The purpose of this study was to investigate the assessment practices in Grade 4 Mathematics classrooms. The study sought to determine whether teachers understood what is required by the Department of Education (DoE) assessment policy, and whether they practice what is required by the policy. If they were not practicing what is required (as purported by Ramsuran (1999), it also needed to be determined why this was the case. The study also sought to expose the gap between the policy and practice. Three teachers from different schools were sources of data: one teacher from a school in a deeply rural area, another from a semi-rural area and the last from a semi-urban area. Data were collected using semi-structured one-on-one interviews. Teachers were visited in their schools and each interview took one hour. The data collected revealed that teachers are still not clear about assessment. This was also found by Ramsuran (1999), who stated that teachers were still not clear about how to implement continuous assessment. According to the DoE, continuous assessment is the chief method of assessing learners. The study also revealed that teachers were still using traditional forms of assessment - tests and examinations - and not other forms of assessment as stipulated by the policy. Challenges faced by the teachers when doing assessment were also prominent. An interesting challenge was that most learners came from broken families, and there was no one to help them with schoolwork at home; this resulted in learners not doing their assignments and projects, which delayed the completion of assessment. The study recommends that all teachers should be in possession of the policy, and that workshops should be organised by the DoE to help teachers with assessment. Lastly, proper assessment structures should be set up in each and every school. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Edgewood, 2011.

In this study I examine the effects of visualization in the teaching of problem solving in grades 6 and 7 in a school south of Durban in KwaZulu Natal. One of the goals of mathematics instruction according to the Department of Education is to prepare learners to become proficient in solving problems (DoE, 2003). Whilst many studies have been conducted in the field of problem solving, using visualization as a strategy to solve problems has been a neglected area in mathematics teaching in some schools. A literature survey shows that the link between solving problems and visualization strategies is making finding solutions easier for learners. The literature suggests that visualization assists learners to develop their problem solving skills as it allows them an opportunity to show their interpretation of the problem and the understanding of mathematical concepts. Through the use of problem centred mathematics, problem centred learning, growth of mathematical understanding and realistic mathematics education, learners see the connection and employ appropriate strategies to solve problems. This study examines the strategies employed by educators in the teaching and learning of problem solving and the strategies used by learners when solving problems. Data was collected from educators using a questionnaire, observation of grade 6 and 7 learners in the classroom and semi structured interviews. The conclusions from the data analysis have shown that problem solving is been neglected and that visualization does assist learners in solving problems. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

This small scale case study focused on the difficulties experienced by the six Grade seven learners from a selected township school when they were writing their English homework. Literature suggests a gap in findings on the perspectives of learners. The study utilized six Grade seven learners who had failed to complete their English homework which they had been given the previous day by their English language educator. The participants had been given a comprehension test on the previous day that they had started in the classroom and they were expected to finish it at home as their homework. Three boys and three girls were chosen from three different Grade seven sections as participants for the study. The data for this study was obtained by the semi structured interviews. The semi structured interviews were informed by drawings which were used by the learners to help them remember some of the things that they might have forgotten if there were no drawings to broaden responses to the questions. These interviews were conducted in a secluded class to avoid disturbances by the other learners. The interviews took place during one week and they were conducted for thirty minutes after school. A tape recorder was used to record the data which was later to be transcribed and analyzed. This study revealed through its findings that the learners experienced a number of difficulties when they were writing their English homework and as a result they could not finish it. Some of the findings that emerged from this study were amongst others, the lack of space at home to write homework, lack of someone to help with homework, and the house chores that have to be done by the learners when they come back from school. Findings of this study suggest that as English educators we need to give our learners an opportunity to speak out about some of the challenges or difficulties they experience when they are writing their English homework. Moreover, we need to teach our learners to plan their time properly so that they have enough time to write their homework when they come back from school since there are things that they have to do when they come back from school which cannot take a backseat or be done by their parents like the house chores. Finally, findings in this study suggest the importance of the open lines of communication between the parents the educators. This open line of communication could help close the gap that is between the educators and the parents and it can also help everybody understand what is expected from them when it comes to the issuing and the monitoring of schoolwork. This may help the educators communicate with the parents about their children’s homework and what is expected from them. / M. Ed. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2014.

