<p>The purpose of this study has been to examine reading habits and the use of the library by pre­school teachers in a mainly multicultural community, and also explore to what extent activities in the local library are aimed at preschoolers.</p><p>The study used a sociocultural approach based on Vygotsky’s theories of learning and development and Söderbergh’s theory of early childhood language development, and was carried out during the summer 2009. The methodology used was both quantitative and qualitative, with a combination of questionnaires and interviews. Questionnaires were sent out to each section of the municipal pre­schools within the catchments area of the local public library in a multicultural suburb of Uppsala. Three short interviews were carried out with staff at the local and main library branches, as well as library staff at the County Council.</p><p>The results show that, although preschool teachers find reading important in their work, many teachers read spontaneously and/or sporadically. Many also find that visiting the library is difficult, seeing distance and the age of the children as factors preventing them from going. The library studied has little or no mutual activities with the preschools. General activities aimed at young children are story time in Swedish and several other languages as well as theatre and music events, book talks aimed towards parents visiting early year’s centres and, for preschools since 2008, theme bags involving popular topics such as nature, friends, and seasons. Conflicts exist between the control documents for the libraries and the present law of education in Sweden.</p>

The purpose of this study has been to examine reading habits and the use of the library by pre­school teachers in a mainly multicultural community, and also explore to what extent activities in the local library are aimed at preschoolers. The study used a sociocultural approach based on Vygotsky’s theories of learning and development and Söderbergh’s theory of early childhood language development, and was carried out during the summer 2009. The methodology used was both quantitative and qualitative, with a combination of questionnaires and interviews. Questionnaires were sent out to each section of the municipal pre­schools within the catchments area of the local public library in a multicultural suburb of Uppsala. Three short interviews were carried out with staff at the local and main library branches, as well as library staff at the County Council. The results show that, although preschool teachers find reading important in their work, many teachers read spontaneously and/or sporadically. Many also find that visiting the library is difficult, seeing distance and the age of the children as factors preventing them from going. The library studied has little or no mutual activities with the preschools. General activities aimed at young children are story time in Swedish and several other languages as well as theatre and music events, book talks aimed towards parents visiting early year’s centres and, for preschools since 2008, theme bags involving popular topics such as nature, friends, and seasons. Conflicts exist between the control documents for the libraries and the present law of education in Sweden.

Studien är en kvalitativ intervjuundersökning av fem förskolepedagogers uppfattningar av möjligheter och svårigheter att genomföra pedagogisk kartläggning kring barn med funktionsnedsättningar i förskolan. Barnen i barngrupperna är mellan ett och fem år. Ett eller flera barn har någon funktionsnedsättning. Två kommuner från södra Sverige är representerade.   Viktigt för studien har varit att studera arbetet med kartläggningen i ett helhetsperspektiv. Studiens teoretiska, utvecklingsekologiska, perspektiv ger möjlighet att uppfatta faktorer i barnets närmiljö men också i andra miljöstrukturer på samhällsnivå.   Resultatet presenteras i temana; observation, reflektion, samverkan och fortbildning. Innehållet i kartläggningen utgörs av barnens motorik, kommunikation, motivation, beteenden, samspel och relationer med såväl barn som vuxna samt hur planerade stödinsatser fungerar i verksamheten.   I pedagogernas kartläggningsarbete ingår förutom barnen; kollegor i arbetslaget, interna specialpedagoger, föräldrar, barnhabilitering och till viss del BVC. I fortbildningen ingår interna och externa aktörer. Olika specialpedagogiska perspektiv uttrycks i förhållande till barnen med funktionsnedsättningar.   Som förutsättningar för den pedagogiska kartläggningen fungerar de möjligheter och svårigheter som pedagogerna beskriver. Det är relationer, barngruppens storlek, medvetenhet kring olika roller, befintliga kartläggningsverktyg, tid för reflektion och utveckling av observationsmetoder, stabila arbetslag, gemensam fortbildning samt en organisering av samverkan mellan olika verksamheter.

