Thesis (Ph.D. (Educational Psychology)) --University of Limpopo, 2012 / This research project was an endeavor to investigate the effects of the languages of instruction (English and Shona), to teach Tsonga (Shangani) speaking children in Chiredzi district of Zimbabwe. Because of the nature of the study, a mixed method design was used where both qualitative and quantitative methods were adopted to study the performance of the Tsonga (Shangani) minority language speaking learners in five purposively sampled schools. 222 learners participated in the study. The main aim of the study was to investigate the effect of the language instruction in teaching Tsonga (Shangani) speaking Grade Seven children in Environmental Science. In fact, the researcher was interested in finding out whether teaching learners in a foreign language was a bridge or barrier to learning. In this case, the research did not only look at the effect of using English for instructional purposes, but also investigated how other major or dominant indigenous languages which are used for instructional purposes affect the performance of minority language speaking children in Chiredzi district of Zimbabwe. Data for this study were collected using lesson observation, document analysis, the questionnaire and a knowledge test. In this case, fifteen lessons were observed. Fifteen Tsonga (Shangani) speaking Grade Seven learners per school were purposively selected and taught in Tsonga (Shangani) only and the other fifteen Shona speaking Grade Seven children per school were also purposively selected and taught the same topic in Shona, and a third group of fifteen Grade Seven learners per school, were randomly selected and taught in English only. A knowledge test was given to each group thereafter. Children from each language condition were allowed to answer questions in their home languages, except for the third group which was taught in English. This group answered the questions in English with the restricted use of Shona. Each of the test results from the knowledge tests were analysed using a One Way Anova of Variance (ANOVA) and conclusions drawn. The results from other data collection instruments were analysed using qualitative methods like narrative discussions of data. A sample of five learners per school had their exercise books analysed. Data were presented in tables. The results from the knowledge tests given showed a significant difference in the mean marks obtained from the three groups (the Shangani, Shona and English group). The result showed that language has a significant influence on the performance of learners since the p – value was 0.000. This implies that the performance of learners between the three groups is significantly different. On the basis of these observations, the Null hypothesis was rejected. The same picture was also shown in document analysis and in the questionnaires. Consequently, conclusions were drawn and recommendations made.

The main aim of the thesis are the mapping the level of understanding narrative text for student of fifth grade primary school with the typical development of reading skills. The thesis deal with the relationship between listening comprehension and reading comprehension. The thesis is traditionally divided into a theoretical and empirical part. The first part of the thesis prestnts the theoretical background research problems of comprehension the text. Attention is focused mainly on the domain of listening comprehension and reading comprehension, including a summary of the current state of knowledge about the relationship between both skills in foreign and Czech studies, as well as the diagnostics of reading and prerequisites that are reflected on the comprehensions the text. In the practical part are conclusions expected on its own research, which was attended by 40 students taught by the analytic-synthetic metod of reading, are compared with the results of the three year research project GAČR - Reading complrehension - typical development and its risks, where attended 59 students of fifth grade primary school taught by the same reading method. In addition to comprehension level will be monitored by level of basic language skills.

Undersökningar har visat på ett minskat läsintresse bland barn och unga de senaste åren, samtidigt som samhället kräver en utvecklad läsförmåga. Syftet med denna litteraturstudie var att undersöka vad forskning säger om vilka faktorer som påverkar lågstadieelevers läslust och vilka effekterna är av de metoder som används för att väcka elevers läslust i klassrummet. Denna litteraturstudie består av de två forskningsfrågorna: ”Vad säger forskningen om vilka faktorer som påverkar läslusten i lågstadieklassrum?” och ”Vad säger forskningen om de metoder som används för att väcka lågstadieelevers läslust i klassrummet och om vilka effekter de har?”. För insamling av data gjordes sökningar i databaser, där sökord användes för att hitta forskning relevant för studiens syfte.  Artiklarna som presenteras i studien har analyserats utifrån en tematisk analys, där kodning av data resulterade i fyra teman. Resultatet visar att klassrumsmiljö och elevinflytande är faktorer som påverkar elevers läslust i klassrummet. Av resultatet framgår det även att interaktiv läsning och läsaktiviteter i klassrummet bidrar till ökad motivation bland eleverna. Samtidigt talar forskning för att lärare har ett stort ansvar i att se till elevers olika förutsättningar när de väljer aktiviteter i syfte att utveckla elevers läsning. Betydelsen av lärares inflytande, såsom att vara en förebild och att ta hänsyn till elevers olika förutsättningar, är också något som framkommer av resultaten i denna studie. / Surveys have shown a reduced interest in reading among children and young people in recent years, while society demands a developed reading ability. The purpose of this study was to investigate what research says about what influences the love of reading among primary school students and what the effects are on methods used to increase reading motivation in classrooms. This literature review consists of the two research questions: “What does research say about which factors influence the love of reading in primary classrooms?” and “What does research say about methods used in classrooms to arouse interest in reading among students and about what effects they have?” For data collection, searches were conducted in databases, in which keywords were used to find research relevant to the aim of this study. The articles presented in this study were analyzed through a thematic analysis, where coding of data resulted in four themes. The result shows that the design of the classroom and student influence are factors that affects the reading motivation in the classroom. It is also shown in the results that interactive reading and reading activities in the classroom increases reading motivation among students. The importance of teachers’ influence, such as being a role model and taking students’ different needs into account when choosing activities, is also something that emerges from the results of this study.

