Thesis (MEd(Psych) --Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Bullying seems to be a pervasive problem in most secondary schools and teachers have the daily task of dealing with it. Not only do teachers have to unravel the complex dynamics of bullying, they also often have to navigate a school climate and culture that is not conducive to addressing bullying. In South Africa, there are many unique contextual factors which impact on teachers’ management of bullying, such as community violence overflowing into the school, increased administrative load and limited support from school management, parents and education authorities. Therefore, teachers’ abilities to conceptualise bullying, recognise and respond to incidents of bullying, and their knowledge of the nature and extent of bullying behaviour impact greatly on anti-bullying strategies. The theoretical framework which informed this study is the social context perspective which drew on views from both social constructionism and the bio-ecological framework. The social context perspective emphasises the interactions between individuals and the systems as delineated in the bio-ecological model. Furthermore, this study did not aim to reveal the “truth” about school bullying. The intention has rather been to provide a comprehensive picture as was portrayed by the participants in this study. This picture included the nature and extent of bullying in their secondary school, the teachers’ perspectives and experiences of bullying, and proposed prevention and intervention strategies which they aim to implement at their school. In keeping with the constructionist nature of the process of inquiry, a qualitative, interpretivist research approach was used. Purposive sampling was used to identify potential participants who were then asked to volunteer to be part of the study. Data was generated through semi-structured interviews with individuals and focus groups. Furthermore, the constant comparative method was used to analyse the data. The research findings indicated that the teachers experience and perceive a wide variety of bullying behaviours which take place at various sites, both within and outside the school grounds and that involve a diverse range of individuals within the school community. Furthermore, the teachers conveyed several factors which they experienced as maintaining bullying and highlighted their perceived effects thereof. In addition to this, the participants shared knowledge about their teaching practices and suggested a few strategies on how to deal with bullying more effectively in their school community. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Afknouery word beskou as ‘n deurlopende probleem in hoërskole en onderwysers moet die gevolge daarvan daagliks hanteer. Onderwysers moet nie net die komplekse dinamiek van afknouery ontrafel nie, maar worstel ook met ‘n skoolklimaat en -kultuur wat nie toepaslik is om afknouery te bekamp nie. In Suid-Afrika is daar unieke kontekstuele faktore wat ‘n invloed het op hoe onderwysers afknouery hanteer. Dit sluit onder andere in die geweld wat oorvloei vanuit die gemeenskap na die skool, verhoogde administratiewe werklading asook beperkte ondersteuning van die skool se bestuurspan, ouers en die onderwysowerhede. Daarom speel onderwysers se vermoëns om afknouery te konseptualiseer, insidente van afknouery te herken en daarop te reageer, asook hulle kennis van afknougedrag ‘n groot impak op anti-afknouery strategieë. Hierdie studie word gekonseptualiseer vanuit ‘n sosiaal-konstruktiwistiese en bioekologiese perspektief. ‘n sosiale konteksperspektief beklemtoon die interaksies tussen individue en die sisteme wat uiteengesit is in die bio-ekologiese model. Die doel van hierdie studie was nie om die “waarheid” oor afknouery in die skool te openbaar nie. Dit was eerder om die deelnemers se perspektief in diepte te analiseer en beskryf. ‘n Kwalitatiewe, interpretivistiese navorsingsbenadering is daarom gevolg. ‘n Doelgerigte steekproef is gebruik om potensiële deelnemers te identifiseer en hulle is gevra om vrywillig deel te neem aan die studie. Data is gegenereer deur semi-gestruktureerde individuele en fokusgroeponderhoude. Verder is die konstante vergelykende metode gebruik om die data te analiseer. Die navorsingsbevindinge het aangedui dat die onderwysers ‘n wye verskeidenheid afknougedrag van diverse groepe en individue binne en buite die skoolterrein ervaar. Die onderwysers het verskeie faktore identifiseer wat afknouery moontlik instandhou en het die moontlike gevolge van afknouery uitgelig. Laastens het die deelnemers kennis oor hulle onderwyspraktyke gedeel en voorstelle gemaak oor hoe om afknouery meer effektief in hul skoolgemeenskap te hanteer.