In this study, semi-structured interviews adopted from repertory grid studies are conducted with ten 5-year-old preschool children, during which children are asked to evaluate four types of construction play materials and four types of metallophones.In the study, the important design attributes of these two types of play materials preferred by preschool children are analyzed by gathering their own evaluation criteria. Based on the interview data, children&rsquo / s preferences, evaluation criteria and the reasons behind their preferences are tried to be identified. The results of the study show that, children evaluated construction play materials considering method of construction, form of the pieces, color, size, types of pieces, types of constructions, ease of construction and material. Children evaluated metallophones considering color, placement of the keys, sound, being in the openbeing closed, form, size, storage of the mallets, weight, size of the mallets, form of the keys, coding, number of mallets, number of keys, height and material. The study also includes the analysis of the relationships between children&rsquo / s evaluation criteria for each product group and comparison of the evaluation criteria related to construction play materials and metallophones.

Early musical experiences are very important for social, cognitive and physical development of children, as well as their future musical competences. Preschools present this environment with various musical materials. However, suitability of these materials in terms of developmental needs of children and educational goals is questionable. The purpose of this study is to transfer knowledge from relevant literature to design considerations of musical toys for preschool children. Literature review was conducted to determine various aspects to be considered while designing musical toys by compiling knowledge from developmental psychology and pedagogy literature / governments

Ši pagrindinė tezė apima teorinę ir praktinę pusę, analizę ir ikimokyklinių ugdymo įstaigų valdymo optimizavimo strateginių tikslų pagrindimą. Tezė apima: strateginio valdymo teorijos analizę, tam tikrų segmentų empirinį viešos nuomonės tyrimą (ikimokyklinių ugdymo įstaigų direktorių, pavaduotojų, auklėtojų, tėvų), jų nuomones apie ikimokyklinių ugdymo įstaigų valdymo optimizacijos strateginius tikslus, empirinį vadovavimo įvertinimo tyrimą apie dabartinių vaikų darželių direktorius, patikrinant jų gebėjimą vadovauti. Buvo apklausta trisdešimt Šiaulių miesto ir rajono ikimokyklinių ugdymo įstaigų. 30 – direktorių, 30 – direktorių pavaduotojų, 100 pedagogų, 140 tėvų. Išanalizuota 30 įstaigų veiklos planų. Tezė aptaria ikimokyklinių ugdymo įstaigų specifinę valdymo sferą, analizuoja valdymo teorijų formą, veiklos struktūros optimizavimo klausimą, strateginius dokumentus ir dokumentaciją. Po teorinės ir empirinės analizės buvo padarytos sekančios išvados: strateginis valdymas yra esminis ikimokyklinėms ugdymo įstaigoms, nepaisant skirtingų situacijų ir įvairų metodų, pateiktų institucijų veikloje, yra tam tikri valdymo optimizavimo strateginiai tikslai, vedantys į efektyvesnę veiklą ir augimą. / This leading thesis involves aspects of theory and practice, analysis and explanation of strategic aims for management optimization in preschool education institutions. Thesis involves: theoretical analysis of strategic management, empirical research of public opinion in certain segments (of the directors, director’s assistants, educators of preschool education institutions and parents), their opinions about the strategic aims for management optimization in preschool education institutions, empirical research about management assessment of the directors of present preschools, testing their ability to head up. The research included 30 preschool education institutions of Šiauliai town and its region. 30 directors, 30 director’s assistants, 100 educators, 140 parents. There were analyzed thirty management plans of institutions. Thesis discusses about the specific spheres of management in preschools, analysis the forms of management theories, question of the work structure optimization, strategic documents and documentation. The following conclusions have been drawn after theoretical and empirical analysis: strategic management is fundamental for preschool education institutions despite the different situations and various methods which are listed in the work of these institutions; there are certain strategic aims of management which leads to effective work and growth.