Syftet med undersökningen är att finna olika arbetsmetoder som lågstadiepedagoger i årskurserna 1–3 använder i sin samhällskunskapsundervisning om nyheter. Undersökningen reflekterar även om vilka möjligheter och hinder som lågstadiepedagoger möter i sina arbetsmetoder när det kommer till nyhetsundervisning. Arbetsmetoderna skulle därmed kunna bidra till kunskap- och lärandetillfällen som man själv kan använda i sin egen undervisning. Forskning har visat att det finns ett begränsat antal undersökningar utförda på lågstadiet med yngre elever inom samhällskunskapsämnet. Forskningen som finns har bland annat belyst hur lågstadielärare arbetar med samhällskunskapsämnet i bredare omfång. En större mängd forskning finns för de äldre årskurserna då forskare bland annat undersökt hur elever förstod information i tidningsartiklar, nyheter kopplat till bilder samt hur elever i olika åldrar uppfattade sanna och falska nyheter. För denna undersökning har metoderna observation och kvalitativ intervju använts där fyra observationstillfällen och sju intervjuer med lågstadiepedagoger som undervisar i årskurserna 1 – 3 blivit utförda. Teorin som använts i denna undersökning var det sociokulturella perspektivet. Analyser och diskussioner har sedan blivit utförda med stöd av teorin och den tidigare forskningen där resultatet grundat sig i lågstadielärarnas utsagor.Undersökningens resultat visar hur lågstadielärare inkluderar nyhetsprogrammet Lilla aktuellt som en del av sin samhällskunskapsundervisning om nyheter. Lilla aktuellt har ett stort fokus i klassrummen och lärarnas arbetsmetoder relaterat till nyhetsprogrammet skiljer sig beroende på vilken skola de arbetar på samt vilken elevgrupp som klassen består av. I samband med nyhetsundervisning har samtliga lärare prioriterat muntlig kommunikation som tillvägagångsätt då man antingen tillsammans i helklass eller i mindre grupper samtalat om nyhetsinnehåll. En del lärare lägger större tyngd på att diskutera nyhetsinnehåll på ytan medan andra vill att eleverna ska gräva djupare för att förstå nyhetens bakgrund, händelse och lösning. / The purpose of this paper was to find different teaching methods that is used by primary school teachers in grades 1 – 3 in their social studies instruction regarding news. This paper would also inform the possibilities and the obstacles that the primary school teachers face with their own teaching methods when it comes to news education. The teaching methods would thereby contribute to knowledge- and learning opportunities that other teachers can use in their own classrooms. Research has shown that there are limited number of surveys done in social studies education for lower grades with younger children. The research that can be found has shown with a wider range how primary school teachers educate the students in social studies. A bigger amount of research can be found for older students in news teaching and some of this research show how students understood the information in articles, the connection between news and pictures and also what students in different ages could understand with true and fake news. The methods that have been used for this paper are observation and qualitative interview and the total of four observations and seven interviews with primary school teachers that teach in the grades 1 – 3 have been collected. The theory that has been included in this paper is the sociocultural perspective regarding teaching methods. With the support from the theory and previous research has statements from the primary school teachers been analyzed and discussed.The result of this paper has shown that primary school teachers include the news program Lilla aktuellt as a part of the social studies when it comes to teaching about news. The news program Lilla aktuellt has a big focus in classrooms but the teachers’ teaching methods related to this varied based on the school and the groups of students. The most common teaching methods when it comes to news education has shown to be oral communication either in smaller groups or with all the students together. Some teachers put energy in the basic information regarding news, for example the event, while others think it is important for the students to learn the whole picture like the news background, event and the solution.

