  The pedagogues see themselves as very important persons when it comes to children´s language development. As a pedagogue it is important with a consciously reflect on what you do and why you do certain things. They want to be good role- models for the children and give them cheerful and challenging activities that strengthen children in their language development.   The conclusion of my study is that if you are a pedagogue who is constantly conscious, present, confident and enthusiastic you can create many situations every day which stimulate children in their language development.