With a phenomenographic perspective this thesis aims to study preschool teachers experiences of parent cooperation. In order to complete the aim of this study we have formulated three inquiries:     What qualifications do the preschool teacher consider contributing to good cooperation?     What qualifications do the preschool teacher consider leads to a lack of cooperation?    What appears as power relationships in the preschool teacher experiences?     According to the curriculum, preschool teacher requires to build trustworthy relations with parents. This appears to be a complex task. With a quantitative method the data in this study consist of seven interviews with preschool teachers that work in preschools. With our phenomenographic approach we were able to find different categories from the preschool teachers experienced narratives. This thesis consists of an inductive study where the preschool teachers narratives determine our theoretical notions. The notions are: Cooperation, communication, attachment relationship, intercultural knowledge and empowerment, the conclusion of the study reveals that power relations exist between parents and preschool teachers, the teachers have a power position because of their knowledge and parents because of their right to choose among preschools. The study shows that the task to please parents needs can be difficult, it also shows that misunderstandings and the increased number of children in the group aggravates the mission to fulfil the curriculum assignment regarding cooperation with parents. The result also shows that creating a trustful relation with mutual understanding of each other differences can lead to improve the cooperation.

Many curricular innovations, including cross-curricular teaching, are started in schools without adequate teacher preparation and support, reducing the effectiveness of the interventions in supporting student learning. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to describe the implementation of the cross-curricular connections teaching technique in middle schools. Research questions focused on how middle school teachers experienced implementation of cross-curricular teaching at the incident level and how teachers perceived cross-curricular teaching and its long-term value. Myers-Briggs personality type theory informed the study, supporting the postulation that teachers are more comfortable teaching from their personality types. Data from 10 middle school teachers from 3 urban and semirural parochial schools in the northeastern United States were collected through interviews, focus group sessions, journals, and documents such as lesson plans and classroom materials. Open coding was used within progressive and comparative analyses. Primary themes included teacher comfort with cross-curricular connections; various applications of the teaching technique; cross-curricular connections within lessons; time constraints in planning, preparation, and implementation; and creative enhancement of lessons. Recommendations included enhanced professional development, more planning time for teacher teams, and more research about the technique. Positive social change implications include sustaining teachers' adoption and implementation of cross-curricular instruction in support of student achievement.

Many curricular innovations, including cross-curricular teaching, are started in schools without adequate teacher preparation and support, reducing the effectiveness of the interventions in supporting student learning. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to describe the implementation of the cross-curricular connections teaching technique in middle schools. Research questions focused on how middle school teachers experienced implementation of cross-curricular teaching at the incident level and how teachers perceived cross-curricular teaching and its long-term value. Myers-Briggs personality type theory informed the study, supporting the postulation that teachers are more comfortable teaching from their personality types. Data from 10 middle school teachers from 3 urban and semirural parochial schools in the northeastern United States were collected through interviews, focus group sessions, journals, and documents such as lesson plans and classroom materials. Open coding was used within progressive and comparative analyses. Primary themes included teacher comfort with cross-curricular connections; various applications of the teaching technique; cross-curricular connections within lessons; time constraints in planning, preparation, and implementation; and creative enhancement of lessons. Recommendations included enhanced professional development, more planning time for teacher teams, and more research about the technique. Positive social change implications include sustaining teachers' adoption and implementation of cross-curricular instruction in support of student achievement.

The purpose of this study is to examine teachers implementation of read-alouds in preschool and how it affects the read-aloud experience. In order to examine this, I have based this study on a framing of questions that are being answered by a combined method out of observations of the read-aloud experiences and interviews with teachers about read-aloud implementation at their work place. Results from the observations and interviews have together been analysed to perceive the teachers implementation of read-alouds in preschool and how it affects the experience.  Previous research emphasizes that teachers should be well-read about the implementation of read-alouds and how it should look like in order to be a rewarding experience for children. The results of the study show that teachers work with read-alouds has a significant impact on how this moment is shaped. Knowledge and commitment are important aspects for a rewarding read-aloud experience, as this i crucial in order to capture the children´s attention and interest. / Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur pedagogers arbete med högläsning i förskolan påverkar hur stunden för högläsning utformar sig. För att närmare undersöka detta har jag formulerat några frågeställningar som besvaras genom kombinerad metod av observation av högläsningsstunder samt intervjuer med pedagoger om deras arbetssätt med högläsning. Resultat från både observationer och intervjuer har tillsammans analyserats för att se hur pedagogers arbete med högläsning i förskolan påverkar stunden för högläsning. Tidigare forskning lyfter att pedagoger bör vara pålästa kring hur arbetet med högläsning ska gå till för att det ska vara givande för barnen. Undersökningens resultat visade att pedagogers arbete med högläsning har stor betydelse för hur denna stund utformar sig. Kunskap och engagemang är viktiga aspekter för att det ska bli en givande högläsning då detta är avgörande för att kunna fånga barnens uppmärksamhet och intresse.

