In a research study designed to investigate the emergence of collective creativity in elementary classroom settings, and in which teachers' decision-making practices were analyzed alongside both the teachers' observed teaching practices in their classrooms and their students' problem solving actions, the first author developed four metaphors for…

As school authorities strive toward inclusive models of education for children with neurodevelopmental delay and disability (NDD), many kindergarten curricula have mandated pedagogy centered on learning through play. Children with NDD tend to experience greater social isolation and lower rates of social play engagement compared to typically…

Background: The context in which school-based health-promoting interventions are implemented is key for the delivery and success of these interventions. However, little is known about whether school culture differs by school deprivation. Methods: Using data from PromeSS, a cross-sectional study of 161 elementary schools in Québec, Canada, we drew…

Guided play, a balanced approach to involvement in play that includes child- and adult-direction in learning activities, holds great promise for children's effective and engaged learning in education. Recent studies in laboratory settings show benefits for academic and socio-emotional outcomes, while retaining a focus on child-centred exploration.…

Elementary physical and health education (PHE) teachers play key roles in establishing inclusive learning environments. However, how they attend to inclusive pedagogy are not fully highlighted in the research literature. This study examined how elementary PHE teachers understand their roles in inclusion and how they attend to day-to-day inclusive…

Background: The implementation of a quality daily physical activity program in school is influenced by a multitude of factors. Considering the characteristics and possible interactions of factors when choosing the study methods is likely to influence the interpretation of the results. Mixed methods approach, by collecting both quantitative and…

School classrooms worldwide consist of a diversity of cultures. Teachers in these classrooms play key roles in the preparation of students not only in terms of their academic and career readiness, but also in their understanding of how to socially navigate communities. In remote areas where communities rely on their culture and social norms to…

Place-based education is common in elementary school geography curriculums where children are taught about their surroundings. Emphasizing hands-on, real-world learning experiences, this approach creates heightened commitment to serving as active, contributing citizens. By post-secondary school, geography students collectively pursue knowledge…

This study examined children's use of narrative strategies and social purposes in dramatic play through a sociocultural theoretical lens. We analysed language and nonverbal communication in play scenarios involving 17 kindergarteners and their teacher. Children used language and other communication modes to develop plot, character, and setting.…

We give an unconventional, mythopoetic response to the question of Why teach mathematics to all learners in school? In our work with pre-service teachers, we attempt to teach how to value the vulnerability of the multispecies world in a relational, anti-colonial way through passionate immersion, and to use mathematics education towards the ends of…

Aims: Over the last decade, there has been growing interest in the application of play as a pedagogical approach to support the learning of children within formal education settings. However, existing literature has shown there is significant variation in teachers' understanding of play-based pedagogy (PBP) and how it is applied in the classroom…

Policy makers around the world increasingly mandate play-based learning in kindergarten classrooms, a pedagogical approach backed by research espousing not only the developmental appropriateness of play-based learning for this age group but also the benefits to students' academic achievement. Despite these mandates, researchers continue to see a…

To optimise school-based service delivery for students with disabilities, it is important to understand roles and needs of school staff. This study aimed to clarify ideal and actual roles of school staff (teachers, special educators, administrators) working with students with special needs, and to identify potential strategies to support actual…

This article explores how teachers negotiate their roles and relationships in a Northern Ontario First Nations community. Through a case study approach, utilizing interviews and focus groups with 15 participants, I constructed four categories: (1) pedestal people, (2) educational transitioners, (3) relationship builders, and (4) community…

Students can become self-determined young adults with improved outcomes if they learn the necessary skills early. Participants in this qualitative study were seven teachers of the visually impaired or orientation and mobility specialists and seven teachers of students who are deaf or hard of hearing. The purpose of this qualitative research study…