<p>The thesis opens with an exposition of different uses of the term dyslexia. In that context its conceptual relevance is discussed. The empirical studies investigate a) different aspects of validity of cognitive and achievement instruments often used in diagnostic assessment of dyslexia, b) different cognitive profiles for adults with dyslexia, and c) the relationship between cognitive and achievement measures.</p><p>Study I demonstrated the factor structure of the Swedish WAIS-R to be in close agreement with results of comparable analyses on normal and clinical groups in many countries world-wide, giving strong support for the construct validity of the Swedish WAIS-R for a group of adults diagnosed with dyslexia. The results from the three-factor solution were interpreted in terms of theoretical constructs, notably those posited by Carroll (1993) and Horn (1989).</p><p>The cognitive profiles of a sample of Swedish adults diagnosed with dyslexia—when using the three factors, the ACID profile, and the four-category Bannatyne profile—all resemble closely the profiles observed for a wide array of U.S. samples of children and adults diagnosed with dyslexia or learning disabilities. Gender differences on Digit Symbol, favoring females, were substantial in magnitude for the present sample, consistent with a bulk of research on gender differences for samples of normal individuals and of those identified with learning problems.</p><p>In Study II, factor analysis of nine Swedish achievement tests often used for dyslexia assessment yielded five meaningful factors in a group of adults diagnosed with dyslexia. Factors appeared to measure decoding, visual speed, reading comprehension, reading fluency, and phonological ability. The relationship between the five achievement factors and WAIS-R variables was subsequently examined. The Visual Speed and Reading Comprehension factors each correlated significantly with four of six global WAIS-R scores (two of three IQs and two of three factor scores). Visual Speed tended to correlate significantly with nonverbal scores and Reading Comprehension with verbal scores. Although the Phonological Ability factor did not correlate significantly with any verbal or nonverbal global score, it did correlate significantly with the Freedom from Distractibility factor and with all its component subtests—Digit Span, Arithmetic, and Digit Symbol. Decoding (technical reading skill) showed no significant relationship to any WAIS-R variable studied. More surprisingly, the Reading Fluency factor failed to show significant relationships to the WAIS-R.</p><p>Study III examined the validity of The Word Chain Test, a frequently used instrument in Swedish screening and diagnostic assessments of dyslexia. Different sources of validity evidence were evaluated. In summary, the results failed to support validity both for the WRI-index and the Wordchain subtest, suggesting that the instrument seems to be of questionable value in screening or diagnostic assessment of dyslexia.</p>

The thesis opens with an exposition of different uses of the term dyslexia. In that context its conceptual relevance is discussed. The empirical studies investigate a) different aspects of validity of cognitive and achievement instruments often used in diagnostic assessment of dyslexia, b) different cognitive profiles for adults with dyslexia, and c) the relationship between cognitive and achievement measures. Study I demonstrated the factor structure of the Swedish WAIS-R to be in close agreement with results of comparable analyses on normal and clinical groups in many countries world-wide, giving strong support for the construct validity of the Swedish WAIS-R for a group of adults diagnosed with dyslexia. The results from the three-factor solution were interpreted in terms of theoretical constructs, notably those posited by Carroll (1993) and Horn (1989). The cognitive profiles of a sample of Swedish adults diagnosed with dyslexia—when using the three factors, the ACID profile, and the four-category Bannatyne profile—all resemble closely the profiles observed for a wide array of U.S. samples of children and adults diagnosed with dyslexia or learning disabilities. Gender differences on Digit Symbol, favoring females, were substantial in magnitude for the present sample, consistent with a bulk of research on gender differences for samples of normal individuals and of those identified with learning problems. In Study II, factor analysis of nine Swedish achievement tests often used for dyslexia assessment yielded five meaningful factors in a group of adults diagnosed with dyslexia. Factors appeared to measure decoding, visual speed, reading comprehension, reading fluency, and phonological ability. The relationship between the five achievement factors and WAIS-R variables was subsequently examined. The Visual Speed and Reading Comprehension factors each correlated significantly with four of six global WAIS-R scores (two of three IQs and two of three factor scores). Visual Speed tended to correlate significantly with nonverbal scores and Reading Comprehension with verbal scores. Although the Phonological Ability factor did not correlate significantly with any verbal or nonverbal global score, it did correlate significantly with the Freedom from Distractibility factor and with all its component subtests—Digit Span, Arithmetic, and Digit Symbol. Decoding (technical reading skill) showed no significant relationship to any WAIS-R variable studied. More surprisingly, the Reading Fluency factor failed to show significant relationships to the WAIS-R. Study III examined the validity of The Word Chain Test, a frequently used instrument in Swedish screening and diagnostic assessments of dyslexia. Different sources of validity evidence were evaluated. In summary, the results failed to support validity both for the WRI-index and the Wordchain subtest, suggesting that the instrument seems to be of questionable value in screening or diagnostic assessment of dyslexia.

Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka hur skisser och dokumentation kan integreras i undervisningen på frisörprogrammet, samt undersöka om kreativt skapande med hjälp av skissen kan överbrygga inlärnings- och förståelsesvårigheter i de praktiska momenten. En kvalitativ undersökning med hjälp av intervjuer gjordes. Två lärare och fyra elever deltog i studien och besvarade frågorna om kreativt skapande, skisser och dokumentationens betydelse för inlärning och i undervisning. I ett undervisningsförsök genomfört av mig, fick eleverna skapa frisyrer kreativt utifrån egna förutsättningar. Skissen användes av eleverna för att utveckla tankar och idéer. Dokumentationen användes medvetet för att eleverna ska kunna gå tillbaka i sina arbeten och reflektera över metoder och resultat vid ett senare tillfälle. I min litteraturgenomgång belyses exempel på hur inlärning sker i samspel med andra människor. Resultatet från intervjuer, undervisningsförsök och litteraturgenomgången visar att inlärningsoch förståelsesvårigheter ofta kan överbryggas med hjälp av skisser och dokumentation av kreativt skapande. / The purpose of this study was to examine how sketching and documentation can be integrated into the hairdressing programme. Besides this, the study explores whether developing creativity by means of sketching can bridge learning and understanding difficulties when working with practical items. A qualitative study based on interviews was carried out. Two teachers and four students participated in the study answering questions about creating with creativity, sketching and documentation and their importance for learning and overall in hairdressing education. In an educational trial set up by myself, the students developed creative hairstyles, from their own ideas. Sketching was used by the students to elaborate thoughts and ideas. Documentation was consciously used so that the students could have a retrospective look at their work and reflect over methods and results later on. In my literature study there are illustrative examples of how learning takes place through interaction with other people. The result of interviews, educational trial and exposition of literature shows that learning and understanding difficulties often can be bridged by means of sketching and documentation of creative work.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) on the cognitive functioning, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems in children between the ages of 7 and 12. The sample was composed of elementary school children living in Ankara, Turkey. Data was collected by administering demographic information form, Children&rsquo / s Depression Inventory (CDI), Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children&ndash / Revised (WISC-R), and Specific Learning Disability Scale. One-way ANOVAs were employed to examine the differences among the levels of parental education, income, school achievement, and child&rsquo / s adherence to IDDM in terms of WISC-R scores, learning difficulty related variables, behavioral problems, and depression. Results revealed that children with low adherence to IDDM were more likely to experience behavioral problems and depression. T-tests were conducted to examine the mean differences between IDDM and control groups in terms of WISC-R scores, and the variables related to learning difficulties, behavioral problems, and depression. As compared to control group, children with IDDM had lower WISC-R information, similarities, arithmetic, and total scores. Also, children with IDDM had lower achievement in several arithmetic, reading, and writing tasks. Furthermore, hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to test the effect of IDDM adherence, age of onset, and illness duration on cognitive functioning, learning, and behaviors. The results did not reveal any significant effect of IDDM related variables on children&rsquo / s cognitive functioning, learning, or behaviors. Findings were discussed with reference to the relevant literature. Implications of the study were discussed and future research topics were suggested.