The digitalization of the school has led to teachers increasingly using digital tools in their teaching of mathematics. In comparison with other subject, however, mathematics sees the least use of digital tools. Teachers pedagogical awareness and knowledge of how they can use digital tools affects how they use digital tools for formative feedback. In the study 9 teachers working with years 4-6 from 3 different schools have been interviewed. The purpose of the study has been to investigate how teachers experience the feedback and how the feedback is affected in student work with mathematics assignments. The purpose was also to bring forward advantages and disadvantages teachers experience with digital mathematics assignments. To examine this, the data was analyzed based on the feedback theory The Power of Feedback (Hattie & Timperley, 2007). The results show the digital mathematics assignments are seen to have both advantages and disadvantages to feedback that contributes to the development of students' knowledge. This is partially affected by the teacher's choice of assignments as well as how actively the teachers are working to give students feedback. It is also apparent that there is a need to both develop teacher's knowledge of how to use digitial mathematics assignments and to develop already existing programs to facilitate a more formative teaching. / Skolans digitalisering har lett till att lärare allt mer använder digitala verktyg i matematikundervisningen. Användningen av digitala verktyg är dock lägst i jämförelse med övriga ämnen. Lärarnas pedagogiska medvetenhet och deras kunskap om digitala verktyg påverkar hur de digitala verktygen används för formativ återkoppling. I studien har 9 lärare som arbetar i årskurs 4–6 från tre olika skolor intervjuats. Syftet med studien har varit att undersöka hur lärare upplever återkopplingen och hur återkopplingen påverkas vid elevarbete med digitala matematikuppgifter. Syftet var även att lyfta fram fördelar och nackdelar som lärarna upplever med digitala matematikuppgifter. För att undersöka detta analyserades data utifrån återkopplingsteorin The Power Of Feedback (Hattie & Timperley, 2007). Resultatet visar att digitala matematikuppgifter både anses ha fördelar och nackdelar för återkoppling som bidrar till elevernas kunskapsutveckling. Detta påverkas dels av lärarens val av uppgifter samt hur aktivt lärarna arbetar för att eleverna ska få återkoppling. Det framgår även att det finns ett behov av att utveckla både lärares kunskap om användningen av digitala matematikuppgifter och de redan befintliga programmen för att möjliggöra en mer formativ undervisning.

Many students have problems learning stoichiometry, a complex mathematical chemistry concept used to determine how much product will be produced or formed from a given quantity of reactants. The problem addressed in this study was teachers' lack of understanding of how to teach stoichiometry in a Midwestern urban school district. The conceptual framework of the study was based upon constructivist theory. A qualitative narrative approach was used to obtain the perceptions of 5 high school chemistry instructors related to their experiences, successful or unsuccessful, in teaching stoichiometry to students in Grades 10 and 11. Data were gathered through face-to-face interviews, which were analyzed via an inductive approach to reveal 6 themes: a difficult subject to teach, presentation of stoichiometry, relevancy, students' reactions, barriers, and gender differences. Findings suggested the need for teachers to be knowledgeable, creative, and resourceful in their subject areas to help their students to learn stoichiometry. Findings also revealed the need for teachers to adapt their instructional strategies and modes of delivery to reflect their students' individual learning styles. Understanding how the participating teachers explained stoichiometry to their students might help other chemistry teachers to examine and adapt their own instructional styles and delivery methods of the concept. This understanding might, in term, help to improve student achievement in stoichiometry in particular and chemistry in general.

I den svenska förskolan har alla barn rätt till en likvärdig utbildning och att få sina behov tillgodosedda. Syftet med studien är att undersöka vilka erfarenheter förskollärare har av barn i behov av särkilt stöd och för hur de arbetar för att inte exkludera dessa barn. Frågeställningarna är: Vilka erfarenheter har förskollärare av barn i behov av särkilt stöd? Vilka erfarenheter har förskollärare om exkludering och inkludering av barn i behov av särkilt stöd? Metodiska ansatsen i denna studie har varit kvalitativ och empirin som samlats in var genom kvalitativa intervjuer. Resultatet visar att förskollärare är överens om att förskolans läroplan inte ger något stöd för hur de ska arbeta med barn i behov av särkilt stöd. Det framkommer i resultatet att förskollärare har en del erfarenheter, men att de inte har tillräcklig kompetens för hur de ska arbeta med barn i behov av särskilt stöd. Det framkommer även att förskollärarna får stöd av olika instanser, men på olika vis och att inkludering innebär en mer likvärdig och rättvis utbildning. Sammanfattningsvis är detta område övergripande stort och för att kunna möta barn i behov av särkilt stöd bör förskollärares kompetensutveckling öka.

