Parents and caregivers spend the most time interacting with young children during their first years of life when development in many areas is happening at an incredible rate. It is important for all these adults to understand what typical development looks like, to know some strategies for supporting children’s development, and to know where and when to get help if the child’s development needs to be supported. This report serves as an all-inclusive guide for parents and caregivers to help in understanding typical development and in identifying when young children need additional help to achieve important developmental milestones. / text

With increasing opportunities to study abroad, learning to read in a foreign language has become increasingly important for countless second language learners. International students in pursuit of higher education degrees are required and expected to read in the target language at the same level of fluency and comprehension as their native-speaking counterparts. The number of international students studying in Arabic higher education institutions has followed the general ascending trend. For these second language speakers of Arabic, good reading skills in Arabic are essential for their academic success. Since the use of reading strategies is an important component of first and second language reading, this study aimed to investigate the use of reading strategies by native and non-native speakers of Arabic when reading academic materials in Arabic. In addition, it aimed to explore possible differences in the use of reading strategies between these two groups. For this purpose, a total of 305 students participated in the study. A survey composed of 30 items was administered to 222 non-native speakers of Arabic, and the same survey with 28 items was administered to 83 native speakers of Arabic. The survey included demographic questions adapted from Mokhtari and Sheorey (2008) and employed the questionnaire SORS used by Mokhtari and Sheorey (2002). These 30 items belonged to three strategy subscales: Global, Problem-solving, and Support strategies. To analyze the collected data, descriptive statistics and multiple independent t-tests were performed. In addition, an analysis was performed to find the most and least used reading strategies by both groups as well as possible differences between them in terms of reading strategy use. Problem-solving strategies were the most frequently used by both groups with a slightly higher use by the non-native speakers. Regarding the other two types, the native and non-native speakers showed different preferences. Specifically, Support strategies were the second most favored type among the non-native speakers, whereas for the native speakers, the second most frequently used type were Global strategies. However, even though Global strategies were the least used among non-native speakers, the non-native speakers' mean score on Global strategies use was higher than the native speaker score of use. Overall, the similarities and differences in the use of reading strategies by native and non-native speakers of Arabic deserve attention because they carry implications for both reading research and pedagogy. These empirical findings can be used by Education policy makers to create training courses and workshops that will help students improve their reading skills in general and reading strategies in particular. This study also suggests that there is a need for further research that will examine how the use of reading strategies is related to the academic performance of native and non-native speakers.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty Of Education in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters Of Education in the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Needs Education at the University Of Zululand, 2017 / It has been 16 years since the release of Education White Paper 6 however, South Africa continues to experience challenges in implementing Inclusive Education (IE) by providing support effective for learners who experience barriers to learning. Education in society is a fundamental part of our lives and IE provides the platform to achieve a unified society. The study focused on the Foundation Phase where barriers could be identified and early intervention could be provided. The aim of this study was to ascertain the nature of the support strategies employed by Foundation Phase teachers in two schools in the Umlazi District. It also aimed to establish if learners who experience barriers to learning as well as if the teachers and the school were adequately supported. It was apparent that although the department of education addressed some of the challenges by providing a policy and guidelines on the implementation of inclusive education (National Strategy on Screening, Identification, Assessment and Support (SIAS) and Guidelines for responding to learner diversity in the classroom) there was little evidence of stakeholders having knowledge of the documents or applying the recommended strategies. A mixed method design was used for this case study. The quantitative method comprised of a questionnaire constituted the initial phase of the data collection. It was then followed by the qualitative method which involved a focus group interview with selected participants. The questionnaire was completed by 21 teachers from the two schools and 5 teachers participated in the focus group interview from the first school and 8 from the second. This study established that although teachers attempted to provide support to learners that experience barriers to learning, they found these strategies to be ineffective. The pre-service in-service training that they received to address barriers to learning was ineffective and inadequate. Support networks at the schools were dysfunctional and there was confusion about the roles and responsibilities of the various support structures. Stakeholders and external support structures were ineffective and inaccessible. The lack of communication and collaboration amongst stakeholders was evident. These findings are These findings are common and consistent with discoveries from previous research. Contributions of the study are important for further research and implementation of the recommendations would assist in ensuring that learners receive quality education that can help them to be productive members of society.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the implementation of learning support strategies by Intermediate Phase teachers. The study also determined the factors (enhancing or limiting) that impact upon the successful implementation of learning support strategies specifically in a rural school. The study was conducted at one primary school in the Western Cape. The research participants were ten teachers involved in offering learner support at this school. Focus group discussions as well as in-depth interviews were used to explore the teachers’ views of their support strategies. The data was analysed using a thematic approach. The main finding of this study is that a huge gap exists between inclusive education policy expectations and the actual manifestation of teachers’ support to learners with learning difficulties. The findings of the study reveal a combination of external as well as internal and systemic factors working in conjunction and culminating in a lack of capacity amongst teachers. This study recommends a review of policies with the aim of providing opportunities for a thorough understanding of new concepts and practices, focussed and professional development of teachers in the area of learner support and more monetary and infrastructural resources.

