The focus of this research is on the professional development of educators responsible for teaching reading literacy to learners. This focus forms the core of this case study. Case studies investigate cause and effect and one of their strengths is the acknowledgement that context is a powerful determinant of both cause and effect. A qualitative research approach is used to collect data by means of semi-structured interviews, observation and questionnaires at three primary schools. This study is aimed at exploring whether educators gained and applied the knowledge and skills from departmental workshops and other professional development intervention to the facilitation of reading literacy. The study investigated and interpreted the participants’ perspectives in order to gain insight and understanding into the professional learning experiences of educators. Proficiency in reading literacy gives learners access to information, broadens their general knowledge, increases their vocabulary and develops their language skills. The improvement of reading literacy commences at the primary level because learners at this stage develop and acquire fundamental attitudes and approaches to learning. Data was collected by means of interviews, observation of lessons and questionnaires on the teaching of reading literacy. Findings indicate that, although the focus of teaching and learning is on the learner, the strategies and criteria are determined by the educator. This could have a negative impact on learners’ acquisition of knowledge and educators’ ability to improve learners’ reading literacy levels. This dissertation recommends that the whole brain learning and reading model, which represents an integration of the literature study, my practical experience and the findings of my empirical study with inputs from principals and educators, should be used as basis for the transformation of reading literacy facilitation in South African schools. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2013 / Humanities Education / unrestricted

This study focuses on how school management teams manage the school-based continuous professional development of the teachers at their schools. The assumption is that continuous professional development - if school-based - may be more practical in implementing changes because the teachers will be working in a familiar context when managing their own development and in meeting the specific needs of their school. At present the professional development of teachers consists mainly of external workshops and courses. Teachers then return to the school context that has not changed to accommodate what has been learnt at these workshops or courses. The lack of feedback or follow-up has done little to encourage teachers to implement any changes in their teaching practice. The study also explores the practice of school management teams in creating collaborative school cultures for the implementation of schoolbased continuous professional development. The rationale for this study is based on the urgent need for continuous professional development to be part of the schools’ development of teachers. The National Policy Framework for Teacher Education and Development provides the frame of reference. There is, however, a gap in the policy on how continuous professional development should be implemented to create a collaborative school culture and the role that the school management team plays in doing this. The aim of the study was to determine how school management teams managed continuous professional development at their schools; to identify the challenges they faced in managing school-based continuous professional development; and to explore the strategies that contributed to successful school-based continuous professional development. The research methodology employed in this study is a Triangulation Mixed Methods Design. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected simultaneously and analysed separately to understand the research problem. The sample consisted of principals, deputy principals and heads of department of primary schools who were interviewed. Questionnaires were administered to Level 1 teachers at these schools. The interviews were analysed by identifying emerging patterns, themes and categories. The questionnaires were analysed by presenting descriptive statistics about the schools and then inferential statistics were determined that correlated and tested the hypotheses. The results were reported in the form of summaries from the interviews and graphs from the questionnaires. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Education Management and Policy Studies / unrestricted