In an era marked by increasing diversity, intercultural learning becomes pivotal for fostering inclusive learning environments. This study focuses on leisure-time centers, which constitute a central part of school activities for students ranging from preschool to third grade in primary school. The research investigates how staff can promote intercultural understanding and respect among students. With an understanding of Sweden's multicultural society and the pivotal role of intercultural pedagogy within the teaching profession, this research aims to enhance comprehension of how intercultural learning is practiced within leisure-time centers and the challenges and opportunities encountered by staff.Exploring methods and practices for intercultural learning within leisure-time programs, the study employs a combination of interviews and surveys with staff members. It seeks to comprehend how cultural diversity can be utilized as a learning resource and how staff members can foster intercultural understanding and respect among students. The findings underscore the importance of cultivating inclusive environments that nurture cultural awareness, empathy, and respect within leisure-time centers. Implications for educators and policymakers are discussed, with an emphasis on integrating intercultural learning into educational frameworks to promote global citizenship and intercultural competence among young students. / I en tid präglad av ökad mångfald blir interkulturellt lärande avgörande för att skapa inkluderande lärmiljöer. Denna studie fokuserar på fritidshemmet, en central del av skolaktiviteterna för elever från förskoleklass upp till åk 3 i lågstadiet. Studien undersöker hur personalen kan främja interkulturell förståelse och respekt bland eleverna.Utifrån en förståelse av det mångkulturella svenska samhället och den centrala rollen av interkulturell pedagogik inom lärarprofessionen, syftar forskningen till att förbättra förståelsen för hur interkulturellt lärande praktiseras inom fritidshemmet och vilka utmaningar och möjligheter personalen står inför.Studien utforskar metoder och praxis för interkulturellt lärande inom fritidshemsprogram. Genom en kombination av intervjuer och enkäter med personal strävar den efter att förstå hur kulturell mångfald kan användas som en resurs för lärande och hur personalen kan främja interkulturell förståelse och respekt bland eleverna.Resultaten belyser vikten av att skapa inkluderande miljöer som främjar kulturell medvetenhet, empati och respekt i fritidshemmet. Implikationer för utbildare och beslutsfattare diskuteras, med tonvikt på att integrera interkulturellt lärande i utbildningsramar för att främja globalt medborgarskap och interkulturell kompetens hos unga elever.

基於閱讀的價值性、重要性及影響性等特質，促使閱讀能力的培養持續受到各界關注，而家庭更是影響孩童閱讀習慣養成的重要環境之一，因此本研究旨在探究性別及家庭社經地位對家庭閱讀活動的影響，並且探討家庭閱讀活動的活躍程度與學童閱讀行為及閱讀態度養成間的關係。 本研究採問卷調查法，以台北市某八所公立小學二年級學童共計317人作為研究樣本，研究結果顯示：女性及中、高社經地位學童在家庭閱讀活動、閱讀行為及閱讀態度的表現上皆較佳，而家庭閱讀活動與閱讀行為及閱讀態度彼此間都呈現顯著正相關情形。由上述結果可推論，家長可能由於對子女性別的刻板印象而投入較多的心力在與女兒從事閱讀活動，且社經地位較高的家長，除了較有能力提供豐富閱讀資源外，也多半較重視閱讀能力的培養，因而顯示其家庭閱讀活動較為活躍；而家庭閱讀活動越活躍的學童，其閱讀行為與閱讀態度也同樣呈現積極的情形，且豐富的閱讀行為亦能帶動正向的閱讀態度。 基於以上研究發現，本研究建議家長應在家庭閱讀活動中扮演更為主動的角色，例如嘗試建立固定家庭閱讀時段，盡可能投注均等的時間陪伴子女從事閱讀；且學童本身亦可與同儕建立讀物分享的團體，並充分利用各界圖書資源；而政府則是可以考量推動內政單位與教育單位合作的可能性，藉由社會力量協助以改善低社經者的家庭閱讀活動不足的情形。 / Based on the value, importance and impact of reading, building reading ability continued to be concerned. And the family is one of the important environment where affect the children to make a rule of reading habits. So, the purpose of this study is to explore how sex and family socio-economic status affect the family reading activities, and what relations of the level of family reading activities, children reading behavior and reading attitudes. This study used questionnaires to sampling a total of 317 second grade children in 8 public schools of Taipei. And the research results showed that: girls and children of middle-high socio-economic status whose family reading activities, reading behavior and reading attitude is all better. In addition, family reading activities, reading behavior and reading attitude showed a significant positive correlation. Results can be deduced from the above, parents of their children may be due to gender stereotypes and to invest more heavily in the effort to engage in reading activities with daughter, and higher socio-economic status of parents, in addition to is not having a better position to provide a rich resource of reading, but also identify importance of reading ability, which family activity of reading is better. And family reading activities is more lively, their children’s reading behavior and reading attitude is better. And at the same time, a wealth of reading behavior can lead to read positive attitude. Based on the above findings, this study suggests that parents should play a more active role to reading with children, such as creating a fixed period of family reading time, to accompany their children in reading equal bets as far as possible. And children also can establish reading groups with their peers to share all kinds of books. On the other side, try to make full use of library resources from living surroundings. While the Government is considering to advance cooperation of the educational unit and internal affairs unit , depend on social forces to help to improve the low socio-economic families reading activities.