The title, “You simply must own your classroom”, is taken from a quote from one of my informants. After review of earlier research on how teachers handle their leadership in the meeting with disturbing pupils and which strategies they use to solve problems in the classroom, interesting questions developed. What experiences do teachers have of disturbing situations in the classroom? Which strategies do they use to solve the problems? What kind of support do the teachers consider necessary in teaching? Are there any differences in teachers’ experiences and strategies between the two selected schools? The study is supported by earlier research that deals with pupils’ and teachers’ perspective and strategies in different classroom cultures in terms of norm-breaking behaviour of pupils. The study is also supported by three different theoretical perspectives such as power structure, social order/disorder and support strategies. I conducted the study through interviews with sex teachers who work in the same municipality but in two separate schools. All teachers work in Secondary School. The study is meant to be deepening in order to gain a broader understanding of which strategies teachers use to solve problems. In my study I came to the conclusion that all teachers are most disturbed by the pupils who speak straight out and discard comments that do not even affect the substance, pupils who talk too much, do not listen and throw erasers at each other. Furthermore, I have concluded that all teachers in this study place great emphasis on social communication and individual conversation with the pupil to solve a problem. To solve the problem, the teacher should possess certain communication skills. The results have shown that all six teachers create a relationship with their pupils to counter the social disorder in the classroom. Furthermore, I concluded that teachers want to solve problems on their own, but that sometimes “extreme cases” require special support from parents, the counselor and principal at the school. Finally I concluded that the teachers call for training in leading science and conflict management, since it is missing in their teacher education.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the implementation of learning support strategies by Intermediate Phase teachers. The study also determined the factors (enhancing or limiting) that impact upon the successful implementation of learning support strategies specifically in a rural school. The study was conducted at one primary school in the Western Cape. The research participants were ten teachers involved in offering learner support at this school. Focus group discussions as well as in-depth interviews were used to explore the teachers’ views of their support strategies. The data was analysed using a thematic approach. The main finding of this study is that a huge gap exists between inclusive education policy expectations and the actual manifestation of teachers’ support to learners with learning difficulties. The findings of the study reveal a combination of external as well as internal and systemic factors working in conjunction and culminating in a lack of capacity amongst teachers. This study recommends a review of policies with the aim of providing opportunities for a thorough understanding of new concepts and practices, focussed and professional development of teachers in the area of learner support and more monetary and infrastructural resources.

The aim of the study was to establish how and compile educational relationship-focussed reading support strategies for educators to support learners who experience barriers to reading. The educator-learner relationship first had to be delineated by establishing the dimensions of the relationship, namely emotional, cognitive and value-driven activities that impact on the learner's feelings, knowledge and attitudes towards his or her world, and for the purpose of this study, how these pertain to the learner's reading development. Components of reading development, as well as barriers to reading and appropriate supportive reading activities were also described. The most essential reading skills are indicated to be a motivation to read, linguistic cueing in reading in terms of phonemic, morphemic, syntactic and semantic cueing, sight word recognition and comprehension. On this theoretical basis the reading support strategies were compiled encompassing reading and relationship-focused activities. Aims for achieving the relationship and reading skills were established, for which appropriate reading and relationship activities were then compiled. Qualitative research was implemented in the design and implementation of the reading strategies. Data were obtained from implementing the reading and relationship-focussed strategies, from learners' reading profiles, from educators' and learners' evaluation of the strategies, as well as from the researcher's own evaluation as a research participant. All the results were then triangulated to arrive at the findings of the research. These indicate that the reading and relationship activities will be successful if presented simultaneously, and with full cooperation by educators and learners alike. The contribution as well as the limitations of the research are indicated, and finally recommendations are provided. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The aim of the study was to establish how and compile educational relationship-focussed reading support strategies for educators to support learners who experience barriers to reading. The educator-learner relationship first had to be delineated by establishing the dimensions of the relationship, namely emotional, cognitive and value-driven activities that impact on the learner's feelings, knowledge and attitudes towards his or her world, and for the purpose of this study, how these pertain to the learner's reading development. Components of reading development, as well as barriers to reading and appropriate supportive reading activities were also described. The most essential reading skills are indicated to be a motivation to read, linguistic cueing in reading in terms of phonemic, morphemic, syntactic and semantic cueing, sight word recognition and comprehension. On this theoretical basis the reading support strategies were compiled encompassing reading and relationship-focused activities. Aims for achieving the relationship and reading skills were established, for which appropriate reading and relationship activities were then compiled. Qualitative research was implemented in the design and implementation of the reading strategies. Data were obtained from implementing the reading and relationship-focussed strategies, from learners' reading profiles, from educators' and learners' evaluation of the strategies, as well as from the researcher's own evaluation as a research participant. All the results were then triangulated to arrive at the findings of the research. These indicate that the reading and relationship activities will be successful if presented simultaneously, and with full cooperation by educators and learners alike. The contribution as well as the limitations of the research are indicated, and finally recommendations are provided. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

