Along with various contextual factors, the method of literacy instruction is recognised as one of the main reasons for low levels of literacy learning both locally and internationally. Harcombe’s CATLI process is offered as an alternative literacy methodology, firstly since its constructivist, ecosystemic underpinnings endeavour to address as many contextual issues as is possible, and secondly, because the CATLI process attempts to address some of the gaps in other literacy instructional programmes. The current study aimed to evaluate the CATLI process as a viable alternative to traditional methods of literacy instruction. In addition, the study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using the constructivist approach to train university students in the CATLI process. The sample comprised trainee learning support specialists and one parent per learner receiving the CATLI intervention at the community centre at a Johannesburg university in 2007. Quantitative and qualitative data obtained by means of questionnaires and extant records provided evidence that all learners showed improvement in literacy skills as well as general development, ascribing the effectiveness of the process to being underpinned soundly by social constructivism and associated theories. For the same reason, trainees considered their training sufficient.

Every year thousands of students graduate from high school and move on to higher education, but many of them are not yet prepared for college level courses. The Tennessee Board of Regents does not currently allow 4-year institutions to teach courses that are below college level, so many institutions are using programs such as learning support courses to assist a growing population of underprepared students. The purpose of this study was to determine if the 1-term and 2-term retention rates for students with the same ACT mathematics subsection scores were different between students who took a regular section of Probability and Statistics and students who took a learning support section of the course. The subjects of this study were students who enrolled in a Probability and Statistics class (either regular sections or learning support sections) at a 4-year institution from the 2013 summer semester through the 2014 fall semester. The criteria used for selecting subjects included: (1) enrolled in a section of Probability and Statistics, (2) had a valid ACT mathematics subsection score on file with the institution, and (3) recorded a final grade in the course. Students were then grouped by ACT mathematics subsection score and type of course (learning support or regular). When students were grouped by matching ACT mathematics subscores there were no real significant differences in 1-term retention, 2-term retention, or final course grade between students who took a 4-hour learning support section of probability and statistics and students who opted to take a regular 3-hour version of the same course, with one exception. Of students who scored a 17 on the ACT mathematics subsection, the students enrolled in a regular course had a 1-term retention rate that was significantly higher than the learning support course.

Every year thousands of students make preparations to pursue a college degree. Many are high school seniors, but a large percentage of the population are nontraditional age students who are years removed from a formal classroom setting. Included in the list of preparations is an examination whose results will be used to determine each individual’s readiness to be academically successful at the collegiate level. These examinations assess student’s abilities in the areas of reading, English composition, and mathematics. The results of these examinations show that at the community college level more than half of these students will need remediation in one of these subject areas. Mathematics is most often the area where deficiencies are identified. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if there are significant differences between 4 mathematics learning support models based on student performance in 2 college level mathematics courses at a 2-year community college in Tennessee. The subjects of this study were students who were enrolled in MATH 1530, Probability and Statistics, or MATH 1630, Finite Mathematics, from the fall 2011 semester through the spring 2016 semester. Students with ACT, SAT, or ACT Compass exam scores meeting or exceeding established benchmark scores were excluded from the study. Each record also included the learning support model each student participated in, the final letter grade for the course, grouped ACT mathematics subscores, age grouping, and enrollment status. The results of the study indicated significant differences in student success between learning support models for all research questions involving MATH 1530, Probability and Statistics. Comparisons between ACT mathematics subscore groupings, age groupings, and enrollment status also indicated significant differences in student success. In each case, the current corequisite learning support model proved to be the least successful in preparing students for success in MATH 1530. Three of the 8 research questions involving MATH 1630, Finite Mathematics, also indicated significant differences in student success between learning support models, with the current corequisite learning support model proving less successful in preparing students for success in MATH 1630.

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.

There has been growing interest among parents, teachers, researchers, and policymakers in better understanding children’s school readiness and the precise mechanisms by which early care and education programs promote these early skills. Two key, but understudied, mechanisms include preschool instruction and parenting practices. The present study used the Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES) 2006 cohort and examined whether gains in young children’s (n = 2,308) math, literacy, and behavior problems over the Head Start year were predicted by increased stimulation across children’s homes and school using structural equation modeling. Net of all other factors, parent learning support was uniquely associated with lower levels of behavioral problems and greater math achievement. Although there were no direct effects of parent involvement on child outcomes, the effects of parent involvement on children’s math and behavior were mediated through parent learning support. Children also demonstrated reduced problem behaviors when they received greater teacher instruction. However, the observed benefits for math achievement and reduced problem behaviors appear to be stronger when young children receive stimulation across both the home and school contexts. These findings have implications for children’s early problem behaviors and achievement, suggesting that parenting practices and teacher instruction are important avenues that can promote young children’s early skills. For optimal academic and behavioral outcomes, however, greater effort needs to be coordinated across children’s home and school settings. / text