This study examines the teaching and early learning of addition in primary classrooms. The relationship between teaching and learning is examined at the level of classroom interaction, in the completion of mathematical tasks. The mathematics lessons of two classes in each of two schools were observed over a period of six months, involving four teachers and the 4, 5 and 6 year old children in their classes. The mathematical focus of the study was the learning of addition, one of the first formal mathematical concepts taught in school. This formed a basis for exploring the factors involved in the teaching of mathematics to young children, and their learning. The methodology is qualitative, with participant observation the main method of data collection. Detailed fieldnotes were taken of all mathematics lessons observed; short unstructured interviews with teachers were carried out before and after the lessons. The children's understanding of number concepts and addition was assessed at both the beginning and the end of the observation period. The data was analysed using a grounded theory approach, which produced patterns of recurring variables. Analysis of these variables, influenced by the theoretical perspectives of the researcher, provided analytical pictures of teaching and learning, from which the findings emerged. The study highlights the complexity of the classroom for teachers and young children, where curriculum considerations, understanding of the mathematics concepts, social interaction and integration into the community of the classroom, vie for attention. It indicates that children are more likely to make sense of mathematics when the number curriculum is taught with a view to its complexity, rather than broken down into simple steps; the problems young children have learning to use mathematical symbols; and that the use of story is important in helping especially the youngest children understand mathematics. This was a small scale study, but provides a 'thick description' of teaching and early learning of addition, which can form a basis for future studies. Key Words: addition, early mathematical development, primary school, constructivism, socio-cultural theory, situated cognition, symbols, real world scripts, narrative.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 237-246). / Microfiche. / xvii, 246 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) in Hong Kong are a marginalised group, with many being subjected to various kinds of abuse. Numerous empirical studies documented the nature and extent of the abuse FDWs suffer. This study, with the aim of enhancing the prestige of FDWs, investigated the impact that Filipino Domestic Workers (FilDWs) in Hong Kong have on children's L2 English listening comprehension and spoken fluency. It was the first research that explored the impact of FilDWs on both a productive and receptive skill. A total of 20 children from Chinese Medium oflnstruction (CMI) schools between eight and 12 years old were used as research subjects. The experimental group consisted of 10 children from households with FilDWs, while the control group was composed of 10 children from households without FilDWs. Each group consisted of six boys and four girls. Prior to doing the study a pilot study was launched at a CMI school where five children of the target age group were tested. Based on the results of the pilot study, a test was designed to assess both listening comprehension and spoken fluency. Each participant listened to a children's story and was asked 25 fixed questions about it. All answers were recorded and transcribed for analysis. Results showed that those in the experimental group consistently outperformed those in the control group by substantial margins, even after controlling for age and gender. These results serve as evidence against the popular assertion in Hong Kong that FDWs have a bad influence on children's English.

The fundamental purpose of this research is to establish whether mathematics can be taught effectively with the use of appropriate media and to further establish the possible effects of media in the teaching of mathematics. The research touched on the principles and guidelines of media selection and the various methods that could be utilized in conjunction with media in the teaching of mathematics in the pre-primary and primary schools. In media selection, the emphasis was that media must be chosen objectively rather than on the basis of personal preference and that the effectiveness of media is dependent on the suitability of the physical conditions surrounding it. The overall findings regarding media utilization is that most educators believe that media used in conjunction with a suitable or appropriate method should help to actualize what is expected from the learner. The research method in this study can be divided into a literature study and an empirical investigation. The literature study was done with a view to support the introductory orientation of this study. The focus was on learning as an active process, it also highlighted how the young learners acquire knowledge and how their interaction with their environment impacts on their cognitive development. The research also dealt with concept formation with special reference to the variety of concepts such as physical sensory concepts, action-function concepts, evaluative concepts and abstract concepts. The questionnaire was used to gather data from seventy (70) educators about media integration in the teaching of mathematics in the pre-primary and primary schools. An observation guide was also used during the observation of the presentation of twelve (12) lessons by eight (8) teachers from the pre-primary and primary schools. The lessons included the nature and characteristics of media employed in the lessons. The following factors were taken into account: (a) lesson plan layout (b) specific outcomes (c) contact accuracy and relevance (d) learner variables and interest (e) the learning environment and (ij the mediation capabilities of the educator (g) availability of media in schools The discussion of data collected was followed by the data analysis and interpretation. The statistical techniques were used to put the researcher in a position to either reject or accept the null hypothesis. The techniques used were the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test, the Pearson Correlation coefficient, the NPar Test and Friedman Test. On the basis of the findings the researcher has sufficient, concrete evidence to conclude that the results invalidate the null hypothesis tested. Therefore the researcher's conclusion is that: (a) there is a possible effect of media in the teaching of mathematics lessons in the preprimary and primary schools. (b) there is a possible effect of media selection and integration of media in mathematics lessons. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