The purpose of this master thesis has been to investigate how private economics is taught in social studies teaching for grades 4-6 through teachers' descriptions of personal finance as part of the social studies subject's civic education assignment. The purpose has also been to investigate how and in what way teachers use teaching materials in their teaching of personal finance. The selected research and literature for the degree project deal with the subject social studies and the civic education assignment, the curriculum and syllabus, social science didactic research and teaching of economics in general and personal finance in particular. Furthermore, research and literature on teachers' difficulties with the subject of personal finance and the use of teaching aids in the subject of social studies are also presented. Little research can be found regarding the teaching of personal finance, especially for younger ages such as grades 4–6, which strengthens the relevance of investigating the purpose of this master thesis.  The theoretical perspectives used as a starting point for analyzing the empirical work of the master thesis are Dewey's pragmatic perspective and Vygotsky's socio-cultural perspective. The survey was conducted using qualitative semi-structured interviews as a method. The survey involved six respondents, all of whom are active social studies teachers in grades 4-6. The results show that the respondents see a clear and important purpose of the teaching to enable the students to become responsible adult citizens who can make wise financial decisions. Furthermore, it appears from the results that teaching materials are common in the teaching of personal finance. The respondents mainly link the concept of personal finance with household or an individual's financial planning.  A conclusion that can be drawn from the results of this master thesis and the previous research is that even though personal finance teaching is a relatively new social science didactic research area, its relevance increases when research emphasizes the importance of teaching being a part of schools’ mission to succeed in their civic education. In step with this, personal finance is given more space in the syllabus for social studies, which is an important factor in the work with a school where students are given the right conditions for adult life.

Lärares villkor att ingå i skolutvecklingsprojekt är starkt kopplat till samhälls- och policyförändringar på makro- meso- och mikronivå. På mikronivå har ämneslärare i en särskild undervisningsgrupp ingått i ett forskningsutvecklingsarbete inom Språkutvecklande digitaliseringsarbete då det finns ett utvecklingsbehov inom dessa områden. I utbildningssammanhang och då det talas om lärares handlingskraft och attityder talas det om "agency" och kopplas till självförtroende, motivation, vilja, målmedvetenhet och kreativitet. Syftet med studien var att undersöka vad som är utmärkande för lärares erfarenheter samt vilka villkor och möjligheter ämneslärare i årskurs 6-9 upplever med att ingå i ett forskningsutvecklingsarbete på vetenskaplig grund. Studien genomfördes på fyra ämneslärare med avsikten att utifrån ett socialkonstruktivistisk förhållningssätt analysera vilka nyvunna insikter framträder i de sociala samspelen i foksugruppen. Analysen skedde via tematisk analys utifrån den induktiva metoden. Det som framträdde i analysen var teman kopplade till olika framträdande koder. Några nyckelfaktorer visade sig vara de pedagogiska samtalen, att växa tillsammans i en grupp, förmågan att kunna se det positiva och kontiniuitetens betydelse. Vidare ansågs det mer relevant att ingå i ett forksningsutvecklingsarbete skapat utifrån ett  "down-top" perspektiv. Motståndet bland informanterna visade sig vara kopplat till plötsliga förändringar som bestäms utifrån ett "top-down" perspektiv – där förutsägbarhet och tydlighet visades vara betydelsefullt för elever som ingår i en särskild undervisningsgrupp. Sammantaget visade studien att ingå i ett forskningsutvecklingsarbete med fokus på ett sociokulturellt perspektiv och heterarkier främjar kollegialt lärande som engagerar ämneslärare och bidrar till proffesionsutveckling både på individ och organisationsnivå. / Teachers' conditions to be included in school development projects are strongly linked to societal and policy changes at the macro, meso and micro level. On a micro level, subject teachers in a special teaching group have been involved in research development work within Language Development digitization work as there is a development need in these areas. In the context of education and when talking about teachers' power of action and attitudes, they talk about "agency" and it is linked to selfconfidence, motivation, will, determination and creativity. The purpose of the study was to investigate what is distinctive about subject teachers' experiences and what conditions and opportunities subject teachers in grades 6-9 experience with participating in research development work on a scientific basis. The study was carried out through a focus group of four subject teachers with the intention of analyzing, based on a social constructivist approach, which newly gained insights emerge in the social interactions in the focus group. The analysis took place via thematic analysis based on the inductive method. What emerged in the analysis were themes linked to various salient codes. Some key factors were shown to be the educational conversations, growing together in a group, the ability to see the positive and the importance of continuity. Furthermore, it was considered more relevant to be included in a project created from a "down-top" perspective. The resistance among the informants turned out to be linked to sudden changes that are determined from a "topdown" perspective - where predictability and clarity were shown to be significant for students who are part of a special teaching group. Overall, the study showed that being part of a school development project with a focus on a socio-cultural perspective as well as from heterarchies promotes collegial learning that engages subject teachers and contributes to professional development both at individual group and organizational level