The main research problem of this doctoral dissertation, designed as an ethnographic case study, based on the philosophical principles of critical pedagogy, lies in answering the following questions: What theoretical framework may be used to investigate adult newcomers’ difficulties in learning Lithuanian in the host country? Are there any foreign/second language education approaches that are conductive to learning in adulthood? Do these approaches facilitate the development of a communicative competence, facilitating learners‘ inclusion in the new society through language? The research is aimed at identifying adult newcomers’ difficulties in learning Lithuanian, at a basic level of studies, in the host country. Having used the grounded theory and qualitative data gathering methods, the perceived difficulties were analyzed in the light of the causal attribution theory. The total of 840 categories of learning difficulties were classified into two groups: 1) the environment (external) factors (522 / 62 %) – lack of appropriate educational resources, Lithuanian as a system, non-participation in society; classroom activities and task complexity; and 2) the learner (internal) factors (318 / 38 %) – lack of ability, confidence or effort. Along with a thick description of the socio-cultural context, a critical analysis of the Lithuanian language materials, activities and tasks was done, based on adult foreign/second language education theories. Based on analytical (theoretical)... [to full text] / Anglų kalba parengta daktaro disertacija – tai etnografinis atvejo tyrimas, grindžiamas filosofiniais kritinės pedagogikos principais. Darbo mokslinė problema siekia ieškoti atsakymų į klausimus: koks teorinis pagrindas būtų tinkamiausias analizuojant suaugusiųjų, atvykstančių į Lietuvą, lietuvių kalbos mokymosi sunkumus? Kokie didaktiniai kalbų mokymosi modeliai būtų tinkamiausi šiai suaugusiųjų grupei, siekiančiai išsiugdyti komunikacinę kompetenciją, reikalingą jų sėkmingai socialinei integracijai Lietuvoje? Tyrimo tikslas – identifikuoti suaugusiųjų, atvykusių į Lietuvą, lietuvių kalbos mokymosi sunkumus išryškinant jų sąsajas su socio-kultūrinio konteksto (makro, mezo ir mikro aplinkos) veiksniais. Taikant grounded teorijos metodologiją ir įvairius kokybinių duomenų rinkimo metodus buvo surinkti empiriniai duomenys. Tiriamųjų suvokiami lietuvių kalbos mokymosi sunkumai buvo analizuojami kauzualinės atribucijos teorijos šviesoje. Išskirta 840 mokymosi sunkumų kategorijų, kurios buvo klasifikuojamos. Dauguma (522 / 62 proc.) mokymosi sunkumų priskiriama: 1) išorinių aplinkos (besimokančiųjų nevaldomų) veiksnių grupei (tinkamų mokymosi šaltinių stoka; lietuvių kalbos sistemos sudėtingumas; galimybių dalyvauti integracijos į visuomenę procese stoka; pamokinės veiklos ir mokymosi užduočių sudėtingumas; 2) besimokančiojo (vidinių) veiksnių grupei – 318 / 38 proc. (mokymosi gebėjimų, pasitikėjimo jėgomis, pastangų stoka). Atlikta mokymosi priemonių, naudojamų mokymui, analizė... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

Anglų kalba parengta daktaro disertacija – tai etnografinis atvejo tyrimas, grindžiamas filosofiniais kritinės pedagogikos principais. Darbo mokslinė problema siekia ieškoti atsakymų į klausimus: koks teorinis pagrindas būtų tinkamiausias analizuojant suaugusiųjų, atvykstančių į Lietuvą, lietuvių kalbos mokymosi sunkumus? Kokie didaktiniai kalbų mokymosi modeliai būtų tinkamiausi šiai suaugusiųjų grupei, siekiančiai išsiugdyti komunikacinę kompetenciją, reikalingą jų sėkmingai socialinei integracijai Lietuvoje? Tyrimo tikslas – identifikuoti suaugusiųjų, atvykusių į Lietuvą, lietuvių kalbos mokymosi sunkumus išryškinant jų sąsajas su socio-kultūrinio konteksto (makro, mezo ir mikro aplinkos) veiksniais. Taikant grounded teorijos metodologiją ir įvairius kokybinių duomenų rinkimo metodus buvo surinkti empiriniai duomenys. Tiriamųjų suvokiami lietuvių kalbos mokymosi sunkumai buvo analizuojami kauzualinės atribucijos teorijos šviesoje. Išskirta 840 mokymosi sunkumų kategorijų, kurios buvo klasifikuojamos. Dauguma (522 / 62 proc.) mokymosi sunkumų priskiriama: 1) išorinių aplinkos (besimokančiųjų nevaldomų) veiksnių grupei (tinkamų mokymosi šaltinių stoka; lietuvių kalbos sistemos sudėtingumas; galimybių dalyvauti integracijos į visuomenę procese stoka; pamokinės veiklos ir mokymosi užduočių sudėtingumas; 2) besimokančiojo (vidinių) veiksnių grupei – 318 / 38 proc. (mokymosi gebėjimų, pasitikėjimo jėgomis, pastangų stoka). Atlikta mokymosi priemonių, naudojamų mokymui, analizė... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The main research problem of this doctoral dissertation, designed as an ethnographic case study, based on the philosophical principles of critical pedagogy, lies in answering the following questions: What theoretical framework may be used to investigate adult newcomers’ difficulties in learning Lithuanian in the host country? Are there any foreign/second language education approaches that are conductive to learning in adulthood? Do these approaches facilitate the development of a communicative competence, facilitating learners‘ inclusion in the new society through language? The research is aimed at identifying adult newcomers’ difficulties in learning Lithuanian, at a basic level of studies, in the host country. Having used the grounded theory and qualitative data gathering methods, the perceived difficulties were analyzed in the light of the causal attribution theory. The total of 840 categories of learning difficulties were classified into two groups: 1) the environment (external) factors (522 / 62 %) – lack of appropriate educational resources, Lithuanian as a system, non-participation in society; classroom activities and task complexity; and 2) the learner (internal) factors (318 / 38 %) – lack of ability, confidence or effort. Along with a thick description of the socio-cultural context, a critical analysis of the Lithuanian language materials, activities and tasks was done, based on adult foreign/second language education theories. Based on analytical (theoretical)... [to full text]

Many scholars have argued that the education system in Brazil tends to strengthen the pattern that reproduces inequalities, where families with higher income are likely to be the ones holding the majority in education. The focus lies in ten interviewees, thereof five parents/caregivers and five professionals that works/worked with the children who were interviewed in Banco da Vitória /Ilhéus, south of Bahia, Brazil 2012. This qualitative study intends to analyse the underlying social causes from a sociological perspective in how the informants reflect upon the child´s/children learning difficulties at the elementary school, Casa da Criança /Escola Daniel Rebouças in the shantytown Banco da Vitória. It will try to answer questions such as; which are the main social causes that affect a child´s learning difficulties in Escola Daniel Rebouças, according to the informants/interviewees? How has the informant´s situation affected their own perception in the child´s/children’s learning difficulties? This paper studies marginalised people who lives in a marginalized district, Banco da Vitória. It will highlight home environment and education to show a continuing pattern that causes the child´s/children´s learning difficulties. This study will demonstrate the necessary cooperation between the school, government, teachers, and parents/caregiver in order to improve the children´s education and well-being.

Play is an important contributor to children’s development: it reflects, reinforces, and results in development (Johnson, Christie, Wardle, 2005). However, the tools available to support planning and measurement of play are not sufficiently detailed or focused on children with autism and severe learning difficulties (SLD). Play for children with autism is consistently identified as restrictive and repetitive. Although extensive research examines symbolic play, the content and structure of functional play, which is considered a valuable precursor of symbolic play, is rarely the subject of focused research (Williams, 2003; Lifter, Foster-Sanda, Arzamarski, Briesch, & McClure, 2011). Given the developmental potential that play presents, the aim of this study was to examine the functional play presented by children with autism and SLD, with a view to designing a play framework that enables teachers to support functional play development in the classroom. A pragmatic mixed methods approach was adopted across a three-stage study in three schools. Study 1 provides the background for creating a functional play framework, while Study 2 focuses on the creation of the framework through objective observations of the play activity of a total of 27 children with autism and SLD, as well as interviews with nine classroom teachers. Study 3 was a process of trialling the framework in two schools and collaborating with eight teachers to finalise the functional play framework, in particular by considering its usability. Data collected across the three studies provided a description of functional play that suggests it is more complex than traditionally defined. Four key areas of functional play were identified: interacting with one object; interacting with two (or more) objects; interacting with self; and interacting with the environment. Additionally, 12 subcategories were established as components related to functional play. Teachers reported that they could use the framework to baseline play, set targets and measure play progression for children with autism and SLD. The framework was also identified as a tool that supports classroom management and continuing professional development. The proposed framework facilitates the identification of small increments of progress and extends on other available play frameworks. By developing detailed descriptions of the play that children with autism and SLD present, the framework provides a greater ability to identify precise deficits and, more specifically, to target support in the area of play. Additionally, the collaborative approach with classroom teachers provides diverse viewpoints but also begins to merge the gap between researchers and practitioners in order to ensure a useful resource. Recommendations for further descriptive accounts, greater involvement of classroom professionals in the development of resources and additional trials of the framework are acknowledged.