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 problem statement for this study is, "an investigation towards the experience of intermediate phase educators in the George district of the implementation of inclusive education in their schools". Firstly a literature review was perfomed on the implementation of inclusive education in South Africa and overseas, which revealed a diversity of opinions about the implementation of inclusive education, and that the various countries experience varying demands and successes in the implementation thereof. The empirical research performed thereafter was qualitative in nature, to explore the experience of intermediate phase educators in the George district of the implementation of inclusive education in their schools. The results of the empirical research indicate that the educators experience various barriers themselves regarding the implementation of inclusive education in their schools, inter alia a great diversity of learners in their classes which puts demands on their time and attention to those learners, a number of factors that hamper the learning process, lack of parental involvement, insufficient learning support materials to fulfil the needs of learners, and most of all the experience of a lack knowledge and skills in themselves to identify and support barriers to learning in learners. The study concludes with a summary and recommendations. / Thesis (MEd (Learner Support))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

The problem statement for this study is, "an investigation towards the experience of intermediate phase educators in the George district of the implementation of inclusive education in their schools". Firstly a literature review was perfomed on the implementation of inclusive education in South Africa and overseas, which revealed a diversity of opinions about the implementation of inclusive education, and that the various countries experience varying demands and successes in the implementation thereof. The empirical research performed thereafter was qualitative in nature, to explore the experience of intermediate phase educators in the George district of the implementation of inclusive education in their schools. The results of the empirical research indicate that the educators experience various barriers themselves regarding the implementation of inclusive education in their schools, inter alia a great diversity of learners in their classes which puts demands on their time and attention to those learners, a number of factors that hamper the learning process, lack of parental involvement, insufficient learning support materials to fulfil the needs of learners, and most of all the experience of a lack knowledge and skills in themselves to identify and support barriers to learning in learners. The study concludes with a summary and recommendations. / Thesis (MEd (Learner Support))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Secondary school teachers are faced daily with many challenges when supporting learners with diverse needs. These challenges can influence their ability to perform their role of supporting such learners in the classroom. Even though learning support in the secondary school is a complex multi-level phenomenon, teachers are expected to ensure that all the learners reach their full potential. The aim of this study was to explore and describe secondary school teachers’ experiences of supporting learners with diverse needs in challenging circumstances. Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological model framed the research enquiry. Proximal processes and their related concepts were used as tools to explore and describe the teachers’ approach to learning support in a secondary school. Since this study was an exploration of a phenomenon qualitative research methods were applied. The research methods added rich information using various techniques. These included an activity in which the teachers reflected on their experiences, individual semi-structured interviews, a focus group interview, research questions and narrative discussions with participants. The data collected was analysed using the method of constant comparison. Findings from the analysed data revealed the teachers’ concerns and the challenges they faced in their classrooms while supporting their learners. Although they described these challenges and adverse circumstances as barriers, they nevertheless appeared as caring, confident professionals who had both the potential and the desire to advance their own development and to carry out effective learning support. Against this background, the teachers’ own needs, whether emotional, social, cognitive or developmental, were vital to their ability to support effective learning in the classroom. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hoërskool onderwysers is daagliks betrokke by leerders met diverse behoeftes en die uitdagings wat daarmee gepaard gaan. Hierdie uitdagings het ʼn daadwerklike uitwerking op ʼn onderwyser se talle rolle tydens ondersteuning van leer by leerders. Alhoewel leerondersteuning in die hoërskool as kompleks, ongewoon en met verskeie fasette ervaar word, word daar van onderwysers verwag om alle leerders te ondersteun. Die doel met hierdie studie was om onderwysers se ervarings van leerondersteuning van die diverse leerbehoefte in uitdagende kontekse te ondersoek. Hierdie ervaring sluit in hoe ervare onderwysers in uitdagende omstandighede kinders ondersteun in die klaskamer. Bronfenbrenner se bio-ekologiese teorie verleen die raamwerk vir die studie. Gevolglik is verwante proksimale prosesse en konsepte gebruik sodat onderwysers se ervarings van leerondersteuning verstaan kan word. Aangesien hierdie studie ʼn verkennende ondersoek was, is kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodes gebruik. Die navorsingsmetodes het verseker dat waardevolle inligting ingewin word deur die gebruik van tegnieke soos: ʼn refleksie-aktiwiteit, individuele onderhoude, ʼn fokusgroeponderhoud, ʼn oopvraelys en narratiewe bespreking van deelnemers. Die konstante vergelykende metode is gebruik om die data te ontleed. Bevindinge van die geanaliseerde data het die onderwysers se bekommernisse en uitdagings, rakende hul ervarings tydens ondersteuning, aan die lig gebring. Alhoewel die onderwysers hul uitdagings en moeilike omstandighede as hindernisse tydens ondersteuning van leer ervaar, gee hulle om, voel selfversekerd en tree professioneel op. Hulle toon die potensiaal en hunkering na eie ontwikkeling, ten einde effektiewe leerondersteuning te kan bied. Dit is teen hierdie agtergrond duidelik dat onderwysers die belangrikste ondersteuners in die klaskamer is. Daarom is die onderwysers se emosionele, sosiale, kognitiewe en self-ontwikkeling van die uiterste belang vir leerders se effektiewe leerervarings.

Magister Educationis - MEd / 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, focused and professional development of teachers in the area of learner support and more monetary and infrastructural resources. / South Africa