During the 1990s, many low-income countries were committed to the United Nations Education for All (EFA) goals of ensuring universal access to primary education and learners’ completion of all primary grades (Gove & Wetterberg 2011:1). Since then some countries, including South Africa, have made impressive strides towards expanded access to schooling. Much of the progress has stemmed from additional inputs such as classrooms, educators, and textbooks and this has created the assumption that with sufficient inputs, learning will naturally flow. However, increases in enrollment rates alone have not always translated into high quality education or even basic learning. Additionally, South Africa’s unique politically burdened history has had profound effects on the education system. Due to its multifarious population and the amalgamation of various sectors, including education, the Department of Basic Education was and still is faced with the daunting challenge of providing quality education to its diverse citizens. This has resulted in the establishment of multiracial, multilingual, and multicultural schools. The corollary is that schools have become more inclusive. However, the ability of South Africa to educate its learners cannot be measured by access to schooling or enrollment rates alone, but rather by its ability to impart to learners the knowledge and skills necessary to function as literate and numerate members of the broader society. Within the context of EFA several international organisations began to conduct early grade reading assessments in many developing countries in Africa and Asia. These studies include SACMEQ, PIRLS and prePIRLS, EGRA, and ASER. The aim of these assessments is to facilitate the expansion of quality education by providing the necessary data to monitor educational quality, and by improving the research capacity and technical skills of educational planners. Within the context of major transitions throughout the world, the organisations mentioned above perspicaciously focused on countries that encounter major challenges in literacy. The extensive studies on reading and writing that were conducted by some of these organisations amplify the crisis in education and the plight of early grade learners. Nationally and internationally the situation appears to be relatively bleak, especially for L2 learners. Literacy, specifically reading literacy, forms the backbone of scholastic success at primary, secondary and tertiary levels and research consistently shows that learners who are good readers also tend to perform well academically (Pretorius & Machet 2004:129). Emanating from the above, this study focused on the factors that affect foundation phase English second language learners’ reading and writing skills. The study was conducted at five English medium primary schools in Port Shepstone. A literature study on second language acquisition and the factors that impact on the English second language learners’ reading and writing achievements was undertaken. Furthermore, the expansion of the English language, the significance of the primary language in second language acquisition, insights and issues focusing on bilingualism and multilingualism, theories on second language acquisition, reading and writing in the home language, and factors related to English second language learners’ reading and writing achievements were examined. A mixed-method research design was utilised. In order to obtain an in-depth perspective both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used to collect data from foundation phase educators, and the parents of isiZulu-speaking foundation phase learners. Survey questionnaires, which were the main research instruments for gathering data, were distributed to the parents of isiZulu-speaking learners and the educators. Additionally, individual interviews were conducted with educators and reading and writing observations were also conducted. Quantitative data analysis was done by means of tables, frequencies, and graphs. Qualitative data was subjected to analysis by means of an eclectic approach. This study found that cultural, psychological, social, cognitive, school, and developmental factors do indeed affect the second language learners’ reading and writing skills. It was found that the learners’ home language background significantly affected their pronunciation of words in English, their ability to use phonics to read and write, and their ability to differentiate between male and female when writing sentences. Moreover, no specific model of acculturation was found to be apparent in this study. However, the processes of integration and separation did play a role in the learners’ acculturation. On the other hand, the processes of assimilation and maginalisation were not found amongst isiZulu-speaking learners. Two prominent psychological factors, anxiety and motivation, were apparent in this study. This study revealed that isiZulu-speaking learners do experience reading and writing anxiety but do not experience writing test anxiety. It was also found that isiZulu-speaking learners do enjoy reading in English and they demonstrate relatively positive attitudes towards reading. Their attitudes towards writing in English were somewhat varied. Although integrative motivation and instrumental motivation were seen to play a dual role in the learners’ experiences, the parents’ views were strongly influenced by instrumental motivation. IsiZulu-speaking learners have good social relationships with their peers. Educators affirmed that these learners interact relatively well with both their English-speaking peers and their isiZulu-speaking peers. The amiable relationships were also observed by the researcher during the classroom reading and writing observations. None of the isiZulu-speaking learners experienced social isolation or alienation at any of the five English medium schools. IsiZulu-speaking learners’ ability to speak and understand isiZulu is relatively good. However, their ability to read and write in isiZulu is generally poor. IsiZulu-speaking learners usually cope well with conversational skills in the English language. However, their ability to read English texts fluently with understanding and to write simple stories in English ranges from fair to poor. Generally, at the five schools similar approaches were used to teach reading and writing. The dominance of the phonic approach was observed during several reading lessons. In general, educators expressed their absolute dissatisfaction with the CAPS document and the CAPS English home language workbook. They were not content with the manner in which the phonics is structured in the CAPS workbook and document. Educators asserted that CAPS is too challenging for most isiZulu-speaking learners, too much of emphasis is placed on assessments, and due to the large learner/educator ratio educators experience frustration when teaching reading and writing. Educators emphasised the significance of Grade R attendance and the Grade R curriculum. Furthermore, they asserted that learners who enter Grade 1 at the age of five are not ready for formal schooling and they generally experience reading and writing difficulties. Moreover, this study reproduced those found in literature that showed that generally girls significantly outperform boys on reading and writing tasks. There were various reasons for the parents wanting their children to learn to read and write in English. Two of the prominent reasons advanced by the parents were: parents want their children to learn more than one language and learning English at school will help their children to continue their studies at colleges or universities. Overall, this study has demonstrated that the English language has significantly impacted on all aspects of the isiZulu-speaking foundation phase learners’ lives, and more especially has considerably influenced their reading and writing achievements at English medium schools. / Inclusive Education / D. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