Magistro darbe yra suformuluotas tikslas - diagnozuoti Šiaulių miesto ikimokyklinio ugdymo įstaigų vadovų kompetencijas bei atskleisti ikimokyklinio ugdymo įstaigų vadovų ir pedagogų požiūrį į vadovų kompetencijas. Remiantis teoriniais šaltiniais apibrėžta kompetencijos samprata. Išanalizuoti ir susisteminti Lietuvos ir kitų šalių mokslininkų požiūriai į asmeninę, socialinę, profesinę, komunikacinę kompetencijas. Atskleistas vadovo darbo ir kompetencijos ryšys. Ištirta respondentų nuomonė apie vadovų turimas įsisavintas kompetencijas ir kompetencijas, kurių labiausiai trūksta vadovams. Išsiaiškinta kurios kompetencijos yra svarbiausios vadovo darbe. Tyrimo rezultatai taikytini organizuojant seminarus ikimokyklinio ugdymo įstaigų vadovams bei vykdant ikimokyklinio ugdymo įstaigų vadovų atrankos ir vertinimo procesus. / An objective, which is formulated in the master’s work is to diagnose the managerial competences of preschool education institutions of Šiauliai city and to reveal the attitude of managers and educators of preschool education institutions towards the managerial competences. The conception of competence was made with the help of theoretical resources. Lithuania’s and other countries’ scientists’ attitudes towards the personal, social, professional and communicative competences were analysed and systematized. The connection between a manager’s work and a competence was revealed. Respondents’ opinion about the managers’ competence, which they have attained and the competence that managers lack mostly were investigated. It was cleared which competences are most important in a manager’s work. Research results can be applied while organising seminars for the managers of preschool education institutions, also while realizing the processes of their selection and evaluation.

Ankstyvosios vaikystės amžiaus tarpsnio vaikus ugdo šeima ir ikimokyklinių įstaigų pedagogai, todėl svarbu, kad ikimokyklinio ugdymo įstaigoje dirbtų tinkamiausi šiam darbui pedagogai. Ikimokyklinis ugdymas gali būti analizuojamas ne tik instituciniu, bet ir intrapersonaliniu lygmenimis, todėl vertinant ikimokyklinio ugdymo įstaigos pedagogų atranką, galima teigti, kad pedagoginėje veikloje atsiranda papildoma dedamoji – veiklos priklausomybė nuo darbuotojo pašaukimo profesijai. Profesinio kryptingumo aspektas vertinant ikimokyklinio ugdymo pedagogą ir įtraukiant šį kriterijų į pedagoginio personalo atranką gali būti vertinamas kaip švietimo vadybos naujovė ikimokyklinio ugdymo įstaigoje. Tyrimo objektas – ikimokyklinio ugdymo įstaigos pedagogų atrankos kriterijai. Tyrimo tikslas – išsiaiškinti pagrindinius ikimokyklinio ugdymo įstaigos pedagoginio personalo atrankos kriterijus, įvertinant formaliuosius kvalifikacinius reikalavimus bei pedagogo profesinį kryptingumą. Uždaviniai: atskleisti ikimokyklinio ugdymo sistemos kaitos bruožus; nustatyti ikimokyklinio ugdymo pedagogo profesinio pašaukimo ir profesionalumo sąsajas; nustatyti ikimokyklinio ugdymo pedagogų profesinį kryptingumo vertinimo kriterijus. Tyrimas atliekamas naudojant šiuos teorinius, empirinius bei statistinius tyrimo metodus: mokslinės literatūros analizė, dokumentų turinio analizė, anketine apklausa, struktūrizuotas interviu, kokybinis vaikų prezentacijų tyrimas, kiekybinė ir kokybinė empirinio tyrimo metu... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Family and preschool educational institutions’ pedagogical staff are responsible for children education and upbringing in infancy period, in childhood. That is reason for selection of really suitable persons and educators. Preschool education might be analyzed by institutional and intrapersonal level. With evaluation of preschool educational institutions in institutional level originate education activity dependence of avocation. Involvement of singleness of profession aspect to the selection criteria of educators of preschool educational institutions is innovation of education management in the preschool education institution. Object of research is criteria of preschool education institutions educators’ selection. Main goal of research is to clarify main criteria of educators’ selection for the preschool educational institutions, with evaluations of formal requirements for qualification and involvement of singleness of profession aspect. Tasks of research are: to educe the changes of the preschool education system; to stand correlation of preschool educators’ avocation and professionalism; to determinate criteria of preschool education institutions educators’ selection. Methods of research: theoretical (analysis of science literature, content analysis of documents), empirical qualitative and quantity (questioning, structural interviewing, presentations research, statistical qualitative data analysis). In the Final Work there are evaluation of preschool education changes... [to full text]