Nessa dissertação foi adotado o modelo de explicação do Transtorno de Déficit de AtençãoHiperatividade (TDAH) que prioriza o déficit da memória de trabalho como o seu núcleo. Os teóricos deste modelo apresentam evidências de que a desatenção e a hiperatividade de crianças e adolescentes com TDAH estejam relacionadas a (e até produzidas por) um déficit na memória de trabalho. As crianças e os adolescentes com TDAH também apresentam baixo desempenho matemático, associado ao desempenho na memória de trabalho. O objetivo deste estudo é entender o papel desempenhado pela memória de trabalho (executivo central, alça fonológica e esboço visuoespacial) em crianças e adolescentes com TDAH em relação à dificuldade e ao transtorno de matemática. O banco de dados utilizado faz parte da pesquisa intitulada “Scholar high risk cohort study for the development of psychopathology and resilience – Prevention Study” do Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia – Psiquiatria do Desenvolvimento para Infância e Adolescência (INPD). Foram avaliados três componentes da memória de trabalho, através de quatro tarefas: span de dígitos na ordem direta – alça fonológica; span de dígitos na ordem inversa – executivo central mediado pela alça fonológica; Corsi Blocks na ordem direta – esboço visuoespacial; Corsi Blocks na ordem inversa – executivo central mediado pelo esboço visuoespacial. Os sujeitos com TDAH (n=205) foram avaliados para DM ou TM através do Teste de Desempenho Escolar de Stein (1994). Devido à pouca quantidade de sujeitos identificados com TM (n=7), foi necessário agrupá-los aos sujeitos com DM (n=23; n total=30). Foi realizada Análise de Regressão Logística Binária para verificar se os componentes da memória de trabalho poderiam explicar o diagnóstico de DM ou TM. Como a alça fonológica não teve poder explicativo nesta análise, compreende-se que o poder explicativo da tarefa span de dígitos na ordem inversa tenha sido significativo por exigir capacidade do executivo central, e não por causa da mediação da alça fonológica. O esboço visuoespacial não teve poder explicativo em relação ao diagnóstico de DM e TM no modelo multivariável. Os resultados desse estudo vão ao encontro de pesquisas que apontam o baixo desempenho em tarefas que avaliam o componente executivo central da memória de trabalho de crianças e adolescentes com TDAH. Este estudo também se alinha com as pesquisas que apontam a necessidade do executivo central para a execução de tarefas aritméticas; lembrando que cálculos aritméticos são a base do teste utilizado para diagnosticar a DM e o TM. Acredita-se que a perspectiva apresentada é promissora para a compreensão das relações entre o TDAH e a DM e o TM. A memória de trabalho pode estar desempenhando um papel mais importante do que os próprios sintomas de desatenção e hiperatividade/impulsividade na dinâmica do TDAH. Com isso não se pretende negar a influência que a desatenção e a hiperatividade exercem sobre a aprendizagem, mas sim vinculá-las e explicá-las pelos déficits na memória de trabalho apresentados por crianças e adolescentes com TDAH. / This dissertation adopts an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) model of explanation in which the working memory deficit is the disorder’s core. Proponents of this model provide evidence that inattention and hyperactivity in ADHD children and adolescents are related to (and even produced by) a working memory deficit. ADHD children and adolescents also have low mathematical performance which is associated to the working memory performance. This study’s goal is to understand the role played by working memory (central executive, phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad) in ADHD children and adolescents regarding mathematical learning difficulty (MLD) and mathematical disability (MD). The used database is part of a research entitled "Scholar high risk cohort study for the development of psychopathology and resilience – Prevention Study" from the Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia – Psiquiatria do Desenvolvimento para Infância e Adolescência (INPD). Three components of working memory were evaluated through four tasks: forward digit span - phonological loop; backward digit span - central executive mediated by the phonological loop; forward Corsi Blocks - visuospatial sketchpad; backward Corsi Blocks - central executive mediated by the visuospatial sketchpad. The subjects with ADHD were assessed (n=205) for MLD and MD through the School Achievement Test (Stein, 1994). Due to the limited number of MD subjects identified (n=7), it was necessary to regroup them with the MLD subjects (n=23; total number=30). Binary Logistic Regression Analysis was performed to verify if the working memory components could explain the MLD or MD diagnosis. As phonological loop had no explanatory power in this analysis, it was understood that the backward digit span task explanatory power was significant because required the central executive ability, but not because it was mediated by the phonological loop. diagnosis in the multivariate model. The results of this study are compatible with studies that show poor performance on working memory central executive tasks in ADHD children and adolescents. This study also aligns with recent researches which point to the need of central executive to perform arithmetic tasks, noting that arithmetic computations are the test basis used to diagnose MLD and MD. The presented argument is promising for understanding the relationship between ADHD and MLD / MD. Working memory may play a more important role in the dynamics of ADHD than the actual symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. This study does not deny the inattention and hyperactivity influence on learning, but seeks to bind them with and explain them through the working memory deficits presented by ADHD children and adolescents.