It is often assumed that the introduction of computers will transform teaching and learning in a primary classroom. However, in many classrooms, the effective use of computers to support teaching and learning is yet to be realised. The study described in this thesis is premised on the notion that simply providing access to computers will not change classroom processes and that the agent of change is a teacher's pedagogy and practice. This study initially examined the practices of a group of primary school teachers who were considered to be exemplary in the use of computers in their classroom. It then progressed to a focus on one teacher for indepth investigation of the strategies she used as she supported children to complete an extended computer-based task. Particular attention was given to the use of " scaffolding" as a teacher support strategy for children working with computers. The study adopted a qualitative methodology and was based on a Constructivist Inquiry model (Guba & Lincoln, 1989) with a Grounded Theory approach (Strauss & Corbin, 1990) for data analysis. It incorporated three phases of investigation which included: (a) a theoretical immersion, which was based on the literature; (b) a functional immersion, which examined the practices and understandings of eight teachers; and (c) a practical immersion, in which the support strategies of the focus teacher were observed during the implementation of the task over a period of eight weeks. These observations were enhanced by " stimulated recall" interviews where video vignettes were reviewed with the teacher. A detailed coding of teacher support strategies was developed during the study and eleven research constructs emerged from the final analysis of the data. These constructs represented the outcomes of the study and were grouped into four themes: (a) teacher expertise, (b) teacher understanding of support strategies, (c) the nature of scaffolding, and (d) the role of the computer. The results of the study suggested that a teacher needs to conscientiously select and implement strategies in order to support students working with computers. They also indicated that a teacher should plan for opportunities where teacher scaffolding can be used to support and extend students. Further, the results suggested that classroom teachers would benefit from knowing about scaffolding and how it can be implemented with children working with computers. The introduction of computers into the classroom invokes the need for conscious and deliberate changes to teacher pedagogy and practice to sure that effective use is made of the opportunities provided by the technology. Although teachers do require a measure of computer confidence, it seems that a teacher who successfully implements computers in the classroom is essentially focused on the implementation of effective teaching and learning practices. Therefore, it is important that pedagogy is foregrounded in any consideration of using computers in the classroom.

This thesis is presented for the degree of Master of Education at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. / Research has revealed that the academic performances of learners in South Africa are below the required level. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) launched the literacy and numeracy strategy 2006 – 2016, in response to the low literacy and numeracy levels. In addition, the WCED introduced the Grade one baseline assessment in 2006, as part of the literacy and numeracy strategy. The purpose of this study was to observe the implementation of the Grade one literacy baseline assessment programme of the WCED. This study aimed to determine what literacy barriers, if any, the learners were experiencing and to recommend literacy support strategies, in order to inform teaching practices. The learning theories of the two key Constructivist theorists, Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky have therefore been explored. Purposive sampling was used for the selection of the participants for this study. The Grade one class, with English as the language of learning and teaching (LOLT), was selected due to the diverse nature of the learners, in terms of their different home languages. Thirty-seven Grade one learners participated in the study. I used a mixed methods research design in order to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Multi-method data collection strategies were employed to collect data for this study. The multi-method approach involved: document collection, observation of learners as well as an interview with the Grade one class teacher who conducted the research. The document collection included the learners’ admission forms as well as the written baseline assessment scripts of the learners. The admission forms provided biographical information of the learners in terms of gender, home languages, Grade R attendance and their ages. The collection of data assisted in identifying the literacy barriers that the Grade one learners were experiencing. An interpretivist data analysis style was employed for the qualitative data analyses and the quantitative data analysis was statistical. The results of the quantitative and qualitative data were interpreted together. The triangulation of the data enhanced the reliability of the research findings. The findings suggest that some of the learners experienced literacy barriers in terms of: receptive- and expressive language, perceptual skills and fine motor development. The educator’s perceptions in terms of the administration and usefulness of the baseline assessment have also been included. The data was summarised and the information was used to describe the literacy barriers in terms of the biographical variables and to recommend learning support strategies for literacy development.