M.Ed. (Subject Didactics) / Mathematics, which plays a vital role in modern man's working 1ife and which is also of great· importance in his dai ly social life, raises many problems at the secondary and tertiary education levels. The question has arisen as to what degree the teacher's instruction in the junior primary phase is responsible for spesific problems relating to insight of the four main operations, considering that mathematical content~ from the beginning stages, is continuous and inter-related, so that one insight serves as a prerequisite to the next. The aim of the study was to form a picture, on a small scale,of the incidence of specific teaching faults and deficiencies in the tuition of the four main operations in the junior primary school phase that inhibit understanding. It is hoped that this may be of practical benefit for teacher training and the formulation of related documents, and may also stimulate further extensive research...

M.Ed. (Curriculum Studies) / Problem solving is potentially one of the most valuable skills that can be acquired in the primary school. In spite of it's value problem solving was not successful implemented in overseas countries. Schools in South-Africa have just started to implement problem solving techniques in the primary school. To ensure successful implementation of problem solving in South-Africa this study examines possible reasons for it's failure in the primary school. Success in Problem solving depends on the correct perspectives to problem solving and the feeling of success by the teachers and pupils. This implies that the teachers and pupils must see progress by using problem solving in the mathematics class. A new teaching model was designed to prevent or eliminate the failure of problem solving in the classroom. This model was developed from a problem solving perspective and can be described as a Social Constructivistic model. This model includes lesson structures, worksheets and a proposed teaching style. The.basis of the model is real world problems. It was found that after nine weeks of implementation the children were positive toward problem solving and mathematics. An empirical investigation showed that children. can become beter problemsolvers in a relative short time span. This study suggests a holistic approach to implementing problem solving in mathematics. This approach includes a change in the whole educational situation. The teacher needs maximum assistance through tutorial programs, worksheets and staff supervision.