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-03T16:15:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PaulaAraujo.pdf: 311613 bytes, checksum: e2175a200d37e56c27efb13db177acad (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-20 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The practice of the teacher in the classroom has great importance for a successful development of the student. In primary education we can notice high numbers of children with learning disabilities related to reading and writing - they know how to read what is written, but they cannot interpret what they are reading. In this context, this study aimed to conduct a discussion to see if, indeed, the psycho-pedagogical acquirements are facilitators for organizing interventions in pedagogical practice of teachers who face learning difficulties of students in reading and writing process, and to investigate whether teachers who have the psycho-pedagogical knowledge are more successful in terms of satisfactory results considering the interventions with their students, then to teachers who have no such knowledge. This study is delimited in the scope of the elementary school, and had as subjects, six pedagogue teachers who work or worked in the 3rd or 4th year of Cycle I (the first series) in public schools at São Paulo - three of them have the psychopedagogy course and three of them do not have the psychopedagogy course, and it had as motivating the following questions: A psychoeducational practice can contribute positively in the school context? The pedagogue teacher, with psycho-pedagogical knowledge, feels it is easier to deal with learning difficulties? It is also conducted a historic recovery about the Psychoeducation emergence in Brazil and its field performance, as well as reflections on the discussion about the difficulties of learning is related to the difficulties of teaching and learning. The basic academic references, for deepening discussions of some proposals, was based on authors such as Bossa, 2011; Fernández, 1991; Pain, 1992; Polity, 2002 and Franco, 2003. To collect data from selected subjects, we conducted semi-structured interviews, which were audio-recorded and transcribed for later analysis categories organization, through the methodology of content analysis proposed by Franco (2003). Through this study we found that as the psychopedagogy has an interdisciplinary feature, much of its theoretical and practical contributions come from other areas of knowledge, such as pedagogy. Thus, much of interventional practices of teachers with psychopedagogy to students who face learning difficulties in reading and writing, are the same as the teachers without psychopedagogy, use in the classroom. / A prática do professor em sala de aula é de extrema importância para um bom desenvolvimento do educando. No ensino básico podemos perceber grande número de crianças com dificuldades de aprendizagem relacionadas à leitura e à escrita elas sabem ler o que está escrito, mas não conseguem interpretar o que estão lendo. Diante desse contexto, este estudo teve por objetivo realizar uma discussão para verificar se, efetivamente, os conhecimentos psicopedagógicos são facilitadores para a organização de intervenções na prática pedagógica de professores que enfrentam dificuldades de aprendizagem de alunos no processo de leitura e escrita, e investigar se os professores que possuem os conhecimentos psicopedagógicos têm mais sucesso em termos de resultados satisfatórios frente às intervenções com seus alunos, em relação aos professores que não possuem estes conhecimentos. Este estudo se delimitou no âmbito do Ensino Fundamental, e teve como sujeitos, seis professores pedagogos que atuam ou atuaram, nos 3º ou 4º anos do Ciclo I (das séries iniciais) em escolas públicas na grande São Paulo três que possuem o curso de psicopedagogia e três que não possuem o curso de psicopedagogia, e teve como motivadoras as seguintes questões: A prática psicopedagógica pode contribuir de forma positiva no contexto escolar? O professor pedagogo, com os conhecimentos psicopedagógicos, tem mais facilidade para lidar com dificuldades de aprendizagem? É realizada, também, uma recuperação histórica sobre o surgimento da Psicopedagogia no Brasil e seu campo de atuação, além de reflexões sobre se a discussão acerca das dificuldades de aprendizagem está relacionada com as dificuldades de ensinagem". O referencial teórico básico, para o aprofundamento de algumas discussões propostas, baseou-se em autores como Bossa, 2011; Fernández, 1991; Paín, 1992; Polity, 2002 e Franco, 2003. Para a coleta de dados dos sujeitos selecionados, realizamos entrevistas semi-estruturadas, gravadas em áudio e transcritas, para posterior organização de categorias de análises, por meio da metodologia de análise de conteúdo proposta por Franco (2003). Através desta investigação constatamos que como a psicopedagogia possui um caráter interdisciplinar, muito da sua contribuição teórica e prática vêm de outras áreas do conhecimento, como por exemplo, da pedagogia. Assim, muito das práticas interventivas dos professores com psicopedagogia para com os alunos que enfrentam dificuldades de aprendizagem na leitura e na escrita, são as mesmas que os professores, sem psicopedagogia, utilizam em sala de aula.