Introduction: Ecological models which address educational phenomena assert that students are involved in multiple environments where they play different roles. In each environment they are expected to show certain behaviors; sometimes this can create conflicts, perhaps due to a discrepancy between the individual's skill in meeting the requirements…

The purpose of this study was to determine if an association existed between student achievement scores and classroom practices used among third-grade teachers in Upper East Tennessee. The variables included classroom environment, instructional context, and social context, employing developmentally appropriate practices (DAP). Teacher…

There have been increasing expectations that all primary school students and teachers actively use information and communications technologies (ICT) in their learning. In order to achieve this it is important that appropriate environments are set up to support the varying needs and potential of the different groups within the school context.…

This study examined the effects of classroom in degree for ability (the degree to which peer nominations as academically capable show high consensus and focus on a relatively few number of children in a classroom) on first grade children's peer acceptance, teacher-rated classroom engagement, and self-perceived cognitive competence. Participants…

A self-study methodology is used to explore the impact of introducing interactive whiteboard technology to a primary school classroom. Several key insights, described as "nodal moments", provided the impetus for the teacher to review her practice, reconsider her students' learning approaches and explore the relationship between the introduction of…

Writing behaviors of grade 1 children were explored as they used word processors to support their writing. Information was gathered in the form of field notes and audiotape transcripts from classroom observation sessions, along with informal interviews with students and teachers. Themes which emerged from the data analysis suggested a combination…

Peer nomination procedures were used to explore the development of academic achievement values and their relation to perceptions of barriers to opportunity. A total of 615 boys and girls across 3 grade levels (2nd, 4th, 7th) and 2 ethnic groups (African American, Latino) nominated peers who they admired, respected, and wanted to be like.…

In this article, the authors state that discovering and then building upon children's ideas is now accepted practice, but their feelings matter too. Their experience suggests that the assumption that children are willing to reveal their ideas may not always be correct. If children do not feel that their ideas will be valued then they are less…

This article describes the "Discovery Time" programme, a largely child-directed developmental programme, and discusses it in relation to the sociocultural approach to learning. It considers the effects of the programme on the development of children's oral language and cooperative social skills in a Year 1 classroom. Survey information…

Language learning strategy research has focused on the actions of the individual language learner and investigated the links between successful learning and the strategies that such learners use. At the same time, researchers studying beginner bilingual pupils learning English and learning to read in English in UK schools have also been interested…

This article draws on the sociology of childhood framework in order to examine one primary school girl's account of how the children in her classroom pass notes to each other when they are "not allowed to talk at all". Close examination of the account shows how the girls and boys in this particular classroom co-construct gendered membership…

This article is based on a survey of 25 learning mentors in order to identify their background and training, barriers and opportunities they experience in their work with individual primary aged pupils with EBD. Heather Roper Marshall undertook this study as part of her work towards her BA (Hons) Education. She adopts a personalised, narrative…

Discusses the importance of music centers in the early childhood class to the development of music abilities of children. Significance of understanding of the fundamental concepts in music including pitch and duration to the musical skills of primary and elementary students; Impact of environment on the learning abilities of children; Role of…

How school-based management in the form of multilevel self-management is related to educational quality is a crucial issue in current educational reforms. An empirical study was conducted to explore this issue in a sample of 68 primary schools in Hong Kong. It was found that the school environment of sampled schools could be classified into 4…

When taking up her headship of a one-form entry primary school in "special measures" Alison Peacock's approach was to begin to rekindle joy amongst teachers in order to nurture and enhance the natural love of life and learning in children. She refused to label children by ability, preferring to value all individuals and celebrate success. Applying…