<p>In this qualitative study of students’ methods of calculating subtractions, I have used interviews, subtraction exercises and analysis of teaching material. The purpose of my study was to explore which methods students in grade three uses when calculating subtractions. I also wanted to highlight which strategies the students use and their comprehension of the concept of subtraction. In the study, I also highlight the different pedagogical ideas on which the teaching material is based on and the students’ choice of methods.  The study shows that the students choose to use the methods”deduct” and “kind of number” independently. Further it also shows that the students choose to switch from the method “deduct” to “kind of number” when the numbers in the exercises are further up on the number axis. When asked, the students answered that subtraction means “minus” which they in turn explained as removing something, an explanation confirmed by the Swedish Academy dictionary. The students’ choice of methods and teaching material is based on different fundamental pedagogical view.</p><p> </p>

In this qualitative study of students’ methods of calculating subtractions, I have used interviews, subtraction exercises and analysis of teaching material. The purpose of my study was to explore which methods students in grade three uses when calculating subtractions. I also wanted to highlight which strategies the students use and their comprehension of the concept of subtraction. In the study, I also highlight the different pedagogical ideas on which the teaching material is based on and the students’ choice of methods.  The study shows that the students choose to use the methods”deduct” and “kind of number” independently. Further it also shows that the students choose to switch from the method “deduct” to “kind of number” when the numbers in the exercises are further up on the number axis. When asked, the students answered that subtraction means “minus” which they in turn explained as removing something, an explanation confirmed by the Swedish Academy dictionary. The students’ choice of methods and teaching material is based on different fundamental pedagogical view.

The enhancement of information and communication technologies has produced the development of new discursive genres (MARCUSCHI, 2002; HUCKIN, 2007), called digital genres, such as: e-mail, MSN, chats, forums, blogs, video conference, fotoblogs, videoblogs and orkut. Educational portals are one of these genres, which aim at displaying subjects and pedagogical activities in several fields (Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Arts, English, for example). Based on the studies of Genre Analysis and English Teaching and Learning, we analyzed English-educational portals aiming at: 1) investigating the genre function, 2) identifying the web owners and users role and 3) examining the rhetorical organization of subjects and pedagogical activities. Furthermore, in this research, we investigated the reading pedagogical activities displayed in the portals, with the objective of identifying the underlying teaching and learning principles and the teachers and learners role. In this context of investigation, we selected 15 free-access educational portals which have a focus on reading pedagogical activities and English teachers as target public. The results revealed that the portals present five rhetorical moves and eight optional moves in order to display subjects, pedagogical activities and methodological suggestions related to the English Teaching and Learning. The portals also work as interactive spaces to teachers exchange information and experiences with the others about the pedagogical practice. This investigation points out that portals reproduce and disseminate instructional materials produced in printed medium, with reading pedagogical activities based on behaviorist and communicational perspectives. In this sense, we concluded that the English-educational portals do not constitute a discursive space which can contribute to the development of critical pedagogy. / A intensificação das tecnologias de informação e comunicação tem propiciado o surgimento de novos gêneros textuais (MARCUSCHI, 2002; HUCKIN, 2007), os chamados gêneros digitais, tais como: e-mail, MSN, chat, fórum de discussão, blog, videoconferência, fotoblog, videoblog e orkut. Entre esses gêneros, surgem os portais educacionais, os quais têm como objetivo principal disponibilizar conteúdos e atividades pedagógicas em várias áreas do conhecimento (Matemática, Química, Física, Artes, Língua Inglesa, por exemplo). Neste estudo, com base nas pesquisas sobre Gêneros Textuais e Ensino e Aprendizagem de Línguas, analisamos portais educacionais de língua inglesa, visando: 1) investigar a função desse gênero, 2) analisar o papel desempenhado pelos participantes e 3) examinar de que modo os conteúdos e as atividades pedagógicas estavam organizados retoricamente. Além disso, investigamos as atividades pedagógicas com foco em leitura, disponibilizadas nos portais, buscando identificar: 1) as perspectivas teórico-metodológicas de ensino e aprendizagem de línguas que norteiam os web owners na produção dessas atividades e 2) o papel do professor e do aluno. Para tanto, foram selecionados quinze portais educacionais que disponibilizassem atividades de leitura para professores em serviço, com acesso gratuito. A análise evidenciou que os portais educacionais são constituídos por cinco movimentos retóricos obrigatórios e oito movimentos opcionais nos quais são disponibilizados conteúdos, atividades pedagógicas e sugestões metodológicas de ensino e aprendizagem de línguas. Os portais funcionam como espaços interativos para que os docentes-usuários possam trocar informações e experiências com seus pares sobre a prática docente. A investigação apontou que os portais são meros reprodutores e distribuidores de materiais instrucionais produzidos para o meio impresso, com atividades pedagógicas fundamentadas nas perspectivas behaviorista e omunicacional. Nesse caso, essas atividades não promovem tarefas significativas que desafiem e estimulem a aprendizagem colaborativa. Concluímos que os portais educacionais analisados não se constituem em um espaço discursivo que possa contribuir efetivamente para a formação de uma pedagogia de reflexão crítica.