Ausgehend vom Rahmenmodell zur Persönlichkeitsentwicklung von Schüler/inne/n nach Pekrun/Helmke (1991), der „Eingrenzungs- und Kompromisstheorie der Berufswahl“ von Gottfredson (2005) und der Typologie des Aufbaus von Berufsidentitäten Fends (1991) wird der Berufsfindungsprozess von Schüler/inne/n der Grundschule (Kl. 5) bis in die Sekundarstufe (Kl. 9) untersucht. Analysiert werden die Berufswünsche von 600 bis 3000 Befragten und ausgewählte Variablen des längsschnittlichen Datensatzes der DFG-Projekte NOVARA, SABA und AIDA (geleitet von Prof. Dr. Renate Valtin). Es werden zwei Fragestellungen verfolgt: (1) Ist die Berufswahltheorie von Gottfredson geeignet, empirisch verifiziert die früh zu beobachtende geschlechtsspezifische Weichenstellungen in der beruflichen Orientierung fundiert zu erklären? (2) Lassen sich Zusammenhänge zwischen einer krisenhaften Bewältigung der Entwicklungsaufgabe „Berufswahl“ und der Entwicklung ausgewählter schulleistungsrelevanter Persönlichkeitsmerkmale nachweisen? Wenn ja, ab wann? Die Analysen bestätigten die Forschungsbefunde zur Geschlechtstypik der beruflichen Interessenorientierung, zum Wandel vom „Traumberuf“ zum realistischen Berufswunsch sowie zu Schwankungen der Häufigkeit geäußerter Berufswünsche in Abhängigkeit von Klassenstufe und Schulform. Des Weiteren bestätigte sich die in der Berufswahltheorie von Gottfredson beschriebene Bedeutung der Kategorie „Geschlecht“ für die Präferenz bestimmter Berufswünsche, des noch akzeptierten Prestiges der Berufswünsche und des mit der Realisierung und Ausübung des gewünschten Berufs verbundenen noch zu bewältigenden kognitiven Anspruchs. Zusammenhänge zwischen der Entwicklung schulleistungsrelevanter Persönlichkeitsmerkmale ab dem Grundschulalter und einer krisenhaften Bewältigung der Entwicklungsaufgabe „Entwicklung einer beruflichen Orientierung“ in der Sekundarstufe I konnten in Bezug auf die allgemeine Schulfreude der männlichen Befragten nachgewiesen werden. / Based on Rahmenmodell zur Persönlichkeitsentwicklung von Schüler/inne/n by Pekrun and Helmke (1991), "Eingrenzungs- und Kompromisstheorie der Berufswahl" Gottfredson (2005) and Typologie des Aufbaus von Berufsidentitäten Fends (1991), the career choice process of primary school students (Class 5) to secondary school (Class 9) is examined longitudinally. The career desires of 600 to 3000 subjects are examined longitudinally, along with selected variables of the longitudinal dataset from the DFG projects NOVARA, SABA and AIDA (led by Prof. Dr. Renate Valtin). Two questions are considered: (1) is the ''Circumscription und Compromise Theory'' according to Gottfredson suitable for explaining the empirically verified gender-specific directions in career orientation, which can be observed early, on a theoretical basis? (2) Can interconnections between a critical mastering of the development task "career selection" and the development of selected school performance-related personality attributes be demonstrated? If yes, from when? Analyses confirm the gender-specification of career orientation, about the change from "dream job" to realistic career choice and about the fluctuations in frequency of stated career desires depending on school year and type of school. Moreover, the importance of the category "gender" described in the "circumscription and compromise theory" of career choice by Gottfredson is confirmed for the preference of certain career desires, of the still accepted prestige of the career desires and of the cognitive requirement yet to be mastered in conjunction with the realisation and exercise of the desired profession. Connections between the development of school performance-relevant personality attributes from primary school age and a critical mastering of the development task "development of a career orientation" in Sekundarstufe I (equivalent to Key Stage 3) could be demonstrated with regard to general happiness at school of the male subjects.