Ikimokyklinio ugdymo paslauga nėra naujas dalykas, tačiau į mūsų gyvenimą skverbiasi privatus verslas, t.y. privačios ugdymo įstaigos, kurios gauna pelną už paslaugų kokybę, išskirtinumą, prestižą. Tačiau įkurti nevalstybinę ugdymo įstaigą nėra taip paprasta, nors ugdymo paslaugų įvairovė rinkoje pageidautina ir sveikintina.Valstybė nekuria ekonominės sistemos skatinančios kurti privatų verslą švietime, kuris išspręstų visiems didiesiems Lietuvos miestams aktualią problemą – darželių trūkumą. Lietuvoje vyrauja valstybinis ikimokyklinis ir priešmokyklinis ugdymo sektorius. „Tėvai pageidauja ikimokyklinio ugdymo paslaugų prieinamumo ir įvairovės, įskaitant ir kūdikių bei vaikų iki trejų metų grupes. Praėjusių metų savivaldybių duomenimis, buvo nepatenkinti 27 tūkst. tėvų, besikreipiančių dėl ikimokyklinuko priėmimo į darželį, prašymų. Iš jų 15 tūkst. prašė priimti vaikus iki trejų metų“, - sako Švietimo ir mokslo ministerijos ikimokyklinio ir pradinio ugdymo skyriaus vedėja Gražina Šeibokienė.(2010) publikuotam straipsnyje „ Pirmą kart darželių plėtrai skiriamas solidus finansavimas“. Tai parodo, kad yra poreikis steigtis nevalstybinėms organizacijoms, nes valstybiniai darželiai nepatenkina visų tėvų poreikių. Visada yra pabrėžiama, kad ikimokyklinio ugdymo paslaugos turi būti prieinamos, lanksčios, kokybiškos, nebrangios. Šiai dienai nevalstybiniai darželiai yra labai brangūs, tačiau yra mokių tėvų ir visi veikiantys darželiai yra pilnos... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Although preschool education is not a new phenomenon, we are observing private sector to emerge into our lives, i.e. private educational institutions, which receive payment for the quality of services, creativity and prestige. Although a wider variety of institutions which render educational services is much wanted and welcomed, establishing an independent educational institution is not an easy task. In our country, the inducement to found private kindergartens is not included among any priorities, although financial support for non-formal education is available. The financing, however, is very limited and lack of financial resources is constantly felt. The state does not attempt to create such an economic system that would encourage the foundation of private sector in education, which would solve the important problem of all the bigger cities of Lithuania, namely, the lack of kindergartens. Therefore, we will consider the foundation of an independent educational institution as an alternative to the traditional institution of preschool education. Problem: no information on the foundation of independent educational institutions in Lithuania is available whatsoever, no legal basis for that has been created, the enterprise of the educationalists is insufficient, the educational system does not finance the establishment of private kindergartens, there are no methodical guidelines for the independent education service providers, and intricate sanitary requirements are also an... [to full text]

Šiuolaikinėje industrinėje visuomenėje, kai susiklostė sudėtingos ekonominės sąlygos, iš esmės pakito ir bendravisuomeninė šeimos samprata. Vaikas kasdien suvokia realią tikrovę ir pats joje dalyvauja perimdamas iš tėvų įvairias elgesio, veiklos, charakterio savybes. Pakitusiose socialinėse ekonominėse sąlygose, tam tikros grupės žmonių jaučiasi nesaugios, joms sunku prisitaikyti prie šiuolaikinio gyvenimo tempo, adaptuotis prie socialinių ekonominių ir politinių pokyčių. Ypatingai didelis nedarbo lygis išryškino šeimų, gaunančių mažas pajamas, socialines problemas.Tyrime dalyvavo 185 apklaustieji: 87 tėvai ir 18 ikimokyklinio ugdymo pedagogų, iš Kauno miesto Dainavos mikrorajono ikimokyklinio ugdymo įstaigų, kurie stebėjo ir įvertino 80 vaikų elgesį. / In modern industrial society, with difficult economic conditions, the family concept has been substantially altered. A child on a daily basis understands the reality and takes part in it taking over the characteristics of parental behavior, actions and temper. Certain groups of people feel unsafe in changed socio-economic conditions. They are difficult to adapt to the pace of modern life, to the socio-economic and political changes. Extremely high unemployment highlighted social problems of the families with low income The study involved 185 respondents: 87 parents and 18 preschool teachers from the preschools of Kaunas Dainava district; who monitored and evaluated the behavior of 80 children.