<p>The purpose of this study is to determine what alternative forms of assessments are being practiced in a public school with an international programme and to explore the teachers` attitudes towards the use of alternative assessment procedures. Various assessment models and strategies have been investigated and discussed, as pre¬senting a part of the educational practice in the primary classrooms that engage the International Baccalaureate/ Primary Years Programme at the elementary school level (age range 6-11) in the years 0-5.</p><p>While defining my research problem, I have started from hypothesis that practicing of alternative assessment has an important positive role in the international schools supporting, promoting and improving student learning.</p><p>International schools are facing both challenging and complexity of assessment pro¬cess while striving to apply both national and international programs` recom¬menda¬tions concerning the testing.</p><p>Alternative forms of assessments are being used in conjunction with other forms of assessment, such as standardised tests, in order to assess both student perfor¬mance and the intentions of the International Baccalaureate/ Primary Years Pro¬gramme.</p><p>This paper investigates what alternative assessment practices (portfolio, perfor¬mance assessment, Exhibition, self-assessment) are being applied and used in the same school where the standardised tests are also being applied and used (text book tests, teacher-made tests, local and national test).</p><p>The hypothesis was supported and the study findings suggest that various types of assessments are needed to be utilized in order to fairly evaluate students` needs as well as that alternative assessment has an important positive role meeting individual student’s needs supporting a process of learning.</p>

The purpose of this study is to determine what alternative forms of assessments are being practiced in a public school with an international programme and to explore the teachers` attitudes towards the use of alternative assessment procedures. Various assessment models and strategies have been investigated and discussed, as pre¬senting a part of the educational practice in the primary classrooms that engage the International Baccalaureate/ Primary Years Programme at the elementary school level (age range 6-11) in the years 0-5. While defining my research problem, I have started from hypothesis that practicing of alternative assessment has an important positive role in the international schools supporting, promoting and improving student learning. International schools are facing both challenging and complexity of assessment pro¬cess while striving to apply both national and international programs` recom¬menda¬tions concerning the testing. Alternative forms of assessments are being used in conjunction with other forms of assessment, such as standardised tests, in order to assess both student perfor¬mance and the intentions of the International Baccalaureate/ Primary Years Pro¬gramme. This paper investigates what alternative assessment practices (portfolio, perfor¬mance assessment, Exhibition, self-assessment) are being applied and used in the same school where the standardised tests are also being applied and used (text book tests, teacher-made tests, local and national test). The hypothesis was supported and the study findings suggest that various types of assessments are needed to be utilized in order to fairly evaluate students` needs as well as that alternative assessment has an important positive role meeting individual student’s needs supporting a process of learning.

English is the second language of almost 89,9% of all South Africans (Bull, 1990:3). A concern about the low levels of proficiency in English in South African primary schools prompted this study. The majority of pupils (both in schools that use English as medium of instruction and schools that offer English as a subject only), as well as many teachers of English are not proficient in English. The aim of this study is to design a task-based syllabus for English in South African primary schools that will address this problem through its potential to provide extensive support for the teaching and learning of English. The syllabus is the single most influential document all English Second Language (ESL) teachers receive, as it directs and guides teaching. In order to propose a syllabus for ESL in primary schools, the following aspects were investigated in this study: the teaching and learning of ESL in the primary school approaches to syllabus design, task-based approaches to syllabus design, current language syllabuses and the present situation in South African primary schools. Task-based approaches to language learning are increasingly proposed as a viable option for syllabus design. There is a firm theoretical rationale for task-based approaches to language learning. Task-based models proposed by Prabhu, Breen and Candlin and Long and Crookes have been influential in the design of task-based syllabuses for language learning. A survey was undertaken to ascertain to what extent language syllabuses from various countries can be regarded as task-based, and what information they specify. Seven representative task-based syllabuses were studied, namely Graded Levels of Achievement for Foreign Language Learning (GLAFLL), the Alabama Course of Study - English Language Arts and the Alaska Model Curriculum Guide: Language Arts (both for English as L1), and the Dutch Syllabus for ESL, the Botswana Syllabus for ESL, the Australian Language Levels (ALL) Project and the Target Oriented curriculum (TOC) of Hong Kong. The Target Oriented Curriculum (TOC) of Hong Kong is regarded as the most suitable model on which to base a task-based model for language teaching and learning in South African primary schools. Not only does it provide firm support for classroom practice in a teacher-friendly and concise manner, but it also provides examples of how the various components of the syllabus can be integrated in the planning of a scheme of work. A core task-based syllabus for English in South African primary schools is proposed. It consists of a situation analysis, the aims and objectives of the course, its content, teaching-learning opportunities and guidelines for assessment. / Proefskrif (PhD (Vakdidaktiek))--PU